Cleaning Up Takoma Branch and Wheaton Branch

Ed Murtagh June 8, 2004

Update - Takoma Branch Cleanup Ed Murtagh June 24, 2004

Update - Wheaton Branch Cleanup Ed Murtagh October 2005

Two streams in the Sligo Creek watershed that that have high levels of trash are the Takoma Branch and the Wheaton Branch. Both areas have problems with "midnight" dumping and neglect. In the past most of FoSC's clean up efforts have focused on the main stem of Sligo Creek. This year it is our goal to expand our clean up efforts to include these two Branches of Sligo Creek and to encourage the neighbors surrounding these waterways to participate with the stewardship of the watershed.

Wheaton Stormwater Ponds

On June 5, 2004 Friends of Sligo Creek organized a cleanup of the stormwater pond areas off Dennis Ave. The Dennis Ave. stormwater management ponds collect the stormwater run-off from much of Wheaton. The trash carried by the stormwater run-off from the parking lots and streets of Wheaton also settles here. The area is also home for numerous wildlife including Blue Herons. Despite the rain we had seven volunteers. In 2 hours we removed hundreds of pounds of trash. Many items - including the shopping carts and some tires - were inaccessible due to the rain.

Trash along edge of the first stormwater pond cell #1

Shopping Carts lined up in the middle of the first stormwater cell Helene Smith, FoSC steward for Wheaton Branch (section 12), and Ed Murtagh of the FoSC Litter Committee at cell #1 after the clean up

	One serious problem was the numerous tires that were dumped in and around the ponds. Six tires were removed on the clean up day; other tires were submerged and inaccessible due to the rain.
In addition to trash removal, Kathy Michels did some Weed Warrior work on the workday! The Wheaton Branch pond area, in addition to having problems with trash, also has problems with mile-a-minute vines.
	Seven volunteers, working two hours, made a significant dent in clearing out the trash that had accumulated in the Wheaton Branch Stormwater pond area. Unfortunately, due to the poor weather, the community didn't turn out.