Friends of the Occoquan is a non-profit organization of local citizens who preserve and maintain the natural integrity of the Occoquan River and other Virginia and nation wide watersheds by promoting community awareness through public and private partnerships.
Vision of the Friends
To energize individuals, community and business groups to take on the challenges of keeping Virginia’s and the nations reservoirs and rivers clean, by controlling excessive sedimentation and pollution. This message will be brought to schools, civic groups and community organizations, as well as local and federal government agencies.
Goals
Coordinate watershed management efforts and programs.
Open communications and develop cooperation among intergovernmental jurisdictions regarding the rivers and watersheds.
Provide decision makers, policy makers, and citizens with accurate information.
Develop public and private partnerships focused on maintaining the natural integrity of drinking water sources.
Engage the community, including the Spanish speaking population, to become stakeholders of our rivers and streams.
Education and Coordination FOTO is working with community groups, schools, federal, state and local governments to promote watershed preservation.
FOTO continues to expand contacts with other groups to enlarge watershed stakeholders. Installation of international signs along the watersheds is one of our projects.
FOTO is proceeding to engage the Spanish speaking community to become stakeholders of our watersheds and become active in maintaining clean and safe our rivers. In addition to the bilingual signs described below, we will be installing other bilingual signs in DC, Fairfax and PrinceWilliamCounties. Also we are preparing videos, literature and some TV programs.
Washington Post article on FOTO's cleanup efforts.click here
Spring Clean Up 2017
Saturday, April 29, 2017 Occoquan River Cleanup
Thank you Volunteers!!!
It was a hot and humid day, but that did not stop volunteers from coming out to join The Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO), PW Trails & Streams Coalition and PW Soil & Water Conservation District from cleaning up the Occoquan Watershed. Despite being a rescheduled event, 110 faithful FOTO volunteers combed the shores on foot and by boat to relieve the beautiful Occoquan of unsightly debris. SEV1Tech Company, US Marine Staff Academy, Optimist Club, Ms. Pawlik’s Penn Elementary School Class, Manassas Osborn High School students, Boy Scout Troop 1369 and many families with their children collected 88 trash bags and 33 bags of biodegradables and miscellaneous items, such as tires, wooden flower boxes, a Food Lion buggy, sheet metal, lawn mower tires, syringes, cigarette lighters, Styrofoam pieces, coolers, wooden planks, etc.
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Rain Barrel Workshop at Granby Elementary in Norfolk, Virginia
Saturday, April 29, 2017
While northern FOTO friends were cleaning up the Occoquan River, rain barrels were being built down south. Ashley Barnett with the Norfolk School Garden Collective organized a garden building day at Granby Elementary and FOTO member Sonia Monson was there to show youngsters how to turn two pickling barrels into rain harvesters. The Norfolk School Garden Collective is an organization that connects schools to local communities around the city to build gardens and outdoor classrooms for pre k-12. These little ones were eager builders, and by the time we got to