On Friday, April 4, 2025, we kicked off our 24th season of Project Clean Stream (PCS)! Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and partners who joined us. 24 volunteers from Washington, DC, Bowie, Maryland, and Richmond, VA helped us remove 630 pounds of trash from the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It’s not too late to get involved! Read on to find out more.

 

Project Clean Stream in Washington, DC

Washington, DC’s PCS Spring Kick-off 2026 was held at The Well at Oxon Run. We had 14 volunteers with staff (and Ollie!) that collected over 20 bags of trash in addition to multiple camping chairs, 2 pop-up tent frames, a futon cushion, a stroller, and an electric scooter. Together, we prevented over 20 bags of trash from entering Oxon Creek, a 1.5-mile creek that drains into the Potomac River.

people pose for a group picture in front of a creek

Alliance volunteers pose with the bags of trash they collected along the Oxon Creek.

 

Project Clean Stream in Bowie, Maryland

The Maryland PCS Spring Kick-off 2026 was hosted in partnership with Bowie State University. We met at the Fran Uhler Natural Area to clean up a ¾ mile trail. Together, 6 students and 1 staff member helped us remove 225 pounds of trash, plus many large, bulky items, from the Patuxent River watershed.

people posing for a group picture in nature

Bowie State University students celebrate in front of all the bags of trash they collected along the Fran Uhler Natural Area.

 

Project Clean Stream in Richmond, VA

In Richmond, VA, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay met at Blackwell Park/Charlie Sydnor Playground to host their PCS Spring Kick-off. Alliance staff, two city parks staff, and two volunteers gathered 105 pounds of trash!

a person picking up trash with a trash grabber

An Alliance volunteer uses a trash grabber to remove litter from Blackwell Park.

 

Interested in getting involved this season?

It’s not too late! You can find a list of cleanups happening around the watershed on the Chesapeake Network. You can also host your own cleanup by registering your cleanup site on the Chesapeake Network and becoming a site captain today! More information can be found in our site captain packet. Finally, be sure to keep us up to date about your community’s needs, and report a trashy area here.

 

See more photos from the spring 2026 kickoff!