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What Virginian launched a steamboat along the Potomac in the 1780s, an event that would later spark debate over the true inventor of this creation? Look
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Potomac
Conservancy
8601 Georgia Avenue
Suite 612
Silver Spring, MD 20910
p 301.608.1188
f 301.608.1144
info@potomac.org
~
Protecting the health, beauty,
and enjoyment of
the Potomac
River and
its tributaries ~
Banner
image by
Don Chernoff
|
Saturday, April 8 Lend a hand in the 18th annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. |
 |
- Build the Base for a Rain Garden - April 4
- Clean up the River - April 8
- Plant Trees & Protect a Stream - April 21
- Bring Nature to an Inner-City School Campus - April 22
- Green a DC High School - April 29
- Be a River Center Docent - Throughout the summer and fall
- Organize Our Office and Meet Other River Lovers! - Ongoing
- Interstate 81 Hearings - April 18 & 19
- Earth Month Fashion Show - April 10
- GreenWeek DC's Water Use It Wisely Day - April 20
- Earth Day Celebration - April 22
- Potomac Heritage Trail Hike - April 22
- Haircuts for the Earth - April 24
- Earth Month Fashion Show - April 24
- Goods from the Woods Conference - April 29
- Native Plant Sale - April 29
- Earth Month Doggie Happy Hour - May 4
- Increased Land Preservation Funding Approved in Maryland
- Update on Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force Investigations
- Aveda Partners with Conservancy for Earth Month
- Good Neighbor Tip: Involve Children in Backyard Projects
- Online Native Tree Sale
- Wild Washington Book Offers Close-Up of Wildlife
Close Encounter of the Feathered Kind - By Steve Quarterman
| Date | Event |
Tuesday, Afternoon; RSVP
|
Build
the Base for a Rain Garden Help the Potomac Conservancy create a model rain garden on the grounds of historic Belle Grove Plantation in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Volunteers are needed to do the fun, dirty work to establish a native plant garden that will capture runoff from a nearby parking lot. Volunteers will help move dirt, spread mulch, and assist with various other tasks. This is a great way to experience the initial phase of creating a rain garden--something you can do in your own yard. To do the rest, come back to help plant the garden at a later date, to be determined. Be sure to visit historic Belle Grove while you're there! No experience necessary. Children welcome. Gloves and tools will be provided. For
more details and to RSVP (required): Contact Kelly
McDaniel, Conservation Program Assistant, mcdaniel@potomac.org. |
Saturday, 9 am 'til noon Rain or shine RSVP
|
Clean
Up the River Join the Potomac Conservancy in the 18th annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup! This is a great way to meet other river lovers and Potomac Conservancy supporters, and is the perfect activity for families. Find a site near you and register with the site leader today! This year, make your volunteer hours count even more by coming out to a site sponsored by Starbucks Coffee. Through its Make Your Mark program, Starbucks will donate $10 per volunteer hour to the Potomac Conservancy at designated sites. They'll also provide coffee as a thank you to volunteers! Although the cleanup is rain or shine, heavy rains or lightning storms may cause some cancellations. Register with your site leader in advance so that you are aware of cancellation procedures. During the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, which is coordinated by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, volunteers will remove trash from more than 300 sites across the watershed. For additional information and to register: Visit www.potomac.org. |
Friday, 9 am 'til 3 pm IN CASE OF HEAVY RAIN, EVENT AT DRAPER ELEMENTARY WILL BE POSTPONED. Questions? Please
call: RSVP
|
Plant Trees
