Albert, a D.C. resident and dedicated Volunteer Leader, has led nine cleanups across the Potomac River region, removing over two tons of trash with the help of community volunteers.

albert picking up litter at one of our scoop n’ paddle events

One source of pollution is still getting worse in the Potomac River, threatening wildlife and drinking water: polluted urban runoff. It’s the only source of pollution still growing in the Potomac River. When rain flows across roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, it carries oil, fertilizers, trash, and even diluted sewage into streams. This runoff harms fish, wildlife, local ecosystems, and the overall water quality of the Potomac River region.

At Potomac Conservancy, we host land and river litter cleanup events across the Potomac River region! These cleanups serve to get the community involved in the fight for a swimmable, fishable, and clean Potomac River for all.

Riverside litter and polluted runoff can’t win

One of our Volunteer Leaders, Albert, is no stranger to making a difference. As an Eagle Scout and long-term D.C. resident, environmental advocacy comes naturally to him. During the height of the COVID pandemic, before ever joining one of our trash cleanups, he decided to step up and act. He organized his own river cleanups, bringing friends together for safe outdoor gatherings, turning small hangouts into impactful action for the Potomac River.

Since then, Albert has used his passion for the Potomac and connecting people to become a Volunteer Leader with Potomac Conservancy. Over the last three years he has made a real splash for our local waterways. Albert has led nine cleanups across the region and has no plans of letting up anytime soon! With the help of his fellow volunteers, Albert has gathered over 5,240 pounds of trash around the Potomac River Region.

But do these actually cleanups matter?

“Water is life,” he says. “It feels embarrassing that the nation’s capital has a river still working toward being fishable and swimmable.”

The Potomac River provides 90 percent of our drinking water, making its protection essential. Every piece of trash we remove from local waterways makes our drinking water source that much cleaner

Albert has led a lot of cleanups and seen a lot of trash. During one of his cleanups, volunteers uncovered 10 City Bikes that they had to pull from the river. That is 500 pounds of trash taken out of the river!

While discoveries like that may seem funny at first, they highlight the seriousness of polluted runoff and litter in our beloved river that Albert is tirelessly working to combat.

Every cleanup creates hope

Despite the challenges of seeing an abundance of litter in our local environment, Albert remains hopeful.

For him, every cleanup he leads is about more than picking up trash. The opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals whom he might have otherwise never met without these cleanups is not lost on Albert. Sometimes people end up meeting their neighbor! Fostering these connections is priceless to him.

Every piece of litter collected is one step closer to a healthier and more resilient Potomac.

Be part of the change

Albert envisions a future where the Potomac is at the center of a river-friendly city, with accessible recreation, thriving eco-businesses, and a community that takes immense pride in a clean and healthy river.

Volunteer Leaders like Albert make our mission possible. The fight for a clean Potomac starts with us. Whether you want to train as a Volunteer Leader or try out your first event as a volunteer, we would love to see you on the river.