DCVA Upcoming Activities

Darby Creek Valley Association

Annual DCVA Streamwatch April 19, 2008 Ah, Spring is in the air, rain is in the gutters, and the bugs are starting to crawl. But wait, that means that it must be time for our annual DCVA StreamWatch! The annual StreamWatch is scheduled for Saturday April 19. As always, this is a rain or shine event. As always, we will start at Bartram Park in Darby at 9:00. This year we will have the same four sites we have been testing for, well, for ever (not literally!). The results from the samples we took last year were very encouraging; there was an upturn in water quality at all sites. but one data point does not make a trend. So, it will be interesting to see what the 2008 samples will look lie. Because we spend a lot of time in the water, don't forget your waders. If you do not have a set, now is really good time to get a cheap pair (~$25) at Dick's. As always, we really need your help. Your energy powers the whole thing. The turn-out recently has been great, there has been a lot of interest and a lot of people willing to help out. This is a really fun day for everyone. And I hope you can join us. Please contact Alan Samel at (610) 446–1658 or Alan.Samel@verizon.net if you have any questions or to let him know that you want to participate. # # # 24th Annual Darby Creek/Cobbs Creek Cleanup April 26, 2008 “It’s a big watershed….somebody’s gotta clean it…..” Like a ribbon of green beauty, the Darby Creek watershed flows through 77 square miles, 31 municipalities and four counties from Radnor to Tinicum, and on Saturday, April 26, volunteers will once more gather to clean up the accumulated tires, shopping carts and other debris from the creek we all share. “This is the 24th year for the cleanup,” said Jan Haigis, Cleanup Co-Coordinator. “We really live in a very beautiful area and this is a chance to really make a difference. It’s a lot of work but it’s also a lot of fun.” The DCVA cleanup began in 1984 when stalwart volunteers who live along the “Crick” were able to see the beauty beyond the trash and organized a cleanup on the last Saturday in April. Delaware County joined in by providing dumpsters so that everything that got taken out of the Creek got hauled away. Every year more and more sites were added. “Last year we were in 30 individual sites up and down both Darby and Cobbs Creek” said Haigis. She continued, “It is amazing what we find…..Last year we found a Jacuzzi near the Blue Bell and a few years ago we hauled out an entire couch with fish in the cushions….Its always something different.” Click here to open a PDF file containing the list of cleanup sites, and points of contact to volunteer. For additonal information about the 2008 Cleanup call (610) 583-0788. For other upcoming DCVA events click here to view the latest DCVA newsletter (events on the last page)