See our shared calendar with Muddy Branch Alliance and Watts Branch.
Martin Luther King Day of Service: Clearspring Local Park
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Seneca Creek Watershed Partners will be hosting a trash clean up/Invasive plant removal at Clearspring Park from 10-12PM on January 15.
SSL credit is available. Up to fifty volunteers will be picking up trash, and up to ten volunteers over the age of 16 can assist with invasive plant removal. We will meet near the parking lot and shelter.
Please register so that notice can be provided in the event of inclement weather at this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=881246
Additional Upcoming events:
Winter Water Quality Monitoring
We will conduct our seasonal water quality monitoring on January 27 from 11:00-2:00 off Riffle Ford Road. If you are interested in attending, please contact us at senecacreekwp@gmail.com
March 2, 2024: Cleanup along Berryville Road
Join Seneca Creek Watershed Partners in and along the creek as we clean up a section of our stream and its tributary, Hookers Branch. The cleanup will run from 10-12, and we will provide the necessary supplies.
Please RSVP at this link so that we can provide updated information in the event of inclement weather.
Seneca Creek Fall Water Quality Monitoring & Outreach
Join Seneca Creek Watershed Partners and Nature Forward for our October Water Quality monitoring of Seneca Creek. You can either join us at 10:00AM, now on October 21, to help collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates (creek critters) that help us determine stream health, or just stop by our table along the Greenway Trail! Information about our organizations and monitoring efforts will be available at the start of the Greenway Trail off Riffle Ford Road.
Specific location for sampling: 39°08'00.1"N 77°16'03.3"W. We have waders available but recommend bringing waders/boots if you would like to go into the stream.
Native Plant Walk near Blackrock Mill
Seneca Creek Watershed Partners is hosting a walk near Blackrock Mill on September 30, in conjunction with the Maryland Native Plant Society, led by David Anderson. This is a great opportunity to learn about the native plants that call this area home.
We will learn about the different types of native plants, their ecological importance, and how to identify them.
The walk is free and open to all ages. No registration is required, but if there are weather issues, we will communicate cancelations to those who registered. We will be meeting at the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Rt. 28 Parking Lot.
We will meet at 10:00AM in this lot.
For more information, please get in touch with Seneca Creek Watershed Partners at senecacreekwp@gmail.org.
We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Hike with TAME
Join us on a hike in your community and experience the beautiful forestlands that would be lost forever if the proposed M-83 highway is constructed. Learn about the proposed highway. Come and meet Montgomery County Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles (At-Large), and stay afterward for a casual summer luncheon provided by the TAME Coalition at Dayspring Silent Retreat and talk with Councilmember Sayles.
What: 1 mile, round-trip hike along the Dayspring Creek stream valley in the path of the proposed M-83 highway, followed by a casual luncheon at the Dayspring Farm House. Led by TAME Coalition members.
When: Monday, August 28, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
Where: Dayspring Silent Retreat Center, 11301 Neelsville Church Road, Germantown.
Bring water and wear boots or sturdy walking shoes. Please RSVP if you’ll be joining us for lunch: TameCoalition@gmail.com
SCWP Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 pm
Please come and bring friends / neighbors as new SCWP members. We’ll be meeting at the home of Merikay Smith who is stepping down after serving on the Board since 2015 and as president since July 2021.
If you like, bring a dessert or savory to share. 14909 Spring Meadows Drive, Germantown, MD. You are welcome to arrive at 7 pm to walk her garden.
We need a quorum of members present to vote in our new Board. Please show your care of our watershed by attending. Our proposed president-elect, Kevin Misener, will be there to discuss future plans. This is a not-to-be-missed event.
Pollinators: What You Can Do
Tuesday, June 20, 7 pm on Zoom
Celebrate National Pollinator Week by learning about our native pollinators and how you can help protect them. Merikay Smith will share what she has learned about the bees, butterflies and other pollinators of our area and ways we can each make a difference in our home gardens, HOA properties and local parks to create and protect pollinator habitat.
SCWP is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Here’s a link to a recording of the talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMazun6zr28
Spring Monitoring
On Sunday, April 23rd, our team sampled Seneca Creek on Riffle Ford Road. Thanks to a wide diversity of organisms, and a bunch of small minnow mayflies, our biotic index results came out strong:
Pollution Tolerance Index: 30 (23+ is "Excellent")
EPT Index: 50.4% (EPT Index is the total number of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies, divided by the total number of critters collected. Higher EPTs are generally better).
EARTH DAY CLEANUP
Earth Day is Saturday April 22!
Join us for the 5th annual Kelley Park cleanup from 10 am-12 pm. The small stream here is a tributary of Whetstone Run, which leads to Whetstone Lake then to Great Seneca Creek. We will pick up trash on land, in the stream, and in the wetland.
Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes or waterproof boots. Trash grabbers, gloves and bags will be provided. This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome! SSL hours are available for junior and high school students.
Native Tree Giveaway
Native tree and shrub seedlings from DNR will be available to SCWP and MBA members on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31. They are bare root and need to be planted ASAP, ideally the day of pickup.
This is the 9th year Merikay has organized the tree give away (and 10 years since the project started). More than 3,000 native trees have been planted in our watersheds as a result! We have 450 trees to give away this year.
Trees are available at two locations. Both sites will have the same tree species.
Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg MD 20878. Distribution from 4 - 6 pm. Bonnie Bell heads this distribution site.
