The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) hosted their annual kayak cleanup at Hunting Creek in Alexandria, Virginia. The goal was remove debris and trash from Hunting Creek – a tidal wetland which flows directly into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay.
24 community volunteers showed their support on a warm Saturday morning to give their time out on the water. A huge mound of trash was collected in the few hours the event was held showing just how far a little bit of effort can go.
From plastic bottles and styrofoam containers to tennis balls and even a car battery, NVCT volunteers removed any trash found in the waters and on the shoreline to support a healthy and thriving environment for all the plants and wildlife who rely on this habitat.
“We’re continuously impressed by the commitment NVCT volunteers have to the lands and waters that we serve.” said Alan Rowsome, Executive Director of NVCT. “Hunting Creek is an important ecosystem in our area that is critical to supporting healthy wildlife populations and maintaining water quality. Not only did we have this opportunity to enhance a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but we were able to contribute to the upkeep of one of our lands in which we steward.” NVCT owns a small piece of land along the creek near Old Town Alexandria that it maintains for its conservation benefits.
This kayak cleanup would not have been possible without the support of the residents of the Porto Vecchio Condominium building and a donation of boats from Belle Haven Marina. To learn more about the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the work that they do, visit www.nvct.org.
NVCT has protected over 7,000 acres of land in the Northern Virginia region over the last 25 years and continues to host volunteer-based events which benefit the public lands and waters of our communities.
