The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are once again joining forces to clean the Wissahickon Creek on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

All volunteers are invited to join us after the clean-up for the “Talkin’ Trash” picnic at Fort Washington State Park at the Flourtown pavilion on Mill Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This spring marks the 45th anniversary of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association’s annual creek clean-up, which is sponsored by Merck and Co. It is the 7th year that Friends of the Wissahickon has joined forces with WVWA to clean the Wissahickon Creek. 

The Friends of the Wissahickon will clean up a section of the creek in Chestnut Hill, at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive at 9 a.m. Please register at the FOW website and indicate if you plan to attend the picnic. Contact volunteer coordinator, John Holback, with questions at 215-247-0417 x107 or send email to: holback@fow.org.

In Montgomery County, volunteers of all ages will be pre-assigned sections of the Wissahickon Creek or a tributary, extending from Lansdale to Flourtown. Sign-up online or contact Madalyn Neff or send email to: madalyn@wvwa.org.

Please indicate the name, size and age range of your group and whether you will join the picnic. You will be contacted regarding your clean up location assignment.

Registration is not required, but is recommended in order to be notified in case of any changes due to weather.   The event will be canceled in the event of heavy rain. Check FOW’s or WVWA’s website or Facebook page for updates.

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will be assigned to clean sections of the area and will be given bags in which to collect trash.

Sponsors of the event provide funding for WVWA’s stewardship efforts throughout the year. The presenting sponsor is Merck & Co. Volunteers from Merck’s West Point plant located at the headwaters of the Wissahickon Creek will help with the clean-up.

Conservationist sponsors include Covanta, DOW Chemical Company, First Niagara Bank and MSS Movers Specialty Service. Both DOW and First Niagara Bank will also send employee volunteers to help with the clean-up.

Additional sponsorship is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania, Ambler Savings Bank, Artman Lutheran Home, BBD, LLP, Caddick Construction, Colorcon, Inc., First Priority Bank, Manufacturer’s Golf & Country Club, North Penn Water Authority, The Philadelphia Cricket Club, Rotary Club of Blue Bell and Russell Roofing.

Companies interested in sponsoring the creek clean up should contact Gina Craigo at WVWA at 215 962-8726.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Friends of the Wissahickon or Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association websites.

4/18/2016