Merikay’s garden, 14909 Spring Meadows Drive, Germantown, MD. Distribution starts March 30 at 4 pm to 7 pm. If trees remain pickup on Friday, 10 am to noon; 4 - 6 pm.
We're an all volunteer group so would also love it if you'd join our team!
Native Tree and Shrub Species for 2023
50-plum
50-baldcypress
50-elderberry
50-cherrybark oak
50-flowering dogwood
50-willow oak
50-hazelnut
50-pawpaw
50-river birch
Saturday, March 18 . Trash pickup event
10 am to noon
Francoise (Frankie) Andre and neighbors will help us do a trash pickup at “Big Bend” aka “Horse Hole” on Seneca Creek on Saturday, March 18. If weather permits we will wade the stream (we’ll have a few extra pairs of waders) to pickup trash on the far side. State Park rangers will pickup the trash bags when we’re done.
Directions:
Coming down Berryville Rd from Seneca Rd, pass Poplar hill Rd and the "horsehole" at Seneca Creek will be on you left.
Sunday, March 5. Trash pickup event
The Martin family will host a trash pickup event on Sunday, March 5 from 10 am - 4 pm at Diamond Farms Park.
Leave trash bags at the corner near the bus stop, Gaithersburg City will pick them up
Bring: Weather-appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, plastic boots if you want to enter the stream
“Stream Restorations”
Presentation by Ken Bawer on Monday, February 20 at 7:30 pm
Please join us online for a talk by Ken Bawer on the problems that often accompany stream restorations. If you missed this talk it’s recorded and available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohx6bu9TauA
Winter Stream Monitoring
Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon
Kevin Misener plans stream monitoring for macroinvertebrates at the intersection of Riffle Ford Road and Seneca Creek on February 11. If you are interested you can simply show up.
If you don’t know about stream monitoring, watch the video by Kevin about monitoring here.
MLK Service
Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 pm
Join us for a trash pickup at Kelley Park and Victory Farm Park led by Kevin Misener at 2 pm on Sunday, January 15.
Meet at the pedestrian bridge between the two parks. There is parking at the new school or street parking.
First Day Hike
Celebrate New Years’ Day with us as we hike along the Seneca Greenway Trail accessing the trail at Route 355. Hike led by Deby Sarabia.
Stream Hikes in October 2022
Come learn more about the M83, a seriously flawed, proposed highway and experience the forestlands, floodplains, and aquatic resources in our Montgomery Village backyard---natural resources that will be totally destroyed if M83 is constructed. These hikes will be led by Tim Goodfellow and though not sponsored by SCWP are of direct interest to us.
Hike #1: Saturday, October 8 at 10am, starting point: Watkins Mill Elementary School. This hike is a round-trip distance of 1.5 miles along Walkers Run and Whetstone Run to Christopher Court and Breckenridge. We'll return to the elementary school on paths and paved trails through South Valley. Estimated time: 1--1.5 hours
Hike #2: Sunday, October 16 at 4:00pm, starting point: end of Capehart Drive in Stedwick (unreserved parking spots are present). This is a 1.1 mile round trip (with one moderate gradient to climb), crossing over Gatlin Drive hiking past Seneca Spring Way to the vast forested floodplain of Seneca Creek within the Great Seneca Stream Valley Park (the site of a 500-ft bridge to span this lush public parkland--if M83 is built).
[Delegates Kirill Reznik and Gabe Acevero attended the hike led by Tim Goodfellow on Oct. 16.]
IWL Hike to Learn about Salt Monitoring
Oct. 29, 9 am to noon. The hike is free, but everyone must RSVP on Eventbrite so that the IWL can communicate delays or cancelations due to the weather.
The short, guided hike, led by the Izaak Walton League of America and the City of Gaithersburg, will be fun and informative. We’ll talk about the impact of winter salt use and what everyone can do to make a difference. Izaak Walton League will provide a Salt Watch kit to anyone interested in getting involved.
Meet at the Izaak Walton League of America facility (707 Conservation Lane in Gaithersburg).
Stream Monitoring, July 23
Saturday, July 23 at 9:00AM. Raindate will be the 24th. Anyone is welcome to attend. Please feel free to invite others as well. More info will be posted later. Email senecacreekwp@gmail.com if you plan to come.
Invasive Plant Removal, July 30
David Anderson leads a hike on Saturday, July 30 at 1 p.m. to ID plants as well as remove wavy basket grass (an invasive plant) along a tributary of Seneca Creek near Riffle Ford Road. He also led a plant hike on July 14 to identify native plants.
davidanderson1952@yahoo.com
SCWP Annual Meeting 2022
Pizza and discussion at the Rockville IWL.
Seneca State Park: June Volunteering
TRAIL WORK
Use hand tools to get dirty and help us repair and maintain our trail network!
Weather: The sessions will be dry weather only, no work in the rain
Volunteers should bring: Water, snacks, leather/hiking boots, and wear long-sleeves
Staff will provide: Leather gloves as needed, and tools
Wed 6/15, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Corridor clear Lake Shore Trail (part 2)
Meet at Fawn pavilion and clear East toward Longdraft Road.
Objective: Widen trail corridor 3 feet on each side.
Wed 6/22, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
De-berm Greenway/Great Seneca combo trail under the powerline; fix bridge on Old Pond close to powerline.
Meet at the Park Office and hike to the job site.
Objective: Gwy./GS: Fix cupping on trail tread under the powerline. OP: Fix the widening gap between the trail tread and the bridge.
