Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Clean Up - April 9, 2011

The 2011 Alice Ferguson clean up was yet another spectacular success.  The area that the volunteers cleaned was the Willow Springs branch of Little Rocky Run in the Hampton Chase neighborhood.  It was by far the largest area ever covered in any previous clean ups.  The total stream length cleaned was close to two miles, much of it boggy and often snarled with brambles.      About 32 volunteers showed up on a cloudy,  gray day to haul out 86 bags of trash, 11 tires, 2 wooden pallets, 20' of rebar, a wheelbarrow, a 12' drainage pipe, and about 300 lbs. more of miscellaneous wood and metal.

32 volunteers included: Ashley Brooks, Aine Maloney, Pavani Silaparasetty, Rona King, Ronney Peterson, Terry Camden, Patricia Giffey, James Roeser, Carl Roeser, Pat Brooks, Lasantha Wedande, Janet Spencer, Subha Ravichandran, Natalie Granum, Kevin Richards, Dinu Patel, Vinny Caporale, Brian Irons, Louisa Robinson, Nataly Chuchon, Jeffrey Stratford, Damulu Adhikali, Sarma Motsch, Jonah Jackson, Steve Holmes, Annie Brodeur, Phill Yi, Jennifer Shore, Janet Spencer, Elizabeth Maloney, Lynn Foster, and Ned Foster.

While all of the individual participants deserve medals, there are several companies and organizations who have supported FLRR in this endeavor every year.  First was the CDM group that cleaned the area from the stormwater dam on Ashleigh Road down to US 29.  They managed to haul out 5 truck tires with rims, all of which were exceptionally heavy and cumbersome to move.  But all 5 were neatly stacked for pickup.  Alas, the group was so late getting back to our base, they missed the group picture.      Another notable group was the Young Professionals Committee from the Virginia Water Environment Association, who proved that Environmental and Civil Engineers can get down and dirty for a good cause.  And, finally, Lasantha Wedande's spiritual group came to offer their help again this year.      A special individual to single out is Vinny Caporale who started the clean up with Ned Foster the day before and scoured the area between Hampton Forest Road and US 29.  In other words, Vinny spent two days on this project and his participation was downright heroic.

Carl and James Roeser were a huge help and hauled a load of junk to the Ox Road landfill.

Aine Maloney and Ashley Brooks were a welcome addition to the clean up crew.

Refreshments and dump fees totalled $134.70 and are covered via a generous grant from the Naval Federal Credit Union.  Special thanks to the  Hampton Forest HOA, and Shirley Klocek with the Cardinal Management Group.