Upcoming Events
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Cleanups
NNWB Cleanup May 4th
Sunday May 4th 10-11:30am: NW Branch, Silver Spring
NNWB Cleanup in the Northwest Branch watershed with Montgomery Parks. Meet at the Layhill Local Park, 14901 Layhill Road, Silver Spring. SSL hours available (bring form). Pre-registration required. Info and sign up here.
Hike: 38th Ave to Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Our band of 13 hikers and a cat got a lucky break on the weather and accomplished the last leg of our 16-mile Northwest Branch Trail exploration from 38th Ave. Park in Hyattsville to Bladensburg Waterfront Park, passing the confluence of the Northwest and Northeast branches of the Anacostia River. This photos shows the confluence in the background. The birder among us counted at least 42 different species heard and/or seen, among them red-tailed hawks in a nest and Baltimore Orioles.
Here's the group on the dock at Bladensburg. We noted Bladensburg's role in the War of 1812: the British routed the American defenders outside Bladensburg in 1814 and proceeded to burn Washington's new public buildings. But all was quiet on the waterfront for our visit. No more hikes are currently scheduled; however, in the fall, when the water cools, who knows? If you are interested, watch this space.
Hike: Heurich Park to 38th Ave, 4/20/24
Our Earth Day hike on April 20 on the NWB Trail started at Heurich Park, where our previous segment ended. Flanked by clusters of invasive Japanese knotweed and nonnative invasive garlic mustard, our band of 10 walked the well-marked paved trail to the 38th Ave. Park, our turn-around point, 4.3 miles RT.
Photo: Bridge where NWB meets Sligo Creek Trail
Highpoints of the hike were sightings of a possible muskrat or beaver in a large stormwater pond, a possible green heron or cormorant, two mallard ducks, and lots of volunteers cleaning up trash for the Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day cleanup. On our way back, fortified with coffee from the volunteers at 38th Ave Park, we filled several bags with trash and recyclable water bottles found along the trail.
Next time we will pass the confluence with the Northeast Branch and reach Bladensburg Waterfront Park!
Photo: Heurich Park area
Adelphi Mill-Heurich Park 3/16 & Adelphi Mill-Oakview 2/24
A small but sturdy band set out from Adelphi Mill on March 16 headed downstream 2.4 miles on a paved trail. We completed another segment of our trek from the top end of the Northwest Branch trail to the confluence of the Northwest and Northeast branches of the Anacostia River. We turned around at Heurich Park, which will be the starting point next time, loading up with trash on the way back. This included many bottles and cans that could have been recycled and would never have been dumped if Maryland had a beverage container returnable deposit.
Continuing our exploration of the NWB trail, 16 hikers hiked from Adelphi Mill upstream to where the last hike ended, at the steep access road leading to Oakview Drive. This is all paved, but has two somewhat slippery water crossings to generate a bit of risk.
Story of Streams Presentation 12/6/22
Eliza Cava, Conservation Director of Nature Forward (formerly Audubon Naturalist Society) reported results from the grant-funded study she led to rate three tributary streams: the Northwest Branch, Oxon Run (in Prince George's County) and Holmes Run (in VA). She described the methodology and the ratings: the NWB rated just FAIR. All this and much much more has been put into an interactive website, the Story of Streams. And for those who enjoy the NWB, I enthusiastically draw your attention to the section on the NWB within the chapter on STREAMS. Scroll down to the NWB and then to the embedded story map by Krista Schlyer. Ms. Schlyer takes the NWB from source to confluence with pictures and history, including the Underground Railroad and Rachel Carson.
The website is a vast world of information, wherever you look--historical, geographic, and current. The statements of those who now enjoy these streams, despite their flaws, prove how important they are to the well-being of our communities. We so need them to be healthier! And the next chapter of the story of our streams remains to be written. YOU can help to make it better than the recent past chapters. Link to the overall Story of Streams website.
Listening Session, 9/6/22
You spoke; we listened
And what we heard was much enthusiasm for restoring the Northwest Branch to a waterway safe for recreation, enjoying the trails, and advocating for both stream and trails maintenance.
What participants would like to know more about--in their own words:
-Water quality. [See latest monitoring results on the NNWB Homepage.]
-Anacostia watershed, pollution.
-The entire Anacostia, native plants/Invasives.
-Would love to know more about how the ICC impacted the watershed.
-I really can't narrow it down…
-Helping with pollution and becoming a weed warrior.
-I'd like to know more about the long-term history of the stream, human impact on it, and preservation/conservation attempts. I know the current state, but it'd be nice to have a wider historical picture of things.
-Can the Burnt Mills Dam and reservoir be used for sediment control by digging out what has been deposited over the decades.
-I'd like to learn more about the ideal/healthiest state for the plant and animal ecosystem - what would it look like, what species would we want to see in abundance and which ones would we hope not to see?
-We need to engage more directly with MoCo and PG governments,
-Stormwater runoff, peoples solutions are to put in hard surfaces and extend their pipes to send their stormwater [to] downhill neighbors, erosion, streams.
Serious issues have been raised here. Much for us to consider!
Meanwhile, a poll of participants showed everyone hikes the trails--and would welcome some NNWB hikes. So look for fall hikes along with our stream cleanups! Thanks so much, everyone, for your input! If you would like to add your own comments, please click here to access the Comments page.
Presentations
4/5/22: New President and CEO of AWS, Chris Williams
3/1/22: Rachel Carson: A local visionary with lessons for today
3/1/22: Rachel Carson: A local visionary with lessons for today
Chris shared with us the origins of the Anacostia Watershed Society, with emphasis on "watershed." The AWS focus has been on the river itself because of its dire state. But now that the goal of fishable and swimmable by 2025 is within reach, AWS is creating a plan that includes more of the upper watershed and source waters. He asked for our suggestions, since we are protectors of the major source. The discussion included the AWS position on the beltway-I-270 expansion for toll lanes, synthetic turf as a water pollutant, and the value and risks of stream restorations.
3/1/22: Rachel Carson: A local visionary with lessons for today
3/1/22: Rachel Carson: A local visionary with lessons for today
3/1/22: Rachel Carson: A local visionary with lessons for today
Board member Rebecca Henson, who is leading the effort to create a local museum featuring Rachel Carson, discussed her life and legacy at the March 1 Membership Meeting. Ms. Carson lived in both the NWB and Sligo Creek watersheds during her nearly three decades of residence in Montgomery County. Rebecca explored how Carson understood and wrote about the natural world, primarily with messages of wonder and caution. Your can find more information about Rachel Carson on the Friends of Sligo Creek website at https://www.friendsofsligocreek.org/home/how-we-work/sligo-story-archive/rachel-carson-lived-here/