Wed 6/29, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Corridor clear Lake Shore Trail (part 3)
Meet at Fawn pavilion and clear West toward Spillway
Objective: Widen trail corridor 3 feet on each side
*************Kayak Cleanup*********************
Join park staff as we paddle around the lake while picking up trash and jetsam.
Weather: Sunshine or light rain
Meeting location: At the Boat Center near the lake
Volunteers should bring: Water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and a towel
Staff will provide: Trash grabbers, bags, and boats
Tue 6/21, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Register ahead at https://ec.samaritan.com/custom/1528/
As usual, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Ranger Nate Volunteer Coordinator
11950 Clopper RoadGaithersburg, Maryland 20878
nathan.cmiel1@maryland.gov(301)-924-2127 (office)(443)-534-5837 (mobile)
Native Plant Sale
The native plant sale opens Saturday April 16 at 10 am! Find dozens of species, all hand-picked from among those most in-demand in your community.
Volunteers from MBA and SCWP helped with sorting the plants on May 6 and distributing the plants on May 7. The sale only works when volunteers help. We’re co-sponsoring the sale and SCWP will get 10% of the net profits.
4th Annual Kelley Park Cleanup
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 9 am – 12 pm
Meet at Kelley Park at 400 Victory Farm Drive. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes or waterproof boots. Trash grabbers, gloves and bags will be provided. We will pick up trash on land, in the stream, and in the wetland. The parking lot is closed due to the school construction. We will meet at the pedestrian bridge clearly visible from Victory Farm Drive.
This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome! Young children must be accompanied by an adult. SSL hours are available for junior and high school students.
The stream in Kelley Park is a tributary of Whetstone Run that flows into Whetstone Lake, then to Great Seneca Creek, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Plastics in particular are persistent pollutants that can travel thousands of miles in the ocean, and are lethal to animals who mistake it for food.
Thanks for helping to keep our parks and waterways clean and beautiful!
More information:
Seneca Creek Watershed Partners senecacreekwp@gmail.com
City of Gaithersburg 301-258-6370 or environment@gaithersburgmd.gov
Gaithersburg Parks, Arts and Recreation GPARC@gaithersburgmd.gov
Trash Pickup at Victory Farm Park
Saturday, March 26
Deby Sarabia has arranged a trash cleanup at Victory Farm Park this Saturday March 26, 1-3. It is the forest patch by Girard St, a nice spot if you have not been there. But it has been used for camping and/or partying and is thoroughly trashed. Access is via a primitive trail from the shoulder on Girard St or from the park interior. The City is providing grabbers, gloves and bags. Due to the access and amount of trash and thorns it will not be suitable for small children.
A professional botanist will be there to help us identify native plants.
Native Tree Give-Away
Friday, March 25 - Saturday, March 26
NOTE: Trees have all been distributed (Saturday 12:30 pm) We hope to do this again next spring.
If you took trees please plant ASAP and keep roots moist until then. Also, protect from deer with posts and fencing for the first few years.
Native tree and shrub seedlings from DNR will be available to SCWP and MBA members this Friday, March 25. Distribution will be on a first come, first served basis. Each household may take up to 10 free trees/shrubs. They are bare root and need to be planted ASAP, ideally the day of pickup. This is the 8th year Merikay has organized the tree give away (and 10 years since the project started). More than 3,000 native trees have been planted in our watersheds as a result!
Tree and Shrub Species for 2022
50--Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
A multi stemmed shrub that grows to 15 feet, spicebush produces shiny red berries in the fall that are eaten by birds. This species is dioecious which mean male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Best suited to moist sites and has a yellow color in fall.
50--Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
A large deciduous hardwood tr!!ee, which can grow to over 100 feet in height. Sweetgum grows in bottomland areas with rich, moist soil, can tolerate a variety of soil conditions and flooding, but is intolerant of shade. The fruit is a dangling brown, woody spiny tipped “gum ball” with seeds brownish and winged. Has beautiful fall color.
50--Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
A large tree that may grow 40 to 100 feet with a spread of 30 to 50 feet, Swamp chestnut oak is best suited for plantings along streams and bottomlands that are often covered with water. Full sun but tolerates some shade. Tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding. Leaves turn dark red in fall.
50--White oak (Quercus alba)
White oak may grow 80 to 100 feet and is valued for timber, fuelwood and wildlife food and cover. It prefers moist well drained soils. Maryland native.
50--Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
A multi stemmed shrub, growing 6-10 feet tall and wide producing dark blue berries that attract many birds. This native is adaptable to many soil conditions from dry to fairly wet and prefers partial shade or full sun.
90--Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
A small tree or large shrub maturing up to 15 feet high and 10 feet across. This Maryland native prefers full sun to partial shade, dry to moist soil, and is very adaptable. Showy white flowers in the spring produce red berries in the fall. Blackhaw attracts birds, butterflies, moths, and is very important for native bees. Attractive red-purple leaf color in fall.
Instructions for Plant Care
Keep in a cold, dark place until you are ready to plant. Keep the roots moist. Do not put them in a bucket of water for more than 1 hour; this will kill them. The sooner you plant them the better the odds of survival. Ideally trees are planted the day you receive them. Trees will need deer protection.
Keep seedlings covered and out of the wind and sun while planting. Keep the roots moist at all times, but do not put them in a bucket of water for more than 1 hour. (Damp newsprint works for keeping roots moist.) If the roots dry out, your tree is now dead. This can happen in a matter of minutes.
