Springhill Lake Elementary School Cleanup. Photo by Cindy Murray.

Mark your calendar for Saturday morning, April 4 for the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, organized by the Alice Ferguson Foundation.  The goal is to pick up as much trash as possible before spring rains wash it into the creeks, streams, rivers, and bays (and eventually back into our drinking water and recreational areas).  According to their website, “since 1989, more than 40,000 volunteers have teamed with 300 partner organizations to tug over 1,500 tons of trash from the watershed´s streams, rivers and bays. Last year´s haul of over 291 tons included more than 18 tons of recyclables, 2,625 tires, 13,000 balls, 25 bicycles, 26 shopping carts, 100lb of metal piping, 6 TVs and 2 bathtubs!” 

This is a fun event for all ages and abilities, with 22 sites in the District ready to roll, and lots more across the region. But this is only part of what individuals can do as part of the Trash-Free Potomac Watershed Initiative.  Here’s a handy checklist for everyone to improve the health and human enjoyment of rivers and streams of the Potomac River Watershed.  Consider pledging to do your part by:

• properly disposing of trash
• picking up one piece of litter each day
• purchasing products made of recycled materials and with less packaging
• recycling at home, office, school, and any public event
• using reusable shopping bags
• limiting use of single-use beverage containers

My personal goal this year is to limit (or eliminate) purchases of things that don’t go in the recycling bin, compost vegetable scraps, and always carry a reusable shopping bag.  I’m also pledging to talk about this to people in my neighborhood, neighborhood businesses, my officemates–and you.  I’ll be posting more about technologies that turn waste into resources, so stay tuned!

First off, if you’re a Nats fan headed to the game with the Orioles on Sunday, good luck. You’re hosed.

Heads up to everyone travelling across the District this weekend: every single Metro line is seeing major track work and rail testing from Friday night through early Monday morning.

Blue Line
Sad to say, this one’s been hit the worst. First, customers traveling between the Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations should add up to 30 minutes of travel time for their trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains between these locations will share one track from 10 p.m. to closing (3 a.m.), Friday, June 27, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday, June 28, 10 p.m. to closing (3 a.m.), Saturday, June 28, and 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sunday, June 29.

Additionally, if you’re traveling between the Pentagon City and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations, you should add 15 minutes of travel time for your trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains will share one track between these locations from 10 p.m. to closing (midnight), Sunday, June 29.

Yellow Line
You get to piggy-back on the Blue Line’s woes. See above for sharing issues between Pentagon City and Reagan National.

Orange Line
Riders traveling between the Stadium-Armory and Cheverly Metrorail stations should add up to 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because of bridge repairs. Inbound and outbound trains between these locations will share one track from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 28.

Green Line
If you’re traveling between the Greenbelt and College Park Metrorail stations, add 15 minutes of travel time for your trips because of rail car testing. Inbound and outbound trains will share one track between these locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 28.

Red Line
And finally, riders traveling between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail stations should add 15 minutes of travel time for their trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains will share one track between these locations from 9 p.m. to closing (midnight), Sunday, June 29.