DDOE Director Hawkins "preaching green"

More pictures from Nov. 16th - photos by joe morcos

Trinh Doan and Gilda Allen getting it done.

Gilda eyes her new retirement vehicle.

Students and coaching staff from Anacostia High School in SE DC came out to help with the event. Many hands made light work.

Pictures from Nov. 16th, 2007

Joseph Glover (chair, PBPRA), Pete Hill, and Irv Sheffey (Sierra Club) showing pride in a job welldone.

The biocells will need to be watered every two weeks for the first year.
Once the plants are established they will tolerate the regular rainfall
conditions and survive on their own.
The Raingarden at Fairlawn Ave and M Place SE just before
planting.

Another view of the M Place/30th St. Biocell/raingarden and the stabilized hillside (filtrex blanket)

Pictures from planting event

nov. 16h planting pictures

RAIN GARDEN PLANTING

On November 16th, staff from PBPRA, DDOE, and DPR worked with students from the Anacostia High School to plant the 4 bioretention cells along M Place SE. The planting went forward despite the chilly tempatures. Thanks to all who came out to help or just observe the commotion.

November 1st meeting

same place, same time. hope to see some new faces at this meeting.
6-7:30 at Penn Ave Baptist Church

October Meeting Minutes

Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance
October 4, 2007 Meeting Minutes
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church
3000 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20020

Attendance
Joseph Glover, Chair jagbfree@comcast.net
Irv Sheffey, Sierra Club irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org
Julie Rones jrones_2000@yahoo.com
Jesse Rounds, DPR jesse.rounds@dc.gov
Peter Hill, DPR peter.hill@dc.gov
Mike Thorstenson, DCWASA michael.thorstenson@dcwasa.com

Introductions
Approval of October Agenda – Passed
Approval of September Minutes – Passed
Stream Restoration & Sewer Rehabilitation Pope Branch Project
Design Alternative Technical Memorandum submitted by Black & Veatch
i. Distributed amongst DCWASA, DPR and DDOE on 10-3-07
ii. Currently being reviewed by DCWASA, DPR and DDOE
iii. Provides concept level designs for stream restoration and sewer rehab components – no details
iv. Outlines opinion of probable construction cost (OPCC) for both sewer and stream restoration
Schedule Update
i. Black & Veatch is on hold pending agreement from the MOU agencies as to direction / approach following DATM
ii. Assuming Black & Veatch is provided direction in 30 days, Final Designs expected April 2007
iii. DATM raised ancillary issues that may extend design time

Issues
i. Initial OPCC by Black & Veatch greater than anticipated

1. Questions regarding estimate computation

2. Cost saving options being explored

a. Expected with this submittal (DATM)
ii. Stream Restoration Details
1. DATM was vague regarding certain details and being clarified week of Oct 8th
Involvement
i. Public involvement limited to this point, anticipate greater role as design proceeds past this stage
ii. J. Glover requesting electronic copy of documents previously supplied by WASA
Rain Gardens – DDOE / DPR
Schedule proceeding in permitting stages
i. DDOE agreed to provide and pay for a water source that will be used to maintain the rain gardens on M Place
After DDOE receives signed plans from DPR, it will organize a kick-off planting event to recognize the crucial partnership established amongst the agencies and PBPRA
Branch Ave. Culvert Repair – DDOT (not present)
Copy of Final Designs provided to J. Glover
i. DCWASA & design team previously provided information to assist in design
Culvert project already advertised (not certain on bid date)
Culvert project will have completed or nearing completion when stream restoration project is starting
Public Outreach – Irv Sheffey, Sierra Club
Having trouble getting people involved, key questions to answer
i. Why is it important? How does this affect them?
ii. What’s involved? What needs to be done?