& Protect a Stream Come out for a fun day of planting trees to help green a tributary of Bennett Creek. Join the Potomac Conservancy and teachers, parents, and students of Windsor Knolls Elementary School to plant along a stream that flows through the campus. Volunteers will plant a variety of native tree seedlings, including pin and willow oaks, American plums, and sycamores. They will also install tree tubes to protect the seedlings from being eaten by deer. In a few years, the planted trees will filter pollutants and reduce streambank erosion, protecting the water quality of Bennett Creek and the Potomac River. This project is part of a targeted restoration program in the Bennett Creek watershed that is funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Volunteers of all ages are welcome and no experience is necessary. Gloves, shovels, and other supplies will be provided. To RSVP (required), contact: Bryan Seipp, Director of Restoration, seipp@potomac.org. |
Saturday, 9 am 'til noon Rain or shine RSVP
|
Bring
Nature to an Inner-City School Campus Draper Elementary is getting a green facelift! Be a part of an exciting project to revitalize this inner-city school to bring the Potomac closer to children who might otherwise never experience its natural offerings. Volunteers will plant native shrubs, flowers, and trees--including red bud and cherry--on the school grounds. Later in the year, volunteers can return to lend a hand in creating outdoor classroom areas and a rain garden to capture runoff from the roof and parking lot, thereby protecting nearby streams. In addition to these natural improvements, Draper will be getting a brand-new recreational field in place of unwelcoming concrete. This project is being done in partnership with National Wildlife Federation. To RSVP (required), contact: Bryan Seipp, Director of Restoration, seipp@potomac.org. |
Saturday, 9 am 'til noon Rain or shine RSVP |
Green
a DC High School Lend a hand in one of the most innovative outdoor classroom projects yet. Help us create a "landscape compass" out of logs and stones, install birdhouses, and plant native trees and shrubs. Or, if you've always liked to play in dirt, help out with the creation of a soil profile pit. It may sound boring, but it's a unique chance to get even dirtier than during one of our tree plantings! After digging a large hole, volunteers will place plexiglass against the side so that students can learn about soil layers. This project is being done in partnership with National Wildlife Federation. To RSVP (required), contact: Bryan Seipp, Director of Restoration, seipp@potomac.org. |
May
through Required orientation: |
Be
a River Center Docent Do you enjoy history or nature and talking to people? Then volunteer as a docent at the Conservancy's River Center! The River Center, located in restored Lockhouse 8 along the C&O Canal, educates visitors about the Potomac River, its connection to the Chesapeake Bay, and what they can do in their own backyards to protect these resources. Docents must commit three to four hours, once a month, on weekends from May through October to greet River Center visitors and to answer their questions. Docenting offers a unique opportunity to meet and interact with visitors to the National Park while gaining a greater knowledge of the C&O Canal and Potomac River. Docents must attend an orientation meeting, to be held on Saturday, April 22, at 2 pm at the end of our Earth Day celebration. Docents must be at least 18 years old. RSVP requested: Judy Welles, River Center at Lockhouse 8 Director, welles@potomac.org or 301.608.1188 x212. |
Ongoing |
Organize
Our Office & Meet Other River Lovers! Help the Conservancy run smoothly behind the scenes. We need volunteers to assist with data entry, mailing preparation, filing, and other general administrative duties. The best part? The chance to meet other river lovers, whether other volunteers or Potomac Conservancy staff! A minimum eight-hour commitment per month is required. Volunteers who dedicate at least 16 hours per month will get free pizza once a month! We are a short walk from the Silver Spring Metro (red line). Stop by anytime to meet us and learn more about this opportunity. Contact: Angela Preston, Office Manager, preston@potomac.org. |
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is proposing to widen Interstate 81, a major route through Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. This proposal would expand the primarily four-lane interstate into a massive 8- to 12-lane highway. This proposal has the potential to create added and unnecessary pollution in the Valley's streams and rivers. It will also disrupt more than 1,600 acres of historic battlefield land and increase air pollution.