Details on tree planting: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/MarylandersPlantTrees/Plant-Your-Tree.aspx
“Bever in Seneca Watershed”
Presentation by Bonnie Bell
Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 pm
We had a request after Bonnie’s talk about the Greenway Trail to hear about the beaver who live in our watershed. Bonnie has a great talk all about beaver, their life cycle, positive role in riparian habitat, and where you can see active beaver dams in our Seneca watershed.
“Seneca Greenway Trail”
Wednesday, February 23, 7:30 pm
The Greenway Trail offers views of the Seneca Creek, traverses beautiful upland woodlands, provides a spectacular overlook of the stream valley and includes a natural rock bridge near Watkins Mill Road. The Seneca Creek Greenway Trail (SCGT) is planned as a 25 mile greenway connection between the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers. Seeing the trail in winter opens vistas missed when trees are in leaf. Bonnie will share insights from years of walking the trail in all seasons.
Learn “beaver values,’ including why beaver are valuable to our watershed.
Put on your layers, and take a walk in ther woods along the Greenway Trail. Seeing the trail in winter and early spring opens vistas missed when trees are in full leaf. Bonnie will share insights from years of walking the trail in all seasons.
“The True Cost of Salt”
Presentation by Karl Van Neste
Thursday, January 20, 7:30 pm
Graph: Salt readings from 2021. organized by Karl.
As winter is upon us and we brace for ice and snow, we should become aware of the problems associated with salt use on our roads. Salt is a convenient substance to use on slippery roads as it is cheap and somewhat effective in melting ice. The true cost is much greater than the salt itself; it is a hidden cost. Salt corrodes our bridges, our pipes, and our roads. It corrodes our car mufflers and wheel wells. The corroded pipes in Flint Michigan led to their city’s lead problems. Salt kills vegetation and wildlife. Learn what you can do to reduce salt use in our watersheds as well as how to measure salt’s impact on the water of our streams.
Online Event Co-Hosted by Seneca Creek Watershed Partners and Muddy Branch Alliance.
“Macroinvertebrates of Seneca Creek”
Thursday, January 13 at 7:30 pm
Kevin taught us all about the macroinvertebrates living in Seneca Creek, and what they tell us about water quality. He showed photos of each major category such as mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, flatworms, dragon and damselflies and more. He shared recent results from monitoring and also talked about the higher level of salt found after recent snow storms. Kevin has been sampling macroinvertebrates for years on Seneca Creek near Riffle Ford Road using the ANS protocols.
Presentation by Kevin Misener
Erin McArdle of the Montgomery Parks Dept. will take us on a walk of a proposed stream restoration area in this upper section of our watershed.
We’ll meet Monday, January 10 at 3 pm at 25212 Conrad Court and walk down from there.
Wear boots and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain through the woods. Dress for the weather.
For more info: contact senecacreekwp@gmail.com
Clearspring/Magruder Branch
Stream Restoration Hike
January 10, 3 pm
Stream Monitoring at Riffle Ford on Seneca Creek
Jan. 8, 2022 at noon
Getting to Know the Creatures of Seneca Creek
Native Plant ID Hike
Thanks to David Anderson who took us on a walk along the Seneca Greenway Trail identifying native plants as we walked and removing wavyleaf basketgrass. David has extensive knowledge of native plants as a professional botanist who worked for 30 years at the National Botanic Garden. He has offered to host another walk in the future. If he does -- make time to come as it's a rare opportunity to learn.
Kevin Misener led a team of volunteers, several with years of ANS monitoring experience and others of us relative novices, to monitor the macroinvertebrates of Seneca Creek in January, 2022. Despite cold weather of 28 degrees, the sun was shining and it was a pleasure to explore what living creatures survive in the water of our stream. After examining and recording what was found, water and creatures were returned to the creek.
Tipularia discolor
Cranefly
Winter Stream Monitoring
Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon
Kevin Misener plans stream monitoring for macroinvertebrates at the intersection of Riffle Ford Road and Seneca Creek on February 11. If you are interested you can simply show up.
If you don’t know about stream monitoring, watch the video by Kevin about monitoring here.
MLK Service
Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 pm
Join us for a trash pickup at Kelley Park and Victory Farm Park led by Kevin Misener at 2 pm on Sunday, January 15.
Meet at the pedestrian bridge between the two parks. There is parking at the new school or street parking.
First Day Hike along Seneca Creek
Jan. 1, 2023, 1-3 pm
Take an easy winter hike along the Seneca Greenway trail through forest and along wetlands to Watkins Mill Road and beyond. We will walk approximately 1.5 miles along the trail and return the same way. Meet at the large parking area off northbound MD-355 (Frederick Road).
We will also point out the trail connection from 355 to Seneca Creek State Park, and take a quick look at the bridge-induced erosion (and a cool mural) under the road. This common erosion problem delivers sediment and other pollutants to streams and has a significant impact on water quality.
We saw several native orchids and other interesting plants on our guided walk. By removing invasive plants we protect these native plants and the insects and animals they support.
Presentation by Ken Bawer on Monday, February 20 at 7:30 pm
Please join us online for a talk by Ken Bawer on the problems that often accompany stream restorations. If you missed this talk it’s recorded and available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohx6bu9TauA
Hike with TAME
Join us on a hike in your community and experience the beautiful forestlands that would be lost forever if the proposed M-83 highway is constructed. Learn about the proposed highway. Come and meet Montgomery County Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles (At-Large), and stay afterward for a casual summer luncheon provided by the TAME Coalition at Dayspring Silent Retreat and talk with Councilmember Sayles.
