| LFWA Accomplishments |
Label the Watershed 2009
was an event developed to raise awareness of the problems of stormwater runoff.
- We labeled 250 storm drains in the watershed during this two day event and
passed out over 2,500 brochures about stormwater issues.
- Over 150 volunteers participated.
- We were supported by:
- 16 Businesses who donated raffle prizes;
- 6 Businesses who donated of $100 or more;
- and a grant from the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation.
- In addition, we partnered with Montgomery County and the District of
Columbia governments who provided the labels and other civic groups including
Bethesda Green and Friends of the Bethesda Library.
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Label the Watershed 2010
- For our second annual Label the Watershed on June 5th, we
partnered with local citizen groups to provide community specific labels.
- In purchasing labels with their neighbor association identified, the civic
associations send a strong message that they care about the watershed.
- Five groups joined in the effort.
- We also partnered with Washington DC and Montgomery County governments and
had business sponsors as well.
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Invasive Weed Removal
- Saturdays in
the Park: Twice a month, LFWA leads invasive weed removal sessions
in the Little Falls Stream Valley Park.
- Student Service
Days: We work with local schools and lead groups of students in
invasive weed removal at various sites around the watershed.
- Westbrook ES
Forest Rehabilitation:
- Working with Westbrook faculty and PTA, we are restoring a portion
of the forest that surrounds the school, removing invasives, labeling trees
and planting a meadow.
- We are recipients of a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant to partially fund this
project.
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Stream Walks
- One of the missions of the Little Falls Watershed Alliance is to educate
citizens on the natural environment and the problems that an urban stream faces.
- We lead walks along the Little Falls Branch to point out the unique problems
of an urban stream.
- We talk about storm drain outlets, stream restoration and stabilization and
the steps citizens can take to protect this fragile environment.
- LFWA also works with Somerset Elementary
School fourth graders and leads stream team groups.
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Creek Clean-up
- In 2009 and 2010, we participated in the
Annual Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Clean-up.
- Over 50 volunteers joined us this year, removing over 50 bags of trash and
recyclables from the Little Falls Branch and the Willet Branch as well as one
man hole cover, one shopping cart, many pieces of fencing, construction supplies
and a computer!
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Trash Abatement
- The Little Falls Watershed Alliance is active with local and State
governments advocating for a trash free watershed.
- We have lobbied in DC and Annapolis for stricter litter laws.
- We are working with DC Government and Neighborhood Associations on stricter
enforcement of litter laws.
- Richard Yates, chair of our trash abatement committee, has worked with
Montgomery County Council persons to draft legislation which will increase
litter fines and require businesses to be more active in cleaning up outside
their establishments.
- We have sponsored two trash pick up days and work with the Wisconsin Avenue
Beautification Project on litter patrol.
- We have also adopted a stretch of the Little Falls Parkway and are committed
to keeping it clean.
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Advocacy
- The Little Falls Watershed Alliance is a member of Stormwater Partners of
Montgomery County and advocated on behalf of the new County MS4 stormwater
permit.
- Board members have traveled to Annapolis to testify for the Stormwater Act
of 2007 and other legislation related to environmental issues.
- We are members of the River Keepers and the Chesapeake Network and support
their efforts with letter writing and testimony.
- We co-sponsored a Get the Mud Out session to train citizen activists on
how to recognize and report violations of erosion control laws.
- Board members have attended conferences regarding watershed issues including
the Alice Ferguson Trash Free Potomac Summit and the River Rally in Baltimore.
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