<bt>The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, in conjunction with the Fairfax Watershed Network, a group of agencies and individuals that support and promote the improvement and protection of the county’s streams and watersheds, announce the 17th annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup to be held April 2 from 9 a.m. until noon, rain or shine. Volunteers are needed to help with a designated cleanup site or to organize a cleanup site in their neighborhoods.
This year’s theme is “Take Pride in Our Potomac: It Starts in Your Back Yard!” and emphasizes the impact on the Potomac River from the streams that drain into it. Trash left on sidewalks and streets finds its way into storm drains that dump the litter into nearby streams or into the Potomac River itself.
Last year, over 3,600 volunteers across the region participated in the event and removed 162 tons of trash from 38 tributaries and shorelines of the Potomac River in three hours. In Reston alone, 121 volunteers helped remove 3.2 tons of trash from nearby streams, and in Mason Neck 20 miles of shoreline were cleaned of trash.
The Network’s goal for this year is to double the number of registered cleanup sites in the county and increase the number of volunteers. The cleanup, sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fosters environmentally responsible behavior, has grown steadily over the years. Since 1989, the foundation’s cleanup has removed more than 1,000 tons of trash from the Potomac River.
People or groups willing to join a site or organize a site in their neighborhood are urged to contact the cleanup coordinator, Wende Pearson at 301-292-6665, TTY 711 or visit the Web site at www.PotomacCleanup.org for site locations in need of volunteers. The foundation provides free gloves and trash bags for the cleanup sites and coaches site leaders on how to organize their site.
The following is a listing of local sites:
Colvin Run: Meet at the Tall Oaks Pool parking lot, 12025 North Shore Drive, Reston. Site leaders are Ted Moline and Ken Andrews. Call 703-435-6560 or 703-793-9809, or e-mail diana@reston.org.
Difficult Run: There is an East and a West site. All volunteers meet at Rameys Meadow Park off Leigh Mill Road. Dranesville District Supervisor Joan Dubois is planning to appear at both sites. Difficult Run is not suitable for elderly or disabled volunteers. Site leaders are Robin Rentsch and Stella Koch. Call 703-759-1122 or e-mail robrentsch @aol.com.
Pimmit Run: The exact number and location of sites along Pimmit Run may vary depending on the availability of volunteers. Site leaders for all Pimmit Run sites are Cathy Saunders and Ed Pickens. Call 703-534-4494 or e-mail catheris@capaccess.org. Intended sites include Maddux Lane (off Chesterbrook Road near Stormwater Pond), Great Falls Street and Lemon Road, Old Chesterbrook Road (at the bridge over Pimmit Run), Old Dominion Drive (at the bridge just south of Central McLean), Olney Park, Pimmit Bend Park 1 and Westmoreland Street near McLean Little League.
Scotts Run: Meet at Scotts Run Nature Preserve at Swinks Mill Road and Georgetown Pike. Site leader is Merrily Pierce. Call 703-848-1924 or e-mail merrily.pierce@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Riverbend Park: The park is located at 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Site leader is Stewart Schroeder. E-mail stewartschroeder@hotmail.com.
McLean Little League Field: The fields are at 1836 Westmoreland St. Site leader is Julie Dunn. For more information go to www.mcleanll.com.