What: 1 mile, round-trip hike along the Dayspring Creek stream valley in the path of the proposed M-83 highway, followed by a casual luncheon at the Dayspring Farm House. Led by TAME Coalition members.
When: Monday, August 28, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
Where: Dayspring Silent Retreat Center, 11301 Neelsville Church Road, Germantown.
Bring water and wear boots or sturdy walking shoes. Please RSVP if you’ll be joining us for lunch: TameCoalition@gmail.com
SCWP Annual Membership Meeting
Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 pm (indoors due to heat)
Please come and bring friends / neighbors as new SCWP members. We’ll be meeting at the home of Merikay Smith who is stepping down after serving on the Board since 2015 and as president since July 2021. You are welcome to arrive at 7 pm to walk her garden.
If you like, bring a dessert or savory to share. 14909 Spring Meadows Drive, Germantown, MD.
We need a quorum of members present to vote in our new Board. Please show your care of our watershed by attending. Our proposed president-elect, Kevin Misener, will be there to discuss future plans. This is a not-to-be-missed event.
Pollinators: What You Can Do
Tuesday, June 20, 7 pm on Zoom
Celebrate National Pollinator Week by learning about our native pollinators and how you can help protect them. Merikay Smith will share what she has learned about the bees, butterflies and other pollinators of our area and ways we can each make a difference in our home gardens, HOA properties and local parks to create and protect pollinator habitat.
Here’s a link to a recording of the talk:
Spring Monitoring
On Sunday, April 23rd, our team sampled Seneca Creek on Riffle Ford Road. Thanks to a wide diversity of organisms, and a whole bunch of small minnow mayflies, our biotic index results came out strong:
Pollution Tolerance Index: 30 (23+ is "Excellent")
EPT Index: 50.4% (EPT Index is the total number of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies, divided by the total number of critters collected. Higher EPTs are generally better).
EARTH DAY CLEANUP
Earth Day is Saturday April 22!
Join us for the 5th annual Kelley Park cleanup from 10 am-12 pm. The small stream here is a tributary of Whetstone Run, which leads to Whetstone Lake then to Great Seneca Creek. We will pick up trash on land, in the stream, and in the wetland.
Meet at the pedestrian bridge at Kelley Park, near Harriet Tubman elementary school, 400 Victory Farm Drive in Gaithersburg. Park at the school or on Victory Farm Dr. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes or waterproof boots. Trash grabbers, gloves and bags will be provided. This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome! Young children must be accompanied by an adult. SSL hours are available for junior and high school students.
Native Tree Giveaway
Native tree and shrub seedlings from DNR will be available to SCWP and MBA members on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31. (It's easy to join our watershed groups - you can join online or when you pickup your trees.) Distribution will be on a first come, first served basis. Each household may take up to 10 free trees/shrubs. They are bare root and need to be planted ASAP, ideally the day of pickup.
This is the 9th year Merikay has organized the tree give away (and 10 years since the project started). More than 3,000 native trees have been planted in our watersheds as a result! We have 450 trees to give away this year.
Saturday, March 18 . Trash pickup event
10 am to noon
Francoise (Frankie) Andre and neighbors will help us do a trash pickup at “Big Bend” aka “Horse Hole” on Seneca Creek on Saturday, March 18 from 10 am to noon. Parking is available on Berryville Road. This is an area often used for fishing, picnics and other recreation so Frankie says they frequently do trash pickups in this area. If weather permits we will wade the stream (we’ll have a few extra pairs of waders) to pickup trash on the far side. State Park rangers will pickup the trash bags when we’re done. Bring: Weather-appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, rubber wading boots if you have them (or a kayak).
Sunday, March 5. Trash pickup event
The Martin family will host a trash pickup event on Sunday, March 5 from 10 am - 4 pm at Diamond Farms Park -- Meet at corner of Quince Orchard Boulevard and Diamond Drive, near the basketball courts. Students can earn SSL hours - RSVP to senecacreekwp@gmail.com to confirm hours for SSL work for each of these events. Gaithersburg City will provide: Gloves, Trash bags, Trash pick-up-sticks
Leave trash bags at the corner near the bus stop, Gaithersburg City will pick them up
Bring: Weather-appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, plastic boots if you want to enter the stream
“Stream Restorations”
Events
See our shared calendar with Muddy Branch Alliance and Watts Branch.
Stream Hikes in October 2022
Come learn more about the M83, a seriously flawed, proposed highway and experience the forestlands, floodplains, and aquatic resources in our Montgomery Village backyard---natural resources that will be totally destroyed if M83 is constructed. These hikes will be led by Tim Goodfellow and though not sponsored by SCWP are of direct interest to us.
Hike #1: Saturday, October 8 at 10am, starting point: Watkins Mill Elementary School. This hike is a round-trip distance of 1.5 miles along Walkers Run and Whetstone Run to Christopher Court and Breckenridge. We'll return to the elementary school on paths and paved trails through South Valley. Estimated time: 1--1.5 hours
Hike #2: Sunday, October 16 at 4:00pm, starting point: end of Capehart Drive in Stedwick (unreserved parking spots are present). This is a 1.1 mile round trip (with one moderate gradient to climb), crossing over Gatlin Drive hiking past Seneca Spring Way to the vast forested floodplain of Seneca Creek within the Great Seneca Stream Valley Park (the site of a 500-ft bridge to span this lush public parkland--if M83 is built).
