A watershed is a land area that drains water into a creek, river, lake, wetland, bay, or groundwater aquifer. All the water from rain and irrigation which flows over the land surface (called runoff) goes into storm drains, creeks and rivers. You live in a watershed that flows to a local creek, and all of the runoff from your home, yard and neighborhood flows to that creek. Litter and trash is not only dumped and discarded along our streams but it is also carried there from rainwater runoff. Watersheds are more than just drainage areas in and around our communities. They are necessary to support habitat for plants and animals and they also provide the opportunity for recreation and enjoyment of nature. Surf your watershed by zip code on the EPA's website here http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm.
Here are some local watershed cleanups going on in Delaware & Chester Counties. Pull up your sleeves, put on an old pair of shoes and volunteer to help clean up some trash from your local creek.
4th Annual Chester Creek Earth Day 4/18/09
Join Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed Association and West Chester area residents in the fourth annual cleanup of Goose Creek in West Chester Borough and West Goshen. To volunteer contact CRC at crc@nni.com or 610-892-8731. Team leaders needed!
When/Where: 9 AM - 11 AM / Goose Creek in West Chester Borough & West Goshen Twp.
12th Annual Chester-Ridley-Crum Creeks Clean Up 5/2/09
Volunteer to help clean up the Chester, Ridley & Crum Creeks. 35 clean up sites available. Last year over 500 people picked up an estimated 40,000 lbs. of debris! Call or email to find a location near you. 610-892-8731 or crc@nni.com
When/Where: 9 AM - 12 PM / Multiple locations along the creeks
Learn more about the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) http://www.crcwatersheds.org/node/home. CRC is a nonprofit organization devoted to the protection of water resources and the natural environment of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum Creek Valleys, and the health, recreational, and quality of life benefits they afford the residents of this region. Our stewardship area encompasses 132 square miles and 35 municipalities, from the South Valley Hills to Delaware Bay. Become a member, volunteer to help and/or donate to support this organization.
25th Annual Darby-Cobbs Creek Clean Up 4/25/09
Celebrate Earth Day and volunteer to help the Darby Creek Valley Association clean up trash and debris from Darby & Cobbs Creeks. Over the years they have taken out cars, sofas, tires, bicycles and a whole lot of trash. Creek cleaners are needed along the entire length of the creek including Radnor, Marple, Bryn Mawr, Havertown, Drexel Hill, Clifton Heights, Lansdowne, Springfield & Briarcliff to name SOME of the locations. Visit their site for a full list of locations and clean up site captains. http://dcva.org/cleanup.html
I and my son's Cub Scout troop, pack 111, will be volunteering at the Gillespie Park location in Clifton Heights. There are 30 site locations to choose from and a ton of trash that needs to be picked up along the creek. Contact a site captain near you to let them know if you will be participating. The site captain will need to make sure there are enough work gloves & t-shirts for all volunteers.
When/Where: 9 AM - 1 PM / Multiple locations all along Darby & Cobbs Creeks
Learn more about the Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA) at http://www.dcva.org/index.html. The DCVA is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of all the Darby Creek watershed's resources, including water, wildlife, historical sites, and the floodplain. The Darby Creek watershed encompasses three counties in southeastern Pennsylvania (Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia) and eventually flows into the Delaware River at Tinicum, PA. Become a member, volunteer to help and/or donate to support this organization.