2 Options
i. Go to other agency/ ANC meetings and present / recruit?
ii. Advertise and get people to attend this meeting?
iii. Consensus for better result is to go to the other meetings.
Example of good outreach: Watershed Summit
i. Presentation by Irv Sheffey highlighting Pope Branch
Requesting any photos available from any MOU agency & Black & Veatch
i. WASA will request that photos be supplied to addresses provided (Irv Sheffey, Joseph Glover)
Next Meeting – November 1, 2007 at 6pm at same location

Minutes taken by Mr. Mike Thorstenson, DCWASA

We thank Mr. Thorstenson for a fine job.

If you have questions or concerns; please E-mail them to Joseph A. Glover, Chair PBPRA.

Joseph A. Glover, Chair Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance (PBPRA)

October 4th monthly meeting REMINDER

Hello all residents of, friends of, associates of the Pope Branch watershed. We will be meeting at our regular time - that's THURSDAY 10/4/07 AT 18:00 HRS.. OR 6:00pm in the Penn Ave. Baptist Church basement.
Agenda items will include the rain garden kickoff event, news on the stream restoration designs, and general updates from all of the stakeholders. Hope you can make it.

Sept Meeting

Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance
September 6, 2007 Meeting minutes

In attendance:
Joseph Glover, chair 202-581-1214 jagbfree@comcast.net
Irv Sheffey, Sierra Club irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org
Gail Benjamin, DPR gail.benjamin@dc.gov
Trinh Doan, DDOE 202-535-1653 patricia.doan@dc.gov
Tom Arrasmith, AWCAC thomas.arrasmith@verizon.net
Barry Lucas, DWASA blucas@dcwasa.com
Julie Rones, jrones_2000@yahoo.com
Dennis Chestnut, Marvin Gaye Park dchestn@msn.com

Action Items/Agenda:
(1) Agency Reports
(2) Outreach – recruitment for governance maintenance on Pope Branch Park.
(3) Watts Branch interests

Agency Status Reports
DDOE: (T. Doan)
- Contractor, Black & Vetch (B&V) is on schedule for designing alternative technical memo. There may be one or two months turn around on DATM approval of alternative.

DCWASA: (B. Lucas)
- B&V is performing the necessary background information. They have found that there are erosion along the stream bank. B&V will develop a topo map to evaluate the slope. , surveying, geological mapping, and WASA record drawing search to identify potential design alternatives for both the stream restoration and the sewer rehabilitation.
September 27, B&V is when the design alternate memorandum plan will be submitted from B&V. The MOU will have a public meeting.
- On March 2008, the design will be up for bids. It will be sent to full board of directors. Public meetings. Three agencies will view and approve or reject the project. There will be a press release by end of October on the design.

DDPR: (G. Benjamin)
- The MOU for installing a rain garden signed, and the project is ready to proceed.
No updates on the walking trail of Pope Branch. (Refer to Jesse Rounds)

DDOT: DDOT has monthly meetings with Anacostia Watershed Initiatives, with various agencies and contactrators to focus on the waterfront restorations.

Outreach and Education for Pope Branch areas: (I. Sheffey)
- As part of the publicity & outreach efforts, PBPRA would like to conduct a “virtual brainstorming” session. An e-mail will come out with a list of ideas. An individual will “reply all” with more ideas. Irv Sheffy I. Sheffey will oversee the flow of emails and will compile all the suggestions into a master list. Some suggested ideas already are: (1) go door to door to homes along the creek; ask neighbors what they would like to see happen in and around Pope Branch Park. (2) Conduct a poll. (3) Ask neighbors to adopt-a-spot with the park to keep clean and free of invasive plants. (4) Host a community cook out; celebrate the park. (5) Post signs along the edges of the park informing the community that “we all live in a watershed”; create ownership. ect…
Watts Branch interest: (D. Chestnut)
- Watts Branch has a grant from DDOE to work on bank restoration, just like Pope Branch Park, but much larger.
- The fund uses to replace to old bridge to build a new pedestrian bridge on 42nd Street and Hunt Place, NE.
- The trail on Watts Branch Park will be completed in Jan. 08. DSWASA and DDOT are building and supporting the trail project. Other restoration projects include to develop a pervious surface parking lot, rain gardens and a river crossing for alignment. Watts needs an MOU from WASA to continue. PBPRA advise Watts Branch to seek partnership with DPR in install rain gardens and LID practices.