[Delegates Kirill Reznik and Gabe Acevero attended the hike led by Tim Goodfellow on Oct. 16.]
IWL Hike to Learn about Salt Monitoring
Oct. 29, 9 am to noon. The hike is free, but everyone must RSVP on Eventbrite so that the IWL can communicate delays or cancelations due to the weather.
The short, guided hike, led by the Izaak Walton League of America and the City of Gaithersburg, will be fun and informative. We’ll talk about the impact of winter salt use and what everyone can do to make a difference. Izaak Walton League will provide a Salt Watch kit to anyone interested in getting involved.
Meet at the Izaak Walton League of America facility (707 Conservation Lane in Gaithersburg).
Stream Monitoring, July 23
Saturday, July 23 at 9:00AM. Raindate will be the 24th. Anyone is welcome to attend. Please feel free to invite others as well. More info will be posted later. Email senecacreekwp@gmail.com if you plan to come.
Invasive Plant Removal, July 30
David Anderson leads a hike on Saturday, July 30 at 1 p.m. to ID plants as well as remove wavy basket grass (an invasive plant) along a tributary of Seneca Creek near Riffle Ford Road. He also led a plant hike on July 14 to identify native plants.
davidanderson1952@yahoo.com
SCWP Annual Meeting 2022
Pizza and discussion at the Rockville IWL.
Seneca State Park: June Volunteering
TRAIL WORK
Use hand tools to get dirty and help us repair and maintain our trail network!
Weather: The sessions will be dry weather only, no work in the rain
Volunteers should bring: Water, snacks, leather/hiking boots, and wear long-sleeves
Staff will provide: Leather gloves as needed, and tools
Wed 6/15, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Corridor clear Lake Shore Trail (part 2)
Meet at Fawn pavilion and clear East toward Longdraft Road.
Objective: Widen trail corridor 3 feet on each side.
Wed 6/22, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
De-berm Greenway/Great Seneca combo trail under the powerline; fix bridge on Old Pond close to powerline.
Meet at the Park Office and hike to the job site.
Objective: Gwy./GS: Fix cupping on trail tread under the powerline. OP: Fix the widening gap between the trail tread and the bridge.
Wed 6/29, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Corridor clear Lake Shore Trail (part 3)
Meet at Fawn pavilion and clear West toward Spillway
Objective: Widen trail corridor 3 feet on each side
*************Kayak Cleanup*********************
Join park staff as we paddle around the lake while picking up trash and jetsam.
Weather: Sunshine or light rain
Meeting location: At the Boat Center near the lake
Volunteers should bring: Water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, and a towel
Staff will provide: Trash grabbers, bags, and boats
Tue 6/21, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Register ahead at https://ec.samaritan.com/custom/1528/
As usual, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Ranger Nate Volunteer Coordinator
11950 Clopper RoadGaithersburg, Maryland 20878
nathan.cmiel1@maryland.gov(301)-924-2127 (office)(443)-534-5837 (mobile)
Native Plant Sale
The native plant sale opens Saturday April 16 at 10 am! Find dozens of species, all hand-picked from among those most in-demand in your community.
Volunteers from MBA and SCWP helped with sorting the plants on May 6 and distributing the plants on May 7. The sale only works when volunteers help. We’re co-sponsoring the sale and SCWP will get 10% of the net profits.
4th Annual Kelley Park Cleanup
Saturday, April 9, 2022, 9 am – 12 pm
Meet at Kelley Park at 400 Victory Farm Drive. Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes or waterproof boots. Trash grabbers, gloves and bags will be provided. We will pick up trash on land, in the stream, and in the wetland. The parking lot is closed due to the school construction. We will meet at the pedestrian bridge clearly visible from Victory Farm Drive.
This is a family-friendly event and all ages are welcome! Young children must be accompanied by an adult. SSL hours are available for junior and high school students.
The stream in Kelley Park is a tributary of Whetstone Run that flows into Whetstone Lake, then to Great Seneca Creek, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Plastics in particular are persistent pollutants that can travel thousands of miles in the ocean, and are lethal to animals who mistake it for food.
Thanks for helping to keep our parks and waterways clean and beautiful!
More information:
Seneca Creek Watershed Partners senecacreekwp@gmail.com
City of Gaithersburg 301-258-6370 or environment@gaithersburgmd.gov
Gaithersburg Parks, Arts and Recreation GPARC@gaithersburgmd.gov
Trash Pickup at Victory Farm Park
Saturday, March 26
Deby Sarabia has arranged a trash cleanup at Victory Farm Park this Saturday March 26, 1-3. It is the forest patch by Girard St, a nice spot if you have not been there. But it has been used for camping and/or partying and is thoroughly trashed. Access is via a primitive trail from the shoulder on Girard St or from the park interior. The City is providing grabbers, gloves and bags. Due to the access and amount of trash and thorns it will not be suitable for small children.
A professional botanist will be there to help us identify native plants.
Native Tree Give-Away
Friday, March 25 - Saturday, March 26
NOTE: Trees have all been distributed (Saturday 12:30 pm) We hope to do this again next spring.
If you took trees please plant ASAP and keep roots moist until then. Also, protect from deer with posts and fencing for the first few years.
