Purpose: The Catoctin Creek Clean-up was the second of two events organized in the Waterford and Taylorstown communities to provide stewardship activities to help celebrate the importance of Catoctin Creek to the community. The activities also sought to raise awareness regarding water quality problems impacting the watershed.
Supporters:
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy
Loudoun Watershed Watch
Loudoun Environmental Health
Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District
Friends of Catoctin Creek
Taylorstown Community Association
Taylorstown Store
Boy Scout Troop 962 – Lovettsville
Event Coordinators: Ann Larson and Darrell Schwalm
Location:
Ruth and Ray Cheronis Property at Taylorstown Bridge
Taylorstown, VA
Highlights:
The Taylorstown community and the Lovettsville Boy Scouts came out in force on Sunday, April 25, for this stream clean-up event. Boy Scout Troop 962 was on the creek in canoes by 9:30 AM beginning their trash clean-up and Girl Scout Troop 514, Lovettsville, had several members pick up trash at McKimmey Landing on the Potomac River. When they arrived at Taylorstown Bridge, hamburgers and hotdogs were on the grill, and stream monitoring displays and demonstrations were ready. Everything was set up on the Ruth and Ray Cheronis property next to the bridge which attracted a large number of scout leaders, parents, and other people in the community. This helped advertise the event and give an added importance for what the scouts were doing. Both the youth and adults also had an opportunity to learn about aquatic life in the Creek.
Kristi and Peter Larson, LWC stream monitoring team leaders, collected aquatic insects from Catoctin Creek and showed them to the event participants. Jeff Wolinski loaded up his backpack electrical charger, and demonstrated how to monitor fish in the creek. Phil Daley led a nature hike along the stream floodplain where the Virginia Bluebells were in bloom. Ann Larson was at the Taylorstown Store with display materials on the history of the Taylorstown community. Approximately 60 people participated in the event, and not a single hamburger or hot dog was left.
The Cheronis property was well suited for the event. It was large enough to provide ample room and a safe location for the various activities. The Taylorstown Store was available and used for community related displays. Judy Ross volunteered the use of her property for a nature walk along the stream. VDOT cooperated by grading the parking area across from the Cheronis’ and along Hoysville Road which facilitated parking. The Loudoun County Sheriffs Department assisted with slowing down traffic in the area of the event.