Seven Bends Lecture Series 2021: How Water Shapes the Valley

Down By the Riverside: Burial Practices of the Enslaved by Sarah Kohrs

When? February 7, 2021 at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Where? Zoom 

Corhaven Graveyard, historically known as Sam Moore Slave Cemetery, is only one of several burial grounds for enslaved individuals in Shenandoah County. Located along the banks of Holman’s Creek, water has an intimate connection with the placement of this site. Join Director of Corhaven Graveyard, Sarah Kohrs, as she explores current research and the impact of water on antebellum burial practices for enslaved community members.

A Geological Odyssey Through Deep Time by Russell Kohrs

When? March 7, 2021 at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Where? Zoom 

Join Adjunct Professor at Lord Fairfax Community College and Earth and Environmental Sciences Teacher, Russell Kohrs, on a journey to discover how the landscape of the Shenandoah Valley was formed on geologic timescales, and learn about the critical role that water had to play in shaping a lot of what we see today. 

Connections between Riparian Buffer Zones, Water Quality and Fish Habitat by Paul Bugas and Matthew Wolanski

When? April 11, 2021 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm; Where? Zoom 

Well-managed riparian buffer zones play a crucial role in protecting the waterways around us, and work to promote enhanced water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients from runoff. This filtration enhances the conditions in which fish live, creating a healthier habitat for life in the river. Come learn with former Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) fisheries biologist Paul Bugas and Virginia Department of Forestry Senior Area Forester Matthew Wolanski about the intrinsic connections between these systems. 

A Sedimental Journey: How Historic Deforestation Degrades Waterways Today by Chris Bolgiano

When? May 2, 2021 at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm; Where? Zoom 

Travel with Chris into the past, when our forests were massive beyond anything we see today, to find clues in the woods about what happened to the forests around us in the Valley through time. On this journey we will learn about how consequences of the past continue to diminish the watershed in which we live today and may do so for centuries to come.

Check out our brochure for the series below!