Our community’s world of streams and nature expanded in 2014 with the restoration and reconstruction of Broad Branch and Linnean streams. We have a new place to commune with nature, walk our dogs, and let our children romp. Now the question is: How to maintain the streams’ beauty and accessibility?
Alex Sanders, the head of Appalachian Trail Club’s volunteer effort to maintain Rock Creek Park trails, also works with Rock Creek Conservancy. He emailed me about the Conservancy’s Stream Team program, which coordinates volunteer efforts to “maintain streams and sections of the park by cleaning up trash, removing invasive species (with training), and advocate for its protection, among other opportunities.”
Sanders says the Conservancy would be delighted to work with neighborhood volunteers who wish to do this for the Linnean and Broad Branch streams. Please email him at alexsanders0925@gmail.com to sign up.
Forest Hills Connection will announce future cleanups (including one this weekend). Also, you can always walk the streams with a bag to pick up trash along the way. We are the caretakers now.
Paul says
Perhaps there is a different email address for Mr. Sanders, or a different contact for this project? Repeated emails looking for information are unanswered. (No, the responses are not in the spam folder.)
Kate says
I, too, would like to know how to help with Soapstone Valley Park as well as the Broad Branch stream. In a February 2, 2015 Forest Hills Connection article mention was made of “Devin Rhinerson. Rhinerson is the volunteer coordinator for Soapstone Valley Trail.” How does one contact Mr. Rhinerson? Thanks.
Alex Sanders says
Hi Kate,
Devin is PATC’s volunteer overseer on the Soapstone Valley Trail. If you’d like to participate in trail maintenance in Rock Creek Park including the Soapstone Valley Trail, please e-mail me at wdctrails@yahoo.com. I’d be happy to discuss this with you further.
A different organization, Rock Creek Conservancy, is organizing a volunteer team for Broad Branch, and you’re most welcome to participate. Contact Karen Zeiter at kzeiter@rockcreekconservancy.org or 202-237-8866 for more info.
Paul says
I’ve reached out to the contacts mentioned in the article and the comments and was told each time “we’ll get back to you”, which doesn’t happen. I assume there’s no need for volunteers, or we’re on our own to do what we can to keep the projecdt area clean.