Some of Soapstone Valley’s dedicated caretakers returned Saturday, June 4th to improve stream crossings and shore up an eroded portion of the path. They also expressed concerns about a logjam blocking the culvert where Soapstone stream flows under Broad Branch Road.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) brought 31 volunteers to work on the trail, including a team from the North Face store at Potomac Mills. They braved two hours in traffic for wet, dirty and heavy work – moving large rocks into place at the stream crossings.
PATC Soapstone volunteer supervisor Devin Rhinerson, left, with volunteers. (photos by Marlene Berlin)
National Park Service Ranger Ken Ferebee was out with a group shoring up an eroded portion of the path. Other volunteers cleared out encroaching vegetation.
Ken Ferebee, second from right, is with the National Park Service. Joe Kolb, right, is a longtime PATC overseer.
Devin Rhinerson and Alex Sanders, both with PATC, and another volunteer pointed out the blocked up culvert that takes the stream under Broad Branch Road.
Sanders says the blockage is forcing water and debris around the culvert with the effect of undermining the roadbed.
And since it is on DDOT land, he has tried reporting the issue through 311, with no luck. It is a recurring problem, as this photo from February shows.
The culvert at Soapstone Creek and Broad Branch Road in February, 2016
The Forest Hills community thanks these volunteers and others who have worked to maintain the trail and organize cleanups.
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