Bacteria Monitoring Training for Volunteers

Citizen Scientists are needed to take samples from our local creeks to test for fecal bacteria. After attending a training session, volunteers will be assigned to a team to monitor at sites along the Little Falls, Minnehaha or Willett Branches. Please email Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org for details.

FAQ about the program:

When do we sample?
The sampling is done every Wednesday morning before 9:30 am from June to mid-September. There is no flexibility there as all samples are sent to the lab for processing by 10:00.

What if I can’t make it every week?
It’s not necessary to be available every week as people will work in teams, but volunteers must be available to sample on Wednesday mornings.

How long does it take?
The sampling itself is a just a simple dip. We also take the pH and water temperature, so about 15 minutes total creek side. Depending on which site you are sampling, it could take another 10 minutes or so to get to the sampling spot. We recommend allowing 45 minutes.

Is there an age requirement?
This is appropriate for all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

How does LFWA use the data?

Fecal bacteria in the creeks represents a significant public health issue and can be an indicator of sewage leaks. Our data is posted to our website, community listservs, Facebook, and other social media outlets. We also share it with elected county officials and the WSSC.

Learn more about our program HERE.

Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, if you are interested in joining a team and she can give you details.

Brookdale Park
4613 Dalton Road
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Wondering what’s going on at the GEICO property? Join LFWA Board Member Mikel Moore for a walking tour of the environmental conditions and learn about our concerns with the EYA plan to redevelop the GEICO site. It’s so helpful to walk the area (outside of the demolition fence) and see where the edge of townhouse development will be, the impact of proposed changes to Brookdale Park, the trees that will be lost, the creek on the site, etc.

Tours are limited to 20 people.

Weather cancellations will be sent to registered email address addresses.

Additional tours will be added in response to demand, so please check back.

Little Falls Swim Club parking lot has a new look!

Little Falls Swim Club
5205 Little Falls Dr, Bethesda, MD 20816

Refreshments will be served!

Join us to learn about how native plants are managing stormwater run-off for the Little Falls Swim club. We will have experts on hand to explain how the native plants are working to keep the Little Falls creek clean and how you can use the same system in your yard to prevent flooding and stormwater runoff. Learn more about the project HERE.

The funding partners for this award are the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

The award funding is provided through the Montgomery County Water Quality Protection Fund with financial assistance from the EPA,

Spring Stream Monitoring

Discover what creek critters live in the Little Falls Branch

LFWA monitors the Little Falls Branch four times a year - doing a biological census of the macro-invertebrates that live on the bottom of the creek. This count of benthic organisms - numbers of individuals and diversity - gives us a picture of the health of our creek. By mapping the data over the years, we have good assessment of how well our stream is surviving in our dense urban area. Our monitoring is done in partnership with Nature Forward.

This event is for trained monitors. Before going into the field, new monitors should have a basic knowledge of macroinvertebrate identification and stream ecology, either from previous training or by attending the Nature Forward water quality training sessions. Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, for information about the Nature Forward courses and volunteering.

Learn more about our program HERE.

Westmoreland Church Social Hall
One Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, MD
Entrance to the Social Hall is from Massachusetts Ave.

You have given us so much, now it’s time to for us to celebrate YOU with music, food, speeches and more!
FREE, but presents will not be turned down.
Make a donations in honor of our birthday HERE.

program:

Light Super and birthday cake.

David Batson and Band!

Volunteer Appreciation:
Super volunteers Jack Deutsch, Bobby Pestronk, and our salt monitoring team.

Key Note Speaker:
Maureen Jais-Mick: “Save the Bees! But Which Bees?” Exploring native bees, beneficial insects, pollinator-friendly planting, and how each of us can help Maryland’s 400+ bee species thrive.

Parking:

There is parking in the Church Parking Lot or on Massachusetts Avenue. The entrance to the Social Hall is from Mass Ave. Do NOT use the main entrance to the church or you will wander around for hours looking for the social hall (which is downstairs). Look for signs if you are confused.

About our Speaker:

Maureen Jais-Mick is a member and past President of the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association (MCBA). She completed an 18-month internship at the Sustainable Honey Bee Program in Loudoun County VA and has kept honey bees in Bethesda since 2013. Maureen also manages the MCBA training apiary for new beekeepers at Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton MD. Maureen's support of native bees and beneficial insects pre-dates her becoming a keeper of managed honey bees, and she appreciates that they have a greater impact on the local environment.

Winter Stream Monitoring

Discover what creek critters live in the Little Falls Branch

LFWA monitors the Little Falls Branch four times a year - doing a biological census of the macro-invertebrates that live on the bottom of the creek. This count of benthic organisms - numbers of individuals and diversity - gives us a picture of the health of our creek. By mapping the data over the years, we have good assessment of how well our stream is surviving in our dense urban area. Our monitoring is done in partnership with Nature Forward (nee Audubon Naturalist Society).

This event is primarily for trained monitors. Before going into the field, new monitors should have a basic knowledge of macroinvertebrate identification and stream ecology, either from previous training or by attending the Nature Forward water quality training sessions. Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, for information about the Nature Forward courses and volunteering.

Learn more about our stream monitoring program and results HERE.