The Conservancy encourages its supporters to attend one of VDOT hearings on this plan to express their support of the Reasonable Solutions model for I-81, which has been developed and supported by many organizations, counties, and cities throughout the Valley. The hearings will be:
Tuesday, April 18
Winchester, Virginia
5 'til 8 pm (registration at 4 pm, exhibit materials available for viewing
from 1 'til 3:30 pm)
Winchester Travel Lodge
160 Front Royal Pike
View map
Wednesday, April 19
Bridgewater, Virginia
5 'til 8 pm (registration at 4 pm, exhibit materials available for viewing
from 1 'til 3:30 pm)
Turner Ashby High School
800 North Main Street
View map
For more information: Visit www.shenandoahvalleynetwork.org/i81/publicmtgdetails.html.
| Date | Event |
Monday, 6 'til 10 pm $20 ticket includes
one
|
Earth
Month Fashion Show Craving fresh and funky new styles to ring in spring? Then don't miss this fashion show, which will feature eclectic clothing from Baltimore-based clothing boutiques and will benefit the Potomac River. While you're there, get ideas for a new 'do from models sporting Aveda-styled hair. With good music and dancing, too, who could ask for more? Tickets cost $20, include a free drink, and will fully benefit the Conservancy. Purchase tickets at the door or in advance from Aveda Experience Centers at Columbia, Towson Town Center, or Harbor Place. This event is one of several taking place throughout April during Aveda's Earth Month partnership with the Conservancy. |
Thursday, 10 am 'til 4 pm Free |
GreenWeek
DC's Water Use It Wisely Day From April 17 to 23, many partners will come together for GreenDC Week to educate and engage the residents, visitors, commuters, and employees of the District of Columbia about energy and environmental sustainability. During Water Use It Wisely Day on Thursday, April 20, come out to learn about water conservation and water protection. While you're there, be sure to visit the Potomac Conservancy's table to learn about the Potomac River watershed and how you can help protect the Potomac, our nation's treasure. |
Saturday, 10 am Free |
Earth
Day Celebration Join the Potomac Conservancy and fellow river-lovers for an Earth Day celebration at the River Center at Lockhouse 8! Children will delight in an up-close look at reptiles and birds of prey during “Scales & Tales” educational programs offered by Maryland Department of Natural Resources naturalists. Adults will enjoy an in-depth spring wildflower walk along the C&O Canal and the banks of the Potomac. Other activities, including a nature scavenger hunt and a plant-your-own-wildflower project for children, as well as a Master Gardeners question-and-answer table for adults, are also planned for the day. For the detailed schedule and more information: Visit www.potomac.org. Contact: Heather Montgomery, Conservation Program Assistant, montgomery@potomac.org. |
Saturday, 9 am 'til 2 pm Free |
It's time to get your muscles warmed up for spring hike. Explore the Potomac Heritage Trail, including some newly designated trail segments! Join the Potomac Heritage Trail Association for a ten-mile hike from Seneca Falls to Great Falls Park in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, Virginia. Though most of the hike is flat, there are a few hills and several places to scramble across small streams. Bring your own lunch and plenty of water. Meet at the far parking lot in Great Falls Park (admission fee required) at 9 am. From there, a car shuttle to the beginning of the hike at Seneca will be arranged; hike participants will be asked to assist with this shuttle. Contact: Bill Niedringhaus, Potomac Heritage Trail Association, fairfaxtrails@aol.com or 703.244.2476. |
Monday, 11 am 'til 4 pm $25, all |
Haircuts
for the Earth It's spring--the perfect time for a new do! Thanks to Mak's Place, an Aveda salon, you can protect the Potomac by getting your hair cut. All proceeds from your $25 haircut will benefit the Potomac Conservancy's work to protect the Potomac Gorge, a 15-mile stretch of wilderness from Great Falls to Georgetown! To assure your spot, make an appointment today by calling 703.548.3444. Walk-ins are also welcome, but service cannot be guaranteed. Finger foods and beverages will be provided. This event is one of several taking place throughout April during Aveda's Earth Month partnership with the Conservancy. Contact: Mak's Place, 703.548.3444. |
Monday, 9 'til 11 pm $10 per person |
Earth
