By Sally Voth -- Daily Staff Writer

TOMS BROOK — Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a fish fry fundraiser and auction on Saturday.

The fish will be farmed catfish, not fish out of the Shenandoah River, Executive Director Leslie Mitchell-Watson said in a phone interview last week.

"I don't recommend [eating fish from the river], unfortunately," she said.

The volunteer organization monitors and cleans the river's North Fork. A news release provided by the group says it "provides public education and advocacy for conservation measures and environmental consciousness to protect the river."

There will also be an auction at the annual fish fry, which is 2-5 p.m. at the home of Jack and Sherri Wain, at 2962 Riverview Drive, east of Toms Brook.

Now, Friends counts 400 members, Mitchell-Watson said. While the group has seen progress in raising awareness of the watershed — which encompasses Shenandoah, Frederick, Warren and Rockingham counties — the welfare of the Shenandoah is still in jeopardy, she said, and the group will continue to be needed.

"I think we're seeing a lot more awareness of the water issues in the community," Mitchell-Watson said. "As far as the health of the river, it's impacted more and more every day by growth and increased agricultural use. So, in 20 years we've made some strides in certain areas."

Besides the fish fry, chicken will be available, Mitchell-Watson said. The event will also feature music.

"This is our biggest annual fund-raising event, and it has become quite a unique afternoon of fellowship as well as a time to show our concern for the well-being of the North Fork," the group's president, Ron Falyar, says in the release.

Among the items to be auctioned are terra cotta planters decorated by regional artists, including Pat Windrow, Lynne Crumpacker, Abbe Kennedy, Martha Mobley, Wendy Pieper, Susie Wilburn, Ann Wine and Nancy Slye, the news release says.

"We went to about 20 community members and asked them to decorate terra cotta planters in kind of a river theme," Mitchell-Watson said. "We got quite a huge variety of just amazing artistic creations."

To purchase tickets to the fish fry, which are $35 apiece, call 459-8550, or visit www.fnfsr.org. Mitchell-Watson said the organization hopes to have all reservations by Tuesday.

Business sponsorships are also being accepted.

* Contact Sally Voth at svoth@nvdaily.com