Program areas at PRKN
Watershed Protection: We identify sources of pollution and figure out how to stop them. We regularly patrol the rivers we work to protect. We respond to tips and complaints. We review paper records - like discharge monitoring reports and inspection reports - to determine whether violations have occurred. We collect evidence - water quality samples, photographs, videos, victims interviews- and build the case we need to stop the pollution. And we organize - we listen to communities along the river and work with them to stop the problems about which they care the most. We build grassroots support for clean water through stewardship, including our on-the-water paddle series: Riverpalooza.
Lower Potomac: We pursued our trash free Potomac campaign with volunteer trash cleanups in Alexandria, National Harbor, and Oxon Run and an organizing effort to pass legislation to address the sources of plastic pollution. We expanded our community science water quality monitoring on the Potomac River in DC, Maryland and Virginia. We expanded our 50 million mussels campaign at National Harbor. We worked with Congresswoman Norton to pass legislation requiring the army corps of engineers to do a study of where swimming can safely occur in the rivers in DC.
Shenandoah: We upgraded our monitoring equipment for toxic algal outbreaks so we dont have to rely on the state to determine when and where they occur. We filed 16 algae complaints with the Commonwealth in 2022. We organized a cleanup with 16 partner organizations of 62 sites on earth day, removing 60 tires and 200 bags of trash from the shenandoah river system.We renewed our internship program with four universities: Shenandoah University, Howard University Law School, Trinity University, and Hood College. We also expanded partnerships with community groups led by people of color for both pollution stopping and recreational access programs.
Upper Potomac: We expanded our investigation and awareness campaign for pfas (forever chemicals), including partnering with USGS on testing pfas levels in fish tissue and blood. We expanded our community science water quality monitoring program in partnership with Hood College to test for conventional pollutants and also acid mine drainage.