Month Fashion Show Craving fresh and funky new styles to ring in spring? Then don't miss this fashion show, which will feature eclectic clothing from Washington, DC, clothing boutiques and will benefit the Potomac River. While you're there, get ideas for a new 'do from models sporting Aveda-styled hair. Tickets cost $10 per person and full proceeds will benefit the Potomac Conservancy. This event is one of several taking place throughout April during Aveda's Earth Month partnership with the Conservancy. Contact: Aveda's Kate, 703.416.1534. |
Saturday, 9 am $15 per person; |
Goods
from the Woods Conference If you are a private woodlot owner, don't miss this opportunity to learn why investing time and money in your woodlot can result in significant financial and ecological returns. Potomac Conservancy and Maryland Forestry and Natural Resource professionals will present a variety of sessions relating to the core topics of woodlot management, alternative income opportunities, and planning for the future of your woodlot. If you want to find out how to identify and eradicate pests, learn more about planning for the future of your land, or are simply interested in woodlot management, this conference is for you. Your $15 registration includes all conference materials and lunch. Bring a family member of a different generation (parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild), and he or she will receive a $10 discount. To learn more or register: Visit the Potomac Conservancy's website. Contact: Kelly McDaniel, Conservation Program Assistant, mcdaniel@potomac.org. |
Saturday, 9 am Free |
Native
Plant Sale Just in time for your spring plantings, Parkfairfax is hosting its sixth native plant sale. Purchase beautiful and uncommon native perennials, shrubs, and trees for either sunny or shaded areas from top-quality nurseries. Knowledgeable volunteers will be able to help you determine the right plants for your property, but you can prepare in advance by browsing the Conservancy's Good Neighbor Handbook, available for free download. Contact: Scott Knudsen,
Parkfairfax Plant Sale Organizer, |
Thursday, 5 'til 8 pm $25 per person |
Earth
Month Doggie Happy Hour It's time for your pup to do her part to save the Potomac. Bring your favorite furry friend out to join the Potomac Conservancy and Aveda for a social happy hour to help protect the Potomac River. Attendance at the happy hour is free, with a $25 registration, you'll receive an Aveda t-shirt and entry into raffles for you and your dog. Pre-register or pay at the door. This event is one of several taking place throughout April during Aveda's Earth Month partnership with the Conservancy. To pre-register or for more information: Aveda's Michele at 703.930.8517. |
Increased Land Preservation Funding in Maryland
Earlier this week, the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates approved the state's $29.4 billion budget one week ahead of schedule. The budget for land preservation, which was cut during the recession, will increase by $361 million. $75 million has been budgeted to increase efforts to remove pollutants from the Chesapeake Bay.
Update on Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force Investigations
A massive fish kill along the Shenandoah River's South Fork last year prompted the creation of the Shenandoah Fish Kill Task Force, of which the Potomac Conservancy is a member.
Headed by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the task force is investigating what caused up to 80 percent of adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish to die last year in the South Fork, as well as in the North Fork in 2004. The task force is also evaluating a recent study that found intersex fish--individual fish with characteristics of both sexes.
Since mid-March 2006, the task force has received reports of a small number of sunfish in the North Fork and the South River either dead or with lesions. Other affected species also have been found, especially in the South River.
Aveda Partners with Conservancy for Earth Month
This April, for the second consecutive year, Aveda is partnering with the Potomac Conservancy to raise money and awareness for issues affecting the Potomac River.
Aveda's efforts will support the Conservancy's work to protect the Potomac Gorge, a 15-mile stretch of river between Great Falls and Georgetown, Washington, DC, that is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the entire East coast. The Gorge is home to more than 200 rare species--many of which are plants--and natural communities.
This year's Earth Month theme is "Save Plants, Save Yourself." You can help by participating in special events, buying Earth Month candles, and signing Aveda's petition to protect endangered species. Get involved today!
