July 08, 2014

A Return to the River

July 08, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

With the fast-paced nature of today's working world, it's easy to convince ourselves that our passion for the outdoors was a luxury of the past, when childhood summers were filled with playful adventures in forests, fields, beaches and creeks.

Take a journey with Casey as she relives her childhood memories on the Chesapeake and discovers new meaning of our local lands and waters at Maryland's Piscataway Park.

Casey is the Volunteer and Membership Coordinator at the Accokeek Foundation.

June 30, 2014

Our Nation's River: A Troubled Past, A Bright Future

June 30, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers flowing through our Nation’s Capital should be a point of pride for those living and working in Washington, D.C., but are they?

Potomac Conservancy Policy Manager, Amanda John, takes a closer look at the District's clean water efforts over the years, and the existing challenges that still remain.

June 24, 2014

5 Things You Should Know About the D.C. Milestone Assessment

June 24, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

To ensure Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts remain on track, each of the six Bay states and Washington, D.C., committed to two-year pollution reduction goals or "milestones."

Check out 5 key takeaways from the recently released 2012/2013 D.C. Milestone Assessment, and learn more about recent clean water successes and existing pollution challenges in our nation's capital.

June 04, 2014

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Lauren

June 04, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Lauren and fellow team members from Corner Alliance recently helped remove litter and debris along the shores of the Potomac in the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

Check out what Lauren has to say about her day of volunteer service after the jump.

May 29, 2014

One Team's Efforts to Preserve Water Quality, Protect Rural Lands

May 29, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Stewardship Specialist Tracy Lind writes in about the conservation work she and the Potomac Conservancy team pursues each day. With conservation experience in Alaska and the Lower Shore of Maryland, Tracy joined the Conservancy's Land Team last fall to help fight for permanent protection of our forested, streamside and rural lands.

Check out Tracy's story after the jump.

May 22, 2014

Sewage Spills Reverse Potomac Restoration Efforts

May 22, 2014/ Rebecca Long

With numerous heavy rain storms hitting the DC Metro region recently, Potomac Conservancy President, Hedrick Belin, guest blogs to take a look at how they're affecting the health of your favorite river and what needs to be done. Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount of the Washington Post.

May 19, 2014

Fairfax Youth Group Lead Way to Cleaner Waters

May 19, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Learn how a local youth group of 6th and 7th graders used their voices, influence and a little elbow grease to stand up for clean water!

May 16, 2014

Bay-Wide Buffer Goals Fall Behind

May 16, 2014/ Rebecca Long

The Chesapeake Bay Journal reports that since 2007, Chesapeake Bay wide riparian buffer goals are falling by the wayside. Learn more about what's causing the decline and how you can get involved.

Photo by Chesapeake Bay Journal photographer Dave Harp shows portions of the upper Nanticoke in Delaware are not line with streamside buffers.

May 12, 2014

Capstone Complete: A Planting at Glen Echo Park

May 12, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Our Chesapeake Conservation Corps, Rebecca, completed her capstone project at Glen Echo Park. Learn more about it and see the flyers she created to educate Potomac residents about native plants, rain gardens, and river friendly products.

May 07, 2014

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Peter & the Bloomberg Crew

May 07, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

An energetic clean up crew from Bloomberg joined Potomac Conservancy on Saturday, April 26 for a day of trash removal at the Fletcher's Cove in Washington, DC. Peter and his colleagues helped remove litter and debris along the shores of the Potomac in the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

Learn why Peter thinks clean water is important after the jump.

May 02, 2014

Island Ford Farm; a Legacy of Protection

May 02, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Sometimes, even though permanent protection of a beautiful piece of land is something that everyone wants, it can take a while to make it happen. Learn how individual action and collaboration helped the Vance brothers protect 179 acres in the Potomac headwaters.

May 01, 2014

Cleaning Up the River Friendly Way

May 01, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Now that you know what you can do on your property to benefit clean water, what about inside your home? Check out Rebecca’s fourth blog on river friendly cleaning and beauty products to help ensure what you put down the drain isn’t harming the Potomac.

April 30, 2014

Some Businesses Start in a Garage, Others in a Bus

April 30, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Starting out of a bus in 1978, learn how Ecoprint emerged from one person's passion as an environmental activist.

Guest blogger and Potomac Conservancy member, Roger Telschow, is President and Founder of Ecoprint, a sustainable printing and mailing business located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Learn more about Roger's story after the jump!

April 28, 2014

Hard Hats for a Healthy Potomac

April 28, 2014/ Rebecca Long

We are thrilled to announce a public-private partnership unlike Potomac Conservancy has ever embarked upon before! Learn more about Hard Hats for a Healthy Potomac after the jump!

April 25, 2014

Growing Acceptance for Cost-Saving, Natural Infrastructure

April 25, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

With National Arbor Day upon us, Potomac Conservancy Board Member and long-time friend, G. Tracy Mehan, III signals an important trend as local stakeholders show growing acceptance for investing in green and gray infrastructure to achieve source water protections.

Mehan reviews three publications on forests, natural infrastructure, and engineered solutions in the May/June 2014 edition of The Environmental Forum, published by the Environmental Law Institute (www.eli.org).

Learn more about changing attitudes and read Mehan's full literature review after the jump.

April 24, 2014

Rain Gardens and the Potomac

April 24, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Want to put your new knowledge of native and invasive plants to the test? Make your next planting a rain garden planting! Learn more about rain gardens from Rebecca's third blog post.

April 22, 2014

Earth Day Resolution

April 22, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Sometimes it can feel like the world’s problems are too big for any one person or community to handle. But did you know that water quality is largely dependent on local actions?

Make a 2014 Earth Day resolution to take an action for clean water! Learn how you can help improve local water quality after the jump.

April 21, 2014

Native Plants to the Potomac Watershed

April 21, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Do you know which plants are native to the Potomac region? How about which plants aren't, how they got here, and how they're effecting the native plant species? Learn more from Rebecca's second blog post after the jump!

April 16, 2014

Remembering Frank Woodson

April 16, 2014/ Melissa Diemand

Potomac Conservancy recently lost a dear friend and partner with the passing of Frank Woodson in March. Frank was a long-time supporter of the Conservancy and a true champion for conservation. He protected more than 200 acres of his West Virginia farm and forest land in 2007 and was a well-respected and passionate advocate for land protection along the South Branch River in Hampshire County.

Learn more about Frank and his legacy after the jump.

April 11, 2014

Native Plantings to Restore and Protect Glen Echo Park

April 11, 2014/ Rebecca Long

Our Chesapeake Conservation Corps fellow, Rebecca, is up to some exciting work! Not only is she leading and coordinating her capstone project, she’ll be blogging about it! Learn about her native planting event at Glen Echo Park and what you can do to help!

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