Announcements: (all)
- Correction from last minute: Casey Trees’ “Project Slurp” is an educational service on stormwater runoff. DDOE (Trinh) provides supplies and assistance on the Storm Drain Marker installation project.
- Allison Fisher, coordinator of the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light is seeking a part-time internship, $12/hr. Please recommend.
- Brendan Shane, formerly with Anacostia Waterfront Corporation is now working for District Dept. of the Environment as a financial advisor for the DDOE director.
- Anacostia Waterfront Citizens Advisory advises DC to increase stream stewardship by installing floating docks. In MD, National Capital of Public & Planning with AWS, installed a floating dock by the US Arboretum. DDOE approved the project with collaboration from various organizations. T. Arrasmith advises the organizations to build constituencies for budgeting competitiveness, convince congressional delegation to save the environment.
- DC License Tag initiative: ““No taxation without representation” or “Save the Anacostia”. Concilmember Jim Graham is heavy on green cars. MD has adopted CA car standards, DC should follow.
- October 22, 2007: Councilmen hearing on green business development.
- Ward 7 has a new green high school, TC William HS that is obtaining an LEED grade for underground water system. An initiative calls for all new DC buildings will be LEED building.

Next meeting: Thursday – October 4, 2007. 6:30- 7:30 P.M.

A Friendly Reminder

THIS IS A FRIENDLY REMINDER!!!!

Our Scheduled September Meeting of the Alliance is Thursday September 06, 2007 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at our usual location "The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church located at 3000 Pa. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20020".

The Design Team of Black and Veatch (B&V) continue to be present in and around Pope Branch Park in pursuit of designing the project.

PBPRA request September reports from the following agency representatives:

- Mr. Berry Lucas and or Mr. Michael Thorstenson, DCWASA – Please provide your written monthly report on the status of the Pope Branch Park Restoration Project for September.

- Ms. Gale Benjamin, DDPR – Please provide a written update on the Status of the Draft agreement between DDPR and the PBPRA to maintain rain gardens in Pope Branch Park

- Mr. Jesse Rounds, DDPR - please provide a written update on the Trails Project in the Pope Branch Park.

- Mr. Ali Shakeri, DDOT - Please provide a written report on the culvert repair project in Pope Branch Park. Also, provide a copy of the MOU, Task Order and Project Design.

- Mr. Peter Hill and or Trinh Doan, DDOE – Please provide a written report on the Pope Branch Park Restoration Project from your prospective.

Thanks to each of you in advance for your assistance. We look forward to receiving your reports and to seeing you on Thursday evening (9/6/07).

If you have questions or would like to communicate on issues regarding this project, please contact Joseph Glover at the following email address jagbfree@comcast.net.
Blessings to all,

Joseph A. Glover, Chair PBPRA

September meeting

Hello all,
the september meeting will be held at the regular time and regular date (first thursday of the month). That's Sept 6th at 6pm and the Penn Ave baptist church basement..

see you there...

Outreach ideas, Irv Sheffey

Dear Alliance Member,

As part of our publicity and outreach efforts to people who live around Pope Branch Park, we are conducting a “virtual brainstorming” session. Following is a list of a few ideas on how we can conduct reach out to the community and enroll them into the activities of the Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance. Consider these ideas as simply being “seeds” to get the conversation started. I’ve included a few basic rules that apply to brainstorming to guide us. Keep in mind that the sky is the limit, so brainstorm away. Add an idea or two or three (or more) to the existing list and reply to all so that others can see what you’ve generated. Review the postings by others from time to time and continue to add again and again, each time “replying to all” to keep the ball rolling. I will compile all the suggestions into a master list and publish it after the Alliance’s next meeting.