Good Neighbor Tip: Involve Children in Backyard Projects
We all know that children learn from their role models, especially their parents and other family members and friends. What better lesson to teach them than how to be good stewards for their local streams and the Potomac River by sharing their backyard with other living creatures?
One of the best ways to teach your young friend--whether a son, daughter, nephew, niece, or other youngster--is to actively engage her in your landscaping projects. Allow the child to contribute her imagination during your initial planning as you determine what kind of wildlife you wish to attract and where you wish to attract them. Then, engage her in the implementation of your plan.
If you are looking to attract butterflies, your youngster can help plant a butterfly garden composed of special native plants that attract these insects. If it's bunnies that she loves, she can help you create a brush pile on the edge of your property.
Whatever you decide to do with your landscaping, including your child in this process will foster her creativity while teaching her about those things that matter most to the Potomac River.
For more information about engaging children in landscaping and in exploring backyard natural areas, check out these resources: USDA Forest Service's Backyard Woods publication and the American Horticultural Society's Youth Gardening website.
For more river-friendly tips, download a free copy of the Conservancy's Good Neighbor Handbook.
Have a community tree planting coming up this fall on your school grounds, local park, or other public space? Need native trees or shrubs? Take advantage of the Maryland Department of Natural Resource's Tree-Mendous plant sale before it ends later this month.
Many of the trees for sale were grown from seedlings collected by volunteers in past Growing Native seed collections. Species include oak, redbud, sycamore, tulip poplar, and others.
To order plants: Visit Tree-Mendous Maryland's website or contact Terry Galloway, Maryland DNR Forest Service, 410.260.8531, tgalloway@dnr.state.md.us.
Wild Washington Book Offers Close-Up of Wildlife
If you didn’t get enough of the birds, butterflies, and four-legged critters showcased in the Potomac Conservancy’s 2005 Wild Washington calendar, now you can buy your own Wild Washington book. Thanks to author, photographer, and Conservancy member Don Chernoff, $8 of every $20 purchase will support the Conservancy’s river conservation programs!
Offering an up-close look at the wildlife that call the metropolitan DC region home, this book is the perfect addition to the budding young naturalist’s collection or to any nature lover’s library.
View photos from this full-color, soft-cover book and purchase it online while supplies last!
Close Encounter of the Feathered Kind
Potomac Reflections is a feature through which the Conservancy's supporters share personal stories about how they relate to the Potomac River.
This month, Steve Quarterman, Potomac Conservancy volunteer and member, reflects on his remarkably close encounter with a bald eagle:
"...While driving in stop and go traffic (consisting mostly of stop) along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, I decided to remove myself from the gridlock to hike along the Potomac from Turkey Run Park, which is accessible from the Parkway.
A mile or so into my hike and not much more than 50 feet in front of me on the trail, I startled a bald eagle perched in a large sycamore overhanging the river. Upon its quick flight, the identity of this bird could not be mistaken. Not only was the bird startled, but so was I, as this was certainly the closest I had ever been to a bald eagle in the wild..."
Read Steve's complete story. Meet Steve at the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on Saturday, April 8, where he'll be leading a cleanup at the American Legion Bridge.
To submit your own story for publication, email Jen Schill, Director of Communications & Membership, schill@potomac.org.
Purchase a Special Edition Earth Month Candle
Throughout April, proceeds from the sales of signature rose geranium candles will benefit the Potomac Conservancy's work to protect the Potomac Gorge and the plants that call it home.
Made of 100% organic ingredients, this soothing candle comes in a 95% post-consumer recycled and reusable glass container. Purchase one at your nearest Aveda today, while supplies last!
To learn about other ways you can support the Conservancy during Earth Month: Visit www.potomac.org.
RiverUpdate
is an e-newsletter for Potomac Conservancy supporters. It provides
information on the Conservancy's volunteer activities and river-related
events. We welcome your feedback and comments on RiverUpdate. Please email us at riverupdate@potomac.org to let us know what you think. To subscribe or unsubscribe, click here. |