Volunteers check small creeks that collect runoff water and waste that will eventually reach the Chesapeake Bay

Once again in April and May, like every year since 2016, the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is partnering with the Fairfax County Park Authority to host a large-scale watershed cleanup. The spring clean-up event will remove tires, plastic bottles, cans and other debris from local waterways and surrounding parks, preventing litter from reaching the nation’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. Volunteer opportunities are available at several Fairfax County parks during April and May.

Former Laurel Hill volunteers shown with part of their Earth Day cleanup effort in April 2021

In 2021, over three days of work, 303 volunteers provided 625 hours of service at 11 Fairfax County parks. During the watershed cleanup, volunteers removed two and a half tons of trash along miles of waterways, shorelines, roads and trails. In projects across Virginia last year, 700 volunteers participated in more than 70 nature conservation projects statewide, donating nearly 6,000 hours of their time in more than 30 locations – a contribution of at least $175,000.

The most common items found each year during cleanups include plastic bottles and bags, cans, cigarette butts, polystyrene and glass bottles. The most unusual include toilets, car parts, pipes and mysterious objects. The Nature Conservancy shares this: “Many volunteers talk about how the cleanup has impacted their children and how it has ‘opened their eyes’ to some of the environmental challenges we face. We also get a lot of people asking how they can continue to make a difference.

While many slots are already at capacity, those interested in participating can view open volunteer opportunities here: https://www.nature.org/fairfaxcleanup

Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

Saturday April 16, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Riverbend Park, Scott’s Run NP

Saturday 16 April, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Ossian Hall Park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ossian-hall-park-fairfax-county-watershed-cleanup-2022-tickets-293533335107

Saturday April 23, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – hill of laurels

Wednesday, April 27, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Springvale Park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/springvale-park-fairfax-county-watershed-cleanup-2022-tickets-293547216627

Saturday April 30, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Providence RECentre

Sunday, May 1, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – round tree park

Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.- Fairfax Lake Park

Sunday, May 8, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Accotink Lake Park https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lake-accotink-park-fairfax-county-watershed-cleanup-2022-tickets-293552562617

The Nature Conservancy operates conservation programs across the United States and in more than 70 countries and territories. They describe their mission as: “Guided by science and equity, we find ways to solve climate change and biodiversity loss.”