Following are some rules related to brainstorming:
We are attempting to collect as many ideas as possible from all participants with no criticisms or judgments made while ideas are being generated.
All ideas are welcome no matter how silly or far out they seem. Be creative. The more ideas the better because at this point you don't know what might work.
All ideas are equally valid at this point.
Build on others' ideas.
Don’t limit yourself

Some ideas:
1. go door to door to homes along the creek, ask neighbors what they would like to see happen in and around Pope Branch Park
2. conduct a poll
3. ask neighbors to adopt-a-spot within the park to keep clean and free of invasive plants
4. host a community cook out; celebrate the park
5. post signs along the edges of the park informing the community that “we all live in a watershed”; create ownership
6. drain stenciling
7. sponsor an art show; painting and drawings of the park by local children & adults (possibly with local schools and/or churches)
8. poetry contest; peoples reflections of the park and nature
9. art contest to design a logo for the Alliance
10. Encourage local Civic Associations (Dupont Park, Penn Branch Citizens/Civic Association and Fort Davis) to assist us in getting the word out and recruiting new members.
11. 11. Encourage local churches to assist us in getting the word out and recruiting new members.
12. 12. Plan cleanup(s) and invite community residents along the park, as well as non residential groups. Plan an incentive for local residents to turn out.

August Meeting minutes

Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance
August 2, 2007 Meeting minutes

In attendance:
Joseph Glover, chair, jagbfree@comcast.net
Irv Sheffey irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org
Gail Benjamin, gail.benjamin@dc.gov
Trinh Doan, patricia.doan@dc.gov

Action items/ Agenda:
(1) Execution of the Pope Branch Task Order – we need DC WASA to give us the updates.
(2) Outreach – recruitment for governance maintenance on Pope Branch Park.
(3) Trail construction partnership with DPR and REI.
(4) Anacostia Watershed Citizens’ Summit report.

Agency Status Reports
DDOE: (T. Doan)
• DDOE encourage Minnesota – Fairlawn residents to volunteer ~1.5 hr. to maintain governance, i.e. trash pick up, plant maintenance. Would like to put in action this Spring ’07 when we get recruitment.
• Contractor, Black & Vetch (B&V) is on schedule for designing alternative technical memo. The memorandum will be submitted on August 26, 2007, expected date is end of September. There may be one or two months turn around on DATM approval of alternative

DCWASA: (e-mail correspondence from Mike Thorstenson)
• B&V is performing the necessary background information, surveying, geological mapping, and WASA record drawing search to identify potential design alternatives for both the stream restoration and the sewer rehabilitation.
• B&V is expected to give initial cost estimates to be included in the recommended alternative. If there are multiple viable options, then they would be identified at this time as well. There are no complications at this time. September 26 is when the plan will be submitted from B&V.
• B&V has been scouting Pope Branch neighborhoods for markings. Good progress.

DDPR: (G. Benjamin)
• The MOU for installing a rain garden at the church is in a draft form and soon needed a signature from director of DPR. PBPRA has agreed to maintain the rain garden. From the MOU, the maintenance include: mulching, removal of debris, trimming, trash pick up, watering, staking the shrubs/trees, treating diseased trees.
• I. Sheffey suggested we need trainings on the maintenance of rain gardens before we take the responsibilities. DC Greenworks has maintained many greenroofing, rain barrels, and young tree. We could consult these people. Steve Coleman of Watts Branch has Washington Parks and People to maintain their gardens. We may want to explore this option.
• No updates on the walking trail of Pope Branch. (Refer to Jesse Rounds)

DDOT: (no updates)

