Volunteers are Needed for Multi-County April 10 Waterway Cleanup!

• By picking up trash, volunteers will help protect the water supply of millions and the natural habitats and beauty of 50+ sites along creeks, streams, and roadsides in Delaware, Philadelphia, and Montgomery Counties.
• The more than 1,000 expected participants will also enjoy nature and build community through this COVID-safe, outdoor activity.

The trash that enters the network of streams and tributaries that form the Darby Creek Watershed is more than an eyesore. It pollutes a vital regional waterway central to the health of birds, animals, and the 15 million people whose drinking water it provides.

Luckily, the Darby Creek Valley Association is once again mobilizing a network of volunteers for its 37th Annual waterway Cleanup on April 10. From 9 a.m. until noon, rain or shine, more than 1,000 volunteers are expected to comb 50+ sites throughout the Darby Creek/Cobbs Creek Watershed. They will likely pick up more than 100,000 pounds of trash.

Those who wish to volunteer must sign up in advance at dcva.org/watershed-cleanups. There, they will find a list of cleanup sites and should click on the site where they want to volunteer to register. The annual event always provides a way for volunteers to make a difference at a place they care about in Delaware, Philadelphia, or Montgomery counties. This year, the DCVA Cleanup will also provide a COVID-safe way to get involved and have fun. Participants are to wear masks and maintain social distance from people they do not live with. DCVA will provide the gloves and trash bags.

“Streams and creeks are a lot like people in that they are all connected to each other,” said DCVA Director Susan Miller. “This is a great way for families to get out in nature together, have fun and make a real difference not only at the location they choose, but throughout the rest of our watershed. This is a great activity for people of any age.”

An Annual Event With Decades of History

The Darby Creek Valley Association’s cleanup began in its founding year - 1984. The association was founded in a collective effort from concerned citizens who banded together in an attempt to rehabilitate and preserve the valuable watershed. Thirty-seven years later, the hard work, tenacity, and life-long bond of this group of visionaries has had a direct impact on the quality and cleanliness of the water and open spaces in the watershed.

The numbers of volunteers who work all along the waterway network has grown tremendously over the decades. Each April, anglers, hikers, neighbors, scouts, and other groups and individuals show up to put their love for these special places into action. Along with plastic water bottles, bags, and take-out containers, volunteers have removed tires, shopping carts, even furniture and shopping carts from the environment.

A Place for Birds and for People: Whitby Meadow

DCVA expanded its cleanup locations this year to include Whitby Meadow, which is located within Cobbs Creek Park and is bordered by Philadelphia on one side and Yeadon, Delaware County, on the other.

“We were thrilled to add Whitby Meadow because an ongoing restoration project taking place there supports biodiversity, and because the cleanup work will have a significant impact there,” said DCVA Director Miller.

“The meadows are a little below street level, so when you’re here, you have a sense that you’re a little cocooned in nature. It’s a really special place,” said Elizabeth Brown, the director of the Delaware River Watershed Program for Audubon Mid-Atlantic, which has a grant made possible by the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program grant to restore both the natural habitat and community use of Whitby Meadow.

The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department has removed basketball courts and other impervious surfaces that were underutilized, in poor condition, and contributed to storm run-off and flooding problems. The native vegetation planted through the grant will support native bird and animal species while also absorbing water to prevent runoff. Other improvements, such as better signage and trails, as well as programing, will support community use of the Meadow.

But people can only enjoy Whitby Meadow if they know about it, Brown said, and that requires re-introducing community members to the site. Audubon has already hosted a bird walk, but the DCVA cleanup may attract people who weren’t interested in that event, but are looking for a community service opportunity.

“At Audubon, we care about birds, but we also care about communities – and this clean-up event is a great example of where those two interests converge,” she said.

Can’t Make it on April 10? There’s a Week of Opportunity at John Heinz Wildlife Refuge

John Heinz Wildlife Refuge will be getting a week’s worth of attention from DCVA volunteers, as it has been chosen as a Spot Light Cleanup site. Volunteers can help take care of this local jewel
from 9 a.m. to noon between April 11 and April 17.

The week-long cleanup is centered on two locations: The refuge’s main entrance at 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard in Philadelphia and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 717 Wanamaker Avenue (Route 420) in Essington.

To volunteer at John Heinz during this special week, particiants should visit www.dcva.org/watershed-cleanups and register for the day they wish to serve.

An Important Annual Event That’s Just One Part of DCVA’s Mission

DCVA Director Miller noted the organization’s mission has grown alongside the annual cleanup event. DCVA’s focus now includes environmental education, water quality monitoring, and advocacy. The non-profit acquires land to protect open space and create wetland buffers. It creates and maintains trails, restores habitats and monitors stream health. It provides environmental education through public events, workshops, and school programs.

Volunteers are needed year round. Anyone interested can learn more about DCVA
and how to get involved at DCVA.org

Signups for any of the 50+ clean-up sites must be made in advance at dcva.org/watershed-cleanups