To the Editor:

The “Three days of reflection by The Tidewater News” was an appropriate recap of events of a decade ago. A commemoration for the 1999 flood which affected Western Tidewater, especially the Franklin environs, is in order.

Could there be a more worthy and simple action than joining the Blackwater-Nottoway Riverkeeper Program? In the year 2000, one year after Hurricane Floyd, our area became the first in the Commonwealth to establish a Riverkeeper Program.

The educational opportunities, environmental stewardship and whimsical but watchful eye of our own Riverkeeper, Jeff Turner, are invaluable to a better understanding and appreciation of our rivers.

Through awareness we can better co-exist with our waterways via the goal of reducing our negative impact upon the rivers, its feeder creeks and wetlands.

The monthly Riverkeeper meetings are open to the public. Individual and family memberships, as well as business and organizational, are available.

The Blackwater-Nottoway-Meherrin Rivers Atlas (2006) by Trout and Turner can be purchased and is also available for free in our public libraries. The Web site www.blackwaternottoway.com can provide additional information.

There can be no better commemoration than to support our local Riverkeeper Program. Being mindful that flooding can happen again, how can those of us adversely affected by the flood afford not to join?

Felice Hancock

Sedley