Outreach and Education for Pope Branch areas: (I. Sheffey)
• Service projects for students in W7 schools (Kimball ES, Randall HS, ect) on installing Storm Drain Makers. Casey Trees has a program called: Project Slurp about storm drain stenciling. DDOE has all the supplies for the storm drain marker installing.
• Prince Georges, Montgomery Counties and Virginia have an “Anti-littering Campaign” addressing responsible actions. Irv Sheffey has an idea of forming an “I Care” campaign for DC to promote awareness of clean/ trash free environments.
• As part of the publicity & outreach efforts, PBPRA would like to conduct a “virtual brainstorming” session. An e-mail will come out with a list of ideas. An individual will “reply all” with more ideas. I. Sheffey will oversee the flow of emails and will compile all the suggestions into a master list. Some suggested ideas already are: (1) go door to door to homes along the creek; ask neighbors what they would like to see happen in and around Pope Branch Park. (2) Conduct a poll. (3) Ask neighbors to adopt-a-spot with the park to keep clean and free of invasive plants. (4) Host a community cook out; celebrate the park. (5) Post signs along the edges of the park informing the community that “we all live in a watershed”; create ownership. ect….

Announcements: (all)
- M. Thorstenson (DWASA) has moved to Chicago with his wife. However, Mike is planning to see this subwatershed plan get through.
- Josh Burch (ECC) has resigned.
- DC is proposing a couple of new car licenses. Sam Jordan of W7 suggests “save the Anacostia” plate. Another suggestion is “No taxation without representation”. Carol Schwartz in 2000 proposed the license plates, but the bill did not pass.

Next meeting: Thursday – September 6, 2007. 6:30- 7:30 P.M.

August 2nd Meeting, Today!

Hope to see everyone from each department. We will discuss status of the Task Order, and we'll talk about watershed events for kids.

The meeting location will be at The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 3000 Pa. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20020.

More to come. Stay tuned.

July meeting postponed

hello All, the PBPRA will postpone meeting until August - thanks and stay tuned.

Next monthly meeting

Hello All,
the next monthly meeting will be at the standard date, time and location - July 5th, 6:00 pm at the Penn. Ave. Baptist Church. We will be keeping tabs on the progress of the stream/sewer project as well as developing ideas for new involvement of community members. see you there,

Next meeting - June 7th

Hello all,
the next monthly meeting will be held at the same time/location. 6-7:30 at the penn ave. baptist church basement. see you there

Next meeting: May 3rd, 2007, 6:00 PM

This will be our 1st alliance meeting since DCWASA executed the task order. The contract execution represents a significant milestone and should clear the way for smooth sailing? We are looking forward to meeting the project design team Black and Veatch.

A second important agenda item follow: We look forward to a workable plan / agreement, before meeting time, with DC Department of Parks and Recreation, DC Department of the Environment and the Alliance to install rain gardens in Pope Branch Park this spring.

Usual location: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, located at 3000 Pa. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20020.

Good News: the Task Order has been executed

DCWASA has executed the Pope Branch Park Project Task Order!! The stream restoration and sanitary sewer rehabilitation/replacement projects will be inititated and will be moving forward. Our scope of work and deliverables are drawn out. We are extremely excited about the execution. Thanks to all the PBPRA citizens for pushing the effort, for being persistence, and for taking the lead to get the Task Order underway. Whoo hoo!! Cheers to the power of the citizens!!

April Minutes

Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance
April 5, 2007 Meeting minutes

Action Items/Agenda:
(1) Execution of the Pope Branch Task Order – we need DC WASA to give us the updates.
(2) Outreach – recruitment for governance maintenance on Pope Branch Park.
(3) Trail construction partnership with DPR and REI.
(4) Anacostia Watershed Citizens’ Summit report.