Native tree and shrub seedlings from DNR will be available to SCWP and MBA members this Friday, March 25. Distribution will be on a first come, first served basis. Each household may take up to 10 free trees/shrubs. They are bare root and need to be planted ASAP, ideally the day of pickup. This is the 8th year Merikay has organized the tree give away (and 10 years since the project started). More than 3,000 native trees have been planted in our watersheds as a result!
Tree and Shrub Species for 2022
50--Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
A multi stemmed shrub that grows to 15 feet, spicebush produces shiny red berries in the fall that are eaten by birds. This species is dioecious which mean male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Best suited to moist sites and has a yellow color in fall.
50--Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
A large deciduous hardwood tr!!ee, which can grow to over 100 feet in height. Sweetgum grows in bottomland areas with rich, moist soil, can tolerate a variety of soil conditions and flooding, but is intolerant of shade. The fruit is a dangling brown, woody spiny tipped “gum ball” with seeds brownish and winged. Has beautiful fall color.
50--Swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii)
A large tree that may grow 40 to 100 feet with a spread of 30 to 50 feet, Swamp chestnut oak is best suited for plantings along streams and bottomlands that are often covered with water. Full sun but tolerates some shade. Tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding. Leaves turn dark red in fall.
50--White oak (Quercus alba)
White oak may grow 80 to 100 feet and is valued for timber, fuelwood and wildlife food and cover. It prefers moist well drained soils. Maryland native.
50--Southern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
A multi stemmed shrub, growing 6-10 feet tall and wide producing dark blue berries that attract many birds. This native is adaptable to many soil conditions from dry to fairly wet and prefers partial shade or full sun.
90--Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)
A small tree or large shrub maturing up to 15 feet high and 10 feet across. This Maryland native prefers full sun to partial shade, dry to moist soil, and is very adaptable. Showy white flowers in the spring produce red berries in the fall. Blackhaw attracts birds, butterflies, moths, and is very important for native bees. Attractive red-purple leaf color in fall.
Instructions for Plant Care
Keep in a cold, dark place until you are ready to plant. Keep the roots moist. Do not put them in a bucket of water for more than 1 hour; this will kill them. The sooner you plant them the better the odds of survival. Ideally trees are planted the day you receive them. Trees will need deer protection.
Keep seedlings covered and out of the wind and sun while planting. Keep the roots moist at all times, but do not put them in a bucket of water for more than 1 hour. (Damp newsprint works for keeping roots moist.) If the roots dry out, your tree is now dead. This can happen in a matter of minutes.
Details on tree planting: https://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/MarylandersPlantTrees/Plant-Your-Tree.aspx
“Bever in Seneca Watershed”
Presentation by Bonnie Bell
Tuesday, March 8 at 7:30 pm
We had a request after Bonnie’s talk about the Greenway Trail to hear about the beaver who live in our watershed. Bonnie has a great talk all about beaver, their life cycle, positive role in riparian habitat, and where you can see active beaver dams in our Seneca watershed.
“Seneca Greenway Trail”
Wednesday, February 23, 7:30 pm
The Greenway Trail offers views of the Seneca Creek, traverses beautiful upland woodlands, provides a spectacular overlook of the stream valley and includes a natural rock bridge near Watkins Mill Road. The Seneca Creek Greenway Trail (SCGT) is planned as a 25 mile greenway connection between the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers. Seeing the trail in winter opens vistas missed when trees are in leaf. Bonnie will share insights from years of walking the trail in all seasons.
Learn “beaver values,’ including why beaver are valuable to our watershed.
Put on your layers, and take a walk in ther woods along the Greenway Trail. Seeing the trail in winter and early spring opens vistas missed when trees are in full leaf. Bonnie will share insights from years of walking the trail in all seasons.
“The True Cost of Salt”
Presentation by Karl Van Neste
Thursday, January 20, 7:30 pm
Graph: Salt readings from 2021. organized by Karl.
As winter is upon us and we brace for ice and snow, we should become aware of the problems associated with salt use on our roads. Salt is a convenient substance to use on slippery roads as it is cheap and somewhat effective in melting ice. The true cost is much greater than the salt itself; it is a hidden cost. Salt corrodes our bridges, our pipes, and our roads. It corrodes our car mufflers and wheel wells. The corroded pipes in Flint Michigan led to their city’s lead problems. Salt kills vegetation and wildlife. Learn what you can do to reduce salt use in our watersheds as well as how to measure salt’s impact on the water of our streams.
Online Event Co-Hosted by Seneca Creek Watershed Partners and Muddy Branch Alliance.
“Macroinvertebrates of Seneca Creek”
Thursday, January 13 at 7:30 pm
Kevin taught us all about the macroinvertebrates living in Seneca Creek, and what they tell us about water quality. He showed photos of each major category such as mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, flatworms, dragon and damselflies and more. He shared recent results from monitoring and also talked about the higher level of salt found after recent snow storms. Kevin has been sampling macroinvertebrates for years on Seneca Creek near Riffle Ford Road using the ANS protocols.
Presentation by Kevin Misener
Erin McArdle of the Montgomery Parks Dept. will take us on a walk of a proposed stream restoration area in this upper section of our watershed.
We’ll meet Monday, January 10 at 3 pm at 25212 Conrad Court and walk down from there.
Wear boots and be prepared to walk on uneven terrain through the woods. Dress for the weather.
