The Alliance kicked off yet another year of Project Clean Stream. So far, we’ve held 23 events and collected over 6,500 pounds of trash from the Chesapeake Bay watershed! The Alliance hosted its bi-annual kick-off events on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13. Read on to see a recap of our events and register for future cleanups!

 

Washington, DC

On Friday, April 12, 16 volunteers gathered at Oxon Cove Park/Oxon Hill Farm and collected around 180 pounds of trash from the shoreline of the Potomac River! This cove is where Oxon Creek meets the Potomac, and the shape of it results in a lot of trash pollution collecting in this inlet. With beautiful views of the river in front of us and some chickens, cows, and pigs behind us, we had a lovely afternoon cleaning up this special spot.

Left, a volunteer picks up plastic. Right, a volunteer holds a mud covered ball.

Left, a volunteer picks up plastic along the trail. Right, a volunteer shows off a mud-covered ball.

A group of volunteers holding trash bags and trash pickers collect trash in front of the Potomac River.

DC volunteers use their trash pickers to clean up the Potomac River.

 

Bowie, Maryland

Bowie State University students and staff joined the Alliance at Horsepen Branch Park to clean up part of the Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis Trail on Friday. Together, we collected 60 pounds of trash!

Left, volunteers hauling their collections over a bridge connecting to the Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis trail. Right, volunteers pose with the trash they collected.

Left, volunteers hauling their collections over a bridge connecting to the Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis trail. Right, volunteers pose with the trash they collected.

 

Richmond, VA

In just 1.5 hours, 28 volunteers filled 40 bags with trash. That’s 600+ pounds of trash we kept from polluting Reedy Creek, the James River, and the Chesapeake Bay!

A group of volunteers pose behind several bags of trash on a trail at Crooked Branch Ravine Park.

Virginia volunteers pose with the trash collected from Crooked Branch Ravine Park.

Left, a volunteer shows us the top of a broken plastic desktop casing. Right, participants hold trash bags and trash pickers are picking up trash from a trail in the woods.

Left, a volunteer shows us the top of a broken plastic desktop casing. Right, participants use their trash pickers to clean up the trail.

 

York, Pennsylvania

We had 2 groups join us in Pennsylvania – the Master Watershed Stewards of York County, and the Franklin and Marshall Wrestling team, among other participants for a total of 31 volunteers! This is the most trash cleaned up at a site that I have ever seen! It was at least 1100 pounds of trash, including all sorts of furniture, three mattresses, and other large items. The wrestling team was super valuable in hauling that trash out. The most interesting trash was a grill lid, a bag of Christmas lights, and six neckties. We also encountered a bunch of garter snakes along the way.
Left: An ALLARM volunteer presents the neckties they found. Right, a Franklin and Marshall Wrestling team volunteer helps haul some large plastic containers.

Left: An ALLARM volunteer presents the neckties they found. Right, a Franklin and Marshall Wrestling team volunteer helps haul some large plastic containers.

A mattress, a chair, and a mound of trash bags sits on the edge of parking lot in the grass.

A mattress, a chair, and a mound of trash bags sit on the edge of parking lot after a productive kickoff in PA,

If you weren’t able to join us for kickoff weekend, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with Project Clean Steam. Click here to find more events or create a cleanup of your own!

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