Agency Status Reports
DDOE: (P. Hill and T. Doan)
• DDOE encourage Minnesota – Fairlawn residents to volunteer ~1.5 hr. to maintain governance, i.e. trash pick up, plant maintenance. Would like to put in action this Spring ’07 if we get recruitment.
• LID status in Pope Branch watershed: (1) M Place: the design system at the end of M Place/Fairlawn Ave is now day lighting, with rip-rap erosion protection into the floodplain on DPR property. The final processing from DC Permitting Office and DPR maintenance responsibility will kick off the project. (2) DC Therapeutic Center: the design was revised this fall. DC Permitting Office/Public Space will take the final processing with DPW assuming maintenance. DDOT will review the project after permitting is completed. (3) Penn. Ave First Baptist Church: Resurfacing parking lot using BaySavers in lieu of bioretention. DDOE suggest a construction of a rain garden to address storm water runoff near the Church Office. Construction is completed.

DCWASA: (e-mail correspondence to DCWASA general manager)
• J. Glover e-mailed a request on the status of the Execution of the Pope Branch Task Order to Mr. Jerry Johnson, WASA Finance General Manager.
• Pope Branch Alliance would like a written progress report on the execution of the Task Order, at least what the execution date is likely to be if the Task Force has not been executed.
• J. Glover waits for an e-reply or anything. T. Arrasmith and Commissioner P. Hammond express support for the Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance.
• Once Task Force order is executed, Black and Vetch, our contractor will join PBPRA monthly meeting.

DDPR: (Jesse Rounds’ email update)
• DPR is exploring to include Pope Branch into partnership with REI’s (outdoor retailer) trail construction program. The program involves youths from Ward 7 and 8 recreation centers working with experts from REI and DPR to construct the trails.
• An update of the planning stage and trail alignment will be presented next month’s meeting.
DDOT: (no updates)

Anacostia Citizens’ Summit Report: (J. Glover)
- Pope Branch Restoration Alliance attended the 1st Annual Anacostia Watershed Citizens’ Summit on Saturday March 24, 2007 the include nine (9) organizations expressing major concerns, restoration priorities, sharing greatest success to date, restoration recommendations and sharing organizational needs for the efforts in restoring the Anacostia Watershed.
- The goal is the have 30 organizational groups by 2010 so that we can better clean the People’s River.
- The common concern in all organizations is education and outreach. We need to educate the youths and have AWC take ownership for the park and improvements.
- Read report of the Summit at: http://popebranch.blogspot.com.

Next meeting: Thursday -- May 3, 2007. 6:30- 7:30 P.M.

Next Meeting: April 5, 2007

Hola, the next meeting will be held on the normal date (first Thursday of the month) at the regular location (Penn. Ave. Baptist church 1st floor) at 6:30PM. Hope to see you there. April 5, 2007.

Update (4/2/07): This just in --

Our Scheduled April Meeting of the Alliance is Thursday April 05, 2007 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at our usual location "The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church located at 3000 Pa. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20020".

Please note the 6:00 start time. We need to encourage and help all that are willing to participate. There have been some that can meet early and some that need a later time. I feel we can accommodate all by starting at 6 and ending at 7:30. The results of this change will extend the end time by ½ hour, but it accommodates all starting time requests so far. We can discuss this issue at this month's meeting.

Reporting from the Citizen's Summit, by Joseph Glover

On Saturday March 24, 2007 we attended the 1st Annual Anacostia Watershed Citizens' Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland Stamp Student Union Prince George's Room. The Pope Branch Restoration Alliance was represented by Joseph A. Glover, Founder and Chairman; Mr. Irv Sheffey, Sierra Club; Mr. Charles Mason, Mr. Kwame Brown's Office (At-Large DC City Councilmember) and Ms. Trinh Doan, DDOE. We thank all of the attendees and offer a special thanks to Mr. Kwame Brown for participating. Also, we thank Mr. Irv Sheffey for producing out Power Point Presentation (PPP). We were extremely blessed to have such an illustrious group representing our Sub-Watershed - The Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance.

