Upcoming Events
Invasive Removal
Invasive removal: Friday Oct 31, 38th Ave Park, Hyattsville (with Friends of Sligo Creek)
Please join our friends at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) for invasive removals along the NW Branch. Info and sign up link here. Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes. Instructions and tools will be provided, so just bring yourself, a good attitude and any water/snacks you’d like. both sites have restrooms accessible via mobile phone. Need inspiration? See a time lapse video of our invasive removal with FOSC on 10/5.
Oct 30 and Nov 6: Prince George’s Parks Weed Warrior Online Training
Prince George’s Parks has launched a Weed Warriors certification! Aspiring weed warriors must attend online and in-person training and volunteer at two invasive removal events. Online training is scheduled for
- Weed Warrior 101 Online Training; Thurs Oct 30th, 2:00-4:00 pm ET, Zoom
- Weed Warrior 101 Online Training; Thurs Nov 6th, 6:00-8:00pm ET, Zoom
In-person training is forthcoming. For invasive removal events, see Prince George's Parks and CCAN’s invasive removal pages.
Cleanups
November 1, 10 AM - 1 PM, Litter cleanup NW Branch at Oakview Drive
NNWB is partnering with Montgomery Parks to clean up the storm water channels that lead from the Beltway to the NWB. We will meet at the end of Oakview Drive and walk to the two channels. All materials and gloves provided. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring water. Advance registration required - info and sign up here.
November 2, Graffiti Removal, Burnt Mills
Mid-Atlantic Climbers (MAC) is holding a graffiti cleanup event at Burnt Mills East Special Park. Graffiti has, unfortunately, once again marred the beauty of this area. Please show your support for the work being done by MAC and participate in the cleanup event. The details and registration here.
Check for more events soon! Reach out if you’d like to lead a cleanup - we can help!
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.