Hard Hats for a Healthy Potomac

Eager to get started on this important work, Potomac Conservancy and HLI members spent a brisk day in March repairing and maintaining a stormwater management site in Sterling, VA.

Standing together in the name of conservation, Potomac Conservancy, the Heavy Construction Contractors Association (HCCA), and one Northern Virginia county will conduct an annual, large-scale community service project to improve local water quality. This diverse group of allies will team up to expand our expertise, find clean water solutions, advance the county’s pollution reduction goals, and enhance community green spaces.

Beginning in Loudoun County in the spring of 2015, HCCA’s leadership institute (HLI), Potomac Conservancy, and local government officials will unite. In the name of clean water solutions, the partnership will combine heavy construction expertise with green infrastructure technologies. Local polluted runoff challenges are a threat to Loudoun County’s creeks, streams, and the Potomac River—the county’s drinking water supply. The 2015 site selected will be in a central location in a Loudoun County community where local residents will reap the benefits.

The final result of Potomac Conservancy's and HLI's stormwater management site repair.

Volunteering their time, equipment, and expertise, the HLI class is showing tremendous leadership and commitment to doing their part for local waterways. They recognize that, as developers and contractors, their industry can play a bigger role in promoting river-friendly growth. This partnership between Potomac Conservancy and HCCA’s HLI members is an example of how unlikely allies joining together can shape tomorrow’s growth and leave a legacy of clean water.

Keep an eye out for progress updates on the ‘Hard Hats for a Healthy Potomac’ partnership’s work in Loudoun County and for announcements about future projects in Fairfax and Prince William counties!