At the summit each Sub-watershed were allowed to make a five minute presentation. Most had a PPP. I presented for Pope Branch Alliance Sub-Watershed. It was my 1st experience with a PPP, but I think it went pretty well. Some of the other Sub-Watersheds are very well organized and seeing their displays and presentations was a learning experience for me. I plan to put to practice what I learned. I have already provided additional data for improving our power point presentation.
The Summit included two panels with members of the Sub-Water Sheds making up the panels. I represented the Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance group on the 2nd panel. They wanted to know our successes, and that was easy for me. Since we were the only Sub-Watershed group with a fully funded restoration plan with an approved and signed MOU and projected plans that should lead to the restoration of one of the two Anacostia River Sub-Watersheds in the city. Also, we were the only group that had representation from an elected official. We feel Washington, DC and Ward 7 were well represented by us.

We were very impressed with every aspect of the summit and hope it becomes an annual occurrence. In my opinion it is these types of affairs that will speed up the day when the Anacostia River will become appealing for its cleanliness and beauty. It will then take its rightful place with other grand and important rivers of the world.

If you questions, please address them to Joseph A. Glover at my Email address jagbfree@comcast.net or by phoning 202-581-1214.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Glover, Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance Founder and Chairman

Annacostia Watershed Citzen's Summit

Tomorrow is the First Annual Anacostia Watershed Citizen's Summit.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Place: University of Maryland Stamp Student Union
Join with members of citizen subwatershed groups across the Anacostia watershed for this opportunity to learn, network and collaborate! Registration is required. Our keynote speaker will be the Honorable Tom Dernoga, Prince Georges Co.'s council member. Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance has been invited to be on the panel on organizational issues. We will discuss the our subwatershed's top priorities, issues of concern and needs. More importantly, the panels will talk about what works and what doesn't work. Joseph Glover will lead the Pope Branch Park discussion with Trinh Doan, Irv Sheffey and Albertta Paul.

The Pope Branch Park Restoration Alliance would like to (1) work to ensure "Pope Branch Park Sewer & Stream Restoration Project" is accomplished within a reasonable time frame, (2) outreach in building membership and educating the public, (3) trash & erosion control & removal of trash and invasive non-native plants, (4) incorporate and become a 501(c)3 to more efficiently supply the park's needs.

Our restoration priorities include: (1) public education and outreach, (2) water quality monitoring, and (3) use native plants to help stabilize stream bank. Pope Branch's greatest successes to date comprise of (1) more than 39 years of care and advocating for Pope Branch Park & related areas, (2) advocated for a community & mulit-agency Alliance to fund & develop the "Pope Branch Sewer and Stream Restoration Project" with the DDOE, DDPR & DCWASA, (3) 2007 MLK, Jr. National Day of Service event in west Pope Branch Park with more than 120 volunteers representing more than a dozen organizations and groups that cleaned and removed invasive non-native plants. The preliminary restoration recommendations along our subwatershed is to see the Project to its successful completion, to remove and/or control invasive (non-native) plants, and to work with community and government to accomplish the needs of the park.

Pope Branch Park's main source of organizational needs include (1) outreach, (2) a maintenance plan that consists of community folks, federal and local government representatives working cooperatively as partners, and (30 a plan to control mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus.

Come join us in our discussion of the Anacostia Watershed restoration efforts. Groups that are invited to the summit are: Friends of Sligo Creek, Neighbors fo the Northwest Branch, Eyes of Paint Branch, Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek, Beaverdam Creek Watershed Watch Group, Friends of Still Creek, Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, and Watts Branch Community Alliance. We will have continental breakfast and provide lunch. Everyone is welcomed so long there is room at the Stamp Student Union conference room.

From the 2003 DDOE/Watershed Protection Division's Pope Branch Watershed Implementation Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Located in southeast Washington, DC, Pope Branch is a 1.6-mile first-order tributary of the Anacostia River. The entire stream lies within DC city boundaries, originating downstream of Fort Davis Drive and flowing in a northwesterly direction towards the Anacostia. A portion of this stream (1,700 linear feet or 20%) is piped beginning at the CSX railroad and ending at an outlet to the Anacostia (COG, 2003). The Pope Branch subwatershed encompasses a 248.5-acre area and is roughly bounded by Alabama Avenue to the east, Pennsylvania Avenue to the south, and Massachusetts Avenue to the north.

