Neighbors of the Northwest Branch

08/18/2026

Do you love the Northwest Branch and its watershed? Become a candidate to join the Neighbors of the Northwest Branch Board of Directors. We have a number of open seats this election and we're looking for people who have been volunteering with us a while and want to be part of overseeing NNWB operations or those who want to be involved but can't do trash collection or vine removal.

We especially need people with skills in any of the following: tech, finance (we need a treasurer), nonprofit organization experience, database entry/management, fundraising or membership development.

Help plan and oversee ex*****on of programs to restore, preserve and protect the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia. The board meets virtually once a month.

For more information about board service or how to become a candidate, email [email protected].

08/17/2026

On Saturday August 15 Neighbors of the Northwest Branch and Montgomery Parks held a cleanup event at Broadacres Local Park. There were 20 volunteers who removed 550 pounds of trash from the park and adjacent woodland. Thank you to all who participated. The next event for NNWB is on September 5 at 475 Southampton Drive. Please register at this link:

https://montgomeryparks.org/events/cleanup-at-northwest-branch-stream-valley-park-stream-ssl-volunteer/

07/28/2026

I have a couple of cleanup events scheduled on the Montgomery Parks website. The cleanups are enjoyable and rewarding, in my opinion!!! The links are below.

Saturday August 15 from 9:30-11:30am
Broadacres Local Park

https://montgomeryparks.org/events/cleanup-at-broadacres-park-with-neighbors-of-northwest-branch/

Saturday September 5 from 9-11am
Northwest Branch at Northwest Park Apartments

https://montgomeryparks.org/events/cleanup-at-northwest-branch-stream-valley-park-stream-ssl-volunteer/

I look forward to seeing some of you there!

07/14/2026

What a beautiful way to protect the Northwest Branch! This is a bioretention garden located in Wheaton Regional Park. The garden soaks up polluted stormwater before it reaches the Northwest Branch. The native plants are now in bloom and full of pollinators!

07/11/2026

Today I was the co-leader with Drew (stream strider) of a group cleanup on the Northwest Branch at McAlpine Road. Many cleanups have been done here with much of the oversized items having been removed. Today we focused on the storm channels where a lot of trash from the nearby highway had collected. There was a total of 18 volunteers and we removed almost 700 pounds of trash. We had a great group of volunteers. Thank you!

07/02/2026

Four days ago we received a report of illegal dumping (furniture) on Old Randolph Road at the NWB. Glenn had made two attempts to have Montgomery Parks remove the furniture. Yesterday we located the area, stacked the furniture and reported it to Montgomery Parks. Today the furniture was removed by Parks. Our thanks to Glenn and Montgomery Parks.

06/20/2026

This morning I was the co-leader with Montgomery Parks stream strider Drew MacKay of a cleanup in the Northwest Branch, behind the Northwest Park apartments. We had a great group of eight volunteers for the cleanup event. There continues to be a lot of trash in this area and since our last visit in April illegal dumping of furniture had occurred. We managed to get all the furniture out along with fifteen bags of trash. In total 897 pounds of trash was removed from the watershed. A great result for a small group! Thank you to all the enthusiastic volunteers. The next cleanup in the NWB is on July 11 at McAlpine Road. Please register at the link below:

https://montgomeryparks.org/events/cleanup-at-northwest-branch-stream-valley-park-with-neighbors-of-northwest-branch-2/

06/16/2026

We are looking for more volunteers this Saturday 9-11am to help with a cleanup in the Northwest Branch. Please register at the link below:

https://montgomeryparks.org/events/cleanup-at-northwest-branch-stream-valley-park-with-neighbors-of-northwest-branch/

Thank you!!!

Join Montgomery Parks & Neighbors of Northwest Branch at a volunteer park cleanup! Help beautify your community green spaces, keep litter out of our streams, and protect wildlife!

05/12/2026

Last week I represented Neighbors of the Northwest Branch for a cleanup at Wheaton Regional Park with students from the Charles E Smith JDS. The park was quite clean resulting in only one bag of trash collected but what was most important was the chance to encourage environmental stewardship. It was a fun morning with the students.

05/09/2026

Today Phillip and I led a group of eight volunteers who helped to cleanup an area in the Northwest Branch Stream Valley. What a great group they were! Together we removed over 600 lbs of trash from the park. It wasn’t easy with some oversized objects weighing close to 100 lbs and located far from the drop off point. This is the fourth cleanup of the area where illegal dumping had occurred. Additional cleanups will focus on the storm water channel leading to the Northwest Branch. My thanks to all!