Throughout the year, works to increase awareness of threats to Rock Creek and what people can do to help through
FORCE also advocates for protection of Rock Creek by giving testimony, speaking at public hearings, and meeting with government officials.
- Organizes events to place colorful "Do Not Pollute" markers on storm drain;
- Partners with community groups and businesses to clean up debris and litter in the creek and its tributaries and adjacent parkland;
- Providing homeowners knowledge and technology to reduce runoff leaving their property;
- Removing invasive plant species; and
Sponsoring monitoring of aquatic organisms to assess creek health.
2009 Highlights
Rock Creek EXTREME Cleanup
FORCE organized and promoted April trash cleanups at over 50 sites along Rock Creek, during which 1,900 volunteers collected over 2,500 bags of trash, plus loose debris weighing a combined total of nearly 29 tons.
Chevy Chase Community Center Demonstation Project
With funding from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), FORCE installed a demonstration project at 5601 Connecticut Avenue NW that includes a raain garden, bayscaping, shade trees, and a porous walkway. Each of these features help rain water soak into the ground and reduce the volume of polluted runoff flowing to Rock Creek.
New Website
FORCE developed this new website that brings you more information about Rock Creek.
2008 Highlights
RiverSmart Homes Demonstration Projects
For the second year, DDOE funded installation of RiverSmart Homes demonstration projects, and we completed four new gardens. These projects feature rain gardens, new trees, bayscaping (landscaping with drought-resistant native plants), rain barrels, and permeable paving. One is on a public site, at Volta Park in Georgetown. We installed educational signs, prepared educational brochures, and held tours at three of the projects to show homeowners how they can beautify their yards and protect Rock Creek.
Storm Drain Awareness Month
In June, FORCE undertook a campaign to educate Rock Creek watershed residents about the connection between storm drains and flooding and pollution in Rock Creek. We held a Marker Marathon during which FORCE volunteers glued over 500 markers on storm drains and placed 4,000 leaflets on doors in neighborhoods bordering Rock Creek. The campaign also included an online educational component, in which we sent a set of three “storm drain awareness” emails to our listserv of over 700 names.
Trash Cleanups
We have organized 13 trash cleanups and mobilized over 1,000 volunteers who removed more than 900 bags of trash and 12 tons of loose waste from the parks along Rock Creek and its tributaries. For the April cleanups, FORCE partnered with the Alice Ferguson Foundation to participate in the Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup and with the Friends of the National Zoo for an Earth Day cleanup on Zoo property, which borders Rock Creek.
2008 Annual Report
2007 Annual Report
Newsletters
For direct action, FORCE