Environmental Services
Volunteer Activities
Are you concerned about streams in Arlington? Help be a part of the solution! Check below to find out all the different ways that you can volunteer to help our streams and the environment!
Introduction
Volunteers are critical to many state and local government programs across the country. Volunteers help with stream cleanups, restoration projects, tree planting activities, and stream monitoring. Volunteers are trained to help with different activities, depending on the local information needs. Whatever your interest or activity level is, there is a stream volunteer activity for you!
Stream Monitoring Program Recognized for Ten Years of Service!
Description of Volunteer Activities
Read a brochure about Stream Volunteer Activities in Arlington (315 KB, PDF format).
| Activity | Description | Contact Person |
| Stream Cleanups | Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment conducts regular stream cleanups in our local streams. Come out and bag some trash! | Elenor Hodges of ACE at 703-228-6427. |
| Storm Drain Marking | Storm Drain Marking involves gluing vinyl markers to storm drains, that state "Don't Dump! Drains to Stream". The markers are customized with the name of Arlington's local streams and remind people that our storm drains flow directly, untreated into our streams. | Jen McDonnell at 703-228-3042. |
| Adopt-a-Street | Help keep your street clean and beautiful, and help our local streams too! The Adopt-a-Street Program is an economical solution to storm water management and litter control throughout Arlington, while providing residents with an opportunity to do something positive for the community. Individuals or groups can volunteering to help keep our neighborhoods clean by "adopting" a section of road pledging to keep the street, curb, and storm drain free of trash and debris for a commitment of 1 year by performing clean up duties on a quarterly basis. Find out more! | Check if your street is available, and sign up online! |
| Adopt-a-Stream | The Adopt-a-Stream program matches you or your group with a section of a local stream, which you commit to cleaning approximately four times a year. To Adopt-a-Stream, a member from your group will meet with a naturalist to register and select your stream reach. | Gulf Branch Nature Center 703-228-3403 |
| Invasive Plants Removal | Invasive non-native plants are a challenge in many parts of the County. Citizens can learn to identify invasive plant species and assist with removing them during invasive plant removal activities. | Sarah Archer at 703-228-1862 |
| Stream Monitoring | Stream monitors are citizen scientists that collect biological and chemical data for Arlington's streams. The County’s adopted Watershed Management Plan (2001) recommended long term monitoring at 15 stream sites around the County. The collected data helps Arlington track water quality changes resulting from our stream protection initiatives. Stream monitors are 18 years of age or older. If younger than 18 years, they must be accompanied by an adult that is also participating in the program. Monitoring results from our sites are available on the citizen monitoring pages and a video of stream monitoring is also available. Arlington also has a dedicated team of bacteria monitors. Once a month these volunteers collect samples from 13 sites across the County. Learn more about this program and see recent data. To learn more about these programs, contact Jen McDonnell. | Jen McDonnell at 703-228-3042 |
Calendar of Activities
Please check Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment's web site for current volunteer opportunities.
Arlington Storm Drain Marker
Here is a picture of Arlington's storm drain marker, featuring "Sherlock Shad", a local fish who is helping seek out and prevent pollution!
STREAM MONITORING