The heavily urbanized character of the Pope Branch watershed, and its consequent imperviousness, produce conditions for flashy and intense stream channel flows, even during the most moderate of storm events. The resulting hydrologic alterations to natural stream equilibrium have deteriorated the water quality of Pope Branch, and degraded natural habitat. As watershed analysis has revealed, the erosion of its stream banks during storm events is the primary cause of sedimentation within Pope Branch.

There are several other current threats to both water quality and the health of the riparian buffer in the Pope Branch watershed. These include nonpoint source water pollution from stormwater runoff, a failing sewer line that traverses segments of Pope Branch, and lack of riparian cover along portions of the stream. As a result of this, Pope Branch does not support swimmable or secondary contact recreation uses. The potential for sewage line leaks into Pope Branch has produced a human health risk as well. In addition to the degraded water quality, the lower part of Pope Branch is piped, serving as a barrier to fish passage upstream and preventing potential recreational and aesthetic enjoyment of the riparian habitat.
In order to achieve the vision of restoring the habitat, water quality and aesthetics of Pope Branch, three interconnected primary activities are envisioned for the Pope Branch watershed: Stormwater Runoff Reduction, Targeted Outreach and Development of Community Watershed Stewards, and Stream Restoration.

Next meeting/ New time

Hello, the next meeting will be held on the normal date (Thrusday March 1st) at the regular location (Penn. Ave. Baptist church 1st floor) but will be held at 6:30PM. Hope to see you there.

Next community/alliance meeting

The next meeting is schedule for February 1st, 2007 at 6:00 pm at the Penn. Ave. Baptist chuch (lower level) in SE DC. This is our regularly scheduled time (first Thursday of the month) at the regular location...hope to see you there.

King Day of Service

For the first time, service projects were scheduled in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with nearly 1,500 projects for volunteers to sign up. In Washington, DC, about 6,000 volunteers, including several government employees, showed up for service. The DC Jewish Community Center sponsored a clean up of homeless shelters; Cardozo High School had a beautification project and the AmeriCorps members serving with the Earth Conservation Corps had a successful clean up of the Pope Branch Stream (a tributary of the Anacostia River).

PeteHillDDOE, Steve Saari, Sheila Besse and I were impressed towards the success of the Pope Branch clean-up. More than 120 volunteers came out along the stream pulling invasive plant species, clipping dead tree branches and picking up trash – lots of trash. Thoughtful volunteers spent time filtering out recyclables. One of the unusual items found was a vintage bicycle handlebar wrapped in duct tape. The other weird item found was a coconut shell. Last time I checked, coconuts don't grow in DC. One volunteer was mad pulling English ivy vines and had a vision that she had powers to control the movements of the vines and that it was wicked cool to tie up her nemesis with the vines just by the command of her voice. Or maybe the hallucination was that the creeping invasive were trying to attack her, I forget.

The volunteers worked very hard picking up the massive amounts of garbage found along Pope Branch stream. Volunteers clipped vines and removed invasive plant species that include, English Ivy and Japanese knotweed. Donations helped reward the volunteers for their hard work and effort, and were very much appreciated. The snacks and drinks served throughout the morning were gratefully devoured and the enthusiasm from the volunteers was priceless.

Many thanks go out to ECC staffs, Josh Burch, Tim Critchfield, et. al for the set up and the encouragement.

We still need your help!! More garbage is being washed off the city streets, parking lots and yards into the storm drains and rivers and to the Chesapeake Bay. This clean-up event can happen more than once a year and will happen. Any individuals or groups are welcome to the next clean up.

Thank you again to the residents from along the Pope Branch tributary, ECC, DDOE, the DC Sierra Club and The Pope Branch Alliance volunteers for helping to make the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of National Service clean up a success! Woo hoo!!

"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.