For more info: contact senecacreekwp@gmail.com
Clearspring/Magruder Branch
Stream Restoration Hike
January 10, 3 pm
Stream Monitoring at Riffle Ford on Seneca Creek
Jan. 8, 2022 at noon
Getting to Know the Creatures of Seneca Creek
Native Plant ID Hike
Thanks to David Anderson who took us on a walk along the Seneca Greenway Trail identifying native plants as we walked and removing wavyleaf basketgrass. David has extensive knowledge of native plants as a professional botanist who worked for 30 years at the National Botanic Garden. He has offered to host another walk in the future. If he does -- make time to come as it's a rare opportunity to learn.
Kevin Misener led a team of volunteers, several with years of ANS monitoring experience and others of us relative novices, to monitor the macroinvertebrates of Seneca Creek in January, 2022. Despite cold weather of 28 degrees, the sun was shining and it was a pleasure to explore what living creatures survive in the water of our stream. After examining and recording what was found, water and creatures were returned to the creek.
Tipularia discolor
Cranefly
Winter Stream Monitoring
Saturday, Feb. 11 at noon
Kevin Misener plans stream monitoring for macroinvertebrates at the intersection of Riffle Ford Road and Seneca Creek on February 11. If you are interested you can simply show up.
If you don’t know about stream monitoring, watch the video by Kevin about monitoring here.
MLK Service
Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 pm
Join us for a trash pickup at Kelley Park and Victory Farm Park led by Kevin Misener at 2 pm on Sunday, January 15.
Meet at the pedestrian bridge between the two parks. There is parking at the new school or street parking.
First Day Hike along Seneca Creek
Jan. 1, 2023, 1-3 pm
Take an easy winter hike along the Seneca Greenway trail through forest and along wetlands to Watkins Mill Road and beyond. We will walk approximately 1.5 miles along the trail and return the same way. Meet at the large parking area off northbound MD-355 (Frederick Road).
We will also point out the trail connection from 355 to Seneca Creek State Park, and take a quick look at the bridge-induced erosion (and a cool mural) under the road. This common erosion problem delivers sediment and other pollutants to streams and has a significant impact on water quality.
We saw several native orchids and other interesting plants on our guided walk. By removing invasive plants we protect these native plants and the insects and animals they support.
Presentation by Ken Bawer on Monday, February 20 at 7:30 pm
Please join us online for a talk by Ken Bawer on the problems that often accompany stream restorations. If you missed this talk it’s recorded and available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohx6bu9TauA
Native Tree Giveaway
FREE TREES!
Native tree and shrub seedlings from DNR will be available to SCWP and MBA members on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31. (It's easy to join our watershed groups - you can join online or when you pickup your trees.) Distribution will be on a first come, first served basis. Each household may take up to 10 free trees/shrubs. They are bare root and need to be planted ASAP, ideally the day of pickup.
This is the 9th year Merikay has organized the tree give away (and 10 years since the project started). More than 3,000 native trees have been planted in our watersheds as a result! We have 450 trees to give away this year.
We need a few volunteers to help on both dates. Contact senecacreekwp@gmail.com if you want to volunteer.
Trees are available at two locations. Both sites will have the same tree species. Merikay picks up the trees from DNR then drops half off at Seneca State Park then sets up for distribution at her home.
Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg MD 20878. Distribution from 4 - 6 pm. Bonnie Bell heads this distribution site. Updates will be posted on the Friends of Seneca Creek State Park Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/foscsp
Merikay’s garden, 14909 Spring Meadows Drive, Germantown, MD. Distribution starts March 30 at 4 pm to 7 pm. If trees remain pickup on Friday, 10 am to noon; 4 - 6 pm.
I will post on FB when all trees are gone. It's too hard to manage setting aside trees for individuals so if you can't come, please arrange for someone else to get your trees. Also, please DON'T come early unless you're one of our volunteers.
We welcome donations to SCWP if you appreciate this and other events we host. We're an all volunteer group so would also love it if you'd join our team!
Native Tree and Shrub Species for 2023
50-plum
50-baldcypress
50-elderberry
50-cherrybark oak
50-flowering dogwood
50-willow oak
50-hazelnut
50-pawpaw
50-river birch
Saturday, March 18 . Trash pickup event
10 am to noon
Francoise (Frankie) Andre and neighbors will help us do a trash pickup at “Big Bend” aka “Horse Hole” on Seneca Creek on Saturday, March 18 from 10 am to noon. Parking is available on Berryville Road. This is an area often used for fishing, picnics and other recreation so Frankie says they frequently do trash pickups in this area. If weather permits we will wade the stream (we’ll have a few extra pairs of waders) to pickup trash on the far side. State Park rangers will pickup the trash bags when we’re done. Bring: Weather-appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, rubber wading boots if you have them (or a kayak).
Directions:
Coming down Berryville Rd from Seneca Rd, pass Poplar hill Rd and the "horsehole" at Seneca Creek will be on you left. If you come from Rt 28, the horsehole will be on your right. There is parking available on both sides of the road. Multiple state park signs designate the area too.
Sunday, March 5. Trash pickup event
The Martin family will host a trash pickup event on Sunday, March 5 from 10 am - 4 pm at Diamond Farms Park -- Meet at corner of Quince Orchard Boulevard and Diamond Drive, near the basketball courts. Students can earn SSL hours - RSVP to senecacreekwp@gmail.com to confirm hours for SSL work for each of these events. Gaithersburg City will provide: Gloves, Trash bags, Trash pick-up-sticks
Leave trash bags at the corner near the bus stop, Gaithersburg City will pick them up
Bring: Weather-appropriate attire, sturdy footwear, plastic boots if you want to enter the stream
