News & Updates

Mark in waders, walking in a pond, holding handfuls of plants

Staff Transition

With immense appreciation for his leadership, wisdom, and dedication, WSSI announces the upcoming retirement of our colleague and friend, Mark Headly. Throughout his career at WSSI, Mark has been a mentor to so many. Please join us in wishing him a fulfilling retirement and in thanking him for his work over the past 45 years before we say goodbye at the end of March 2022.

2021 Regulatory Updates

On April 14, 2021, WSSI hosted a webinar to provide an update on the Clean Water Act and other federal and state-level regulatory topics in Virginia and Maryland.  We had an excellent panel and great attendance.
Click here to access the video and slides

Glass Beads, Accotink Site, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County, VA. Photograph by James Di Loreto, Smithsonian Institution.

Glass Beads, Accotink Site, Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County, VA.
Photograph by James Di Loreto, Smithsonian Institution.

Small Wonders

Beads uncovered by WSSI archeologists at a dwelling of enslaved persons are on display in The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Objects of Wonder exhibit. These petite artifacts were recovered thanks to WSSI's use of best practices (in this case, waterscreening soils through smaller mesh) when standard techniques may not have detected such small items. 

Why let a beautiful, restored stream go unexplored? See how WSSI & local organizations encourage adventure with the annual Reston Kids' Trout Fishing Day! Reston's streams - once eyesores with eroding banks and toppling trees - have been restored and are now a community retreat for fun and good ole fashioned family bonding.