Turkey Branch Spring 2010 Update
What a difference a year makes when the County, watershed groups and the communities work together to protect our natural areas. A year ago Matthew Henson Park and Turkey Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek, were trashed. The County had spent millions of dollars in restoring Turkey Branch (see write up), but the stream and park was full of tires, car batteries, construction debris and litter (link to Spring 2009 Update) . Last spring we pulled tons of trash from the park and stream. Follow up clean ups were organized in the fall and during Volunteer Day on January 20th.
Community organizers, supported by Friends of Rock Creek Environment (FORCE) and the Parks Volunteer Office (Lynn Vismara!) have started turning the Park around. Challenges remain, but steady progress is being made.
Tania Gerich (community organizer), Eric Durland (FORCE). and Lynn Vismara (Parks Volunteer Coordinator)
During the April 17, 2010 Clean of Lower Turkey Branch a fraction of the trash was collected. Volunteers noted how much cleaner it was compared to a year ago. During the 2010 clean up, the only thing found dumped in the previously clean section of the Park was a TV set. It is obvious the users of the trail are also picking up litter day to day. During the clean up a lady walking her dog came by with her small bag of litter she collected. Every time she walks, she and many others are now picking up litter along the trail. Neighbors are reporting seeing fish in the stream and taking pride in the Park. It has become a community asset. Community stewardship is taking hold. Last year the Department of Environmental Protection, who has the lead on the Turkey Branch Restoration Project, made a video of our efforts:
http://stream01.montgomerycountymd.gov/pio/dep/CleaningUpTurkeyBranch/TurkeyBranch.html
Turkey Branch after clean up work day.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Nice website! Sorry to have missed the most recent creek clean-up.
To make up for it, I have decided to “adopt” Colie Drive (the road behind the CVS and Korean Korner shopping center) and do a monthly pick up of the trash that accumulates on the sidewalk, spills into the street’s storm gutter, and ultimately drains into the creek. I filled up 7 large trash bags the first time I picked up trash! So much of the trash we pull out of the creek on our clean clean ups originates from street trash, so this is an important task.
I am also pursuing the County to remove the big pile of road salt (remaining from the winter storms) in the parking lot behind Korean Korner. The salt pile is uncontained so every time it rains, significant amounts of salt drain into the street, and then of course into the creek. Gross!! I’ll post progress as it occurs.
June 8th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
That is great Julia! If there were a few more people willing to adopt roads with high concerntrtions of trash in the Turkey Branch watershed, there would be a big reduction in trash in the stream. It is easier to get the trash at the source.