More Area Water Clean Ups Planned

Last weekend’s clean up of the Neabsco Creek was a huge success, organizers say.

At least 60 people put on gloves and got dirty cleaning up some of the trash and undesired items that washed along the shore line of the creek in Woodbridge which empties into the Potomac River.

“I joined 60 others on Saturday morning in the creek to help remove several tons of litter and debris from the watershed,” said Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi in an email.

As the weather warms up, several other clean ups are planned.

Volunteers will gather April 9 at the community center in Dumfries at 8 a.m., next to town hall on Main Street, and will focus their attention on Quantico Creek.

Gloves and trash bags will be provided, and volunteers are asked to prepare to get dirty.

“During last year’s event, we had 40 volunteers support the effort…we collected 57 bags of non-reclyclable material, 29 bags of recyclable material, about 600 pounds of loose, un-bagged trash, 14 tires and too many cigarette butts to count,” said Dumfries Assistant Town Manager Cathy Holtzlander.

Among the larger items collected during last year’s Quantico Creek clean up: A washing machine, a large drainage pipe, an engine block and an old couch.

Those will participate this year will get a free t-shirt, said Holtzlander.

Experienced paddlers on the same day are asked to consider volunteering for a clean-up of the Occoquan River.

Those interested in helping should contact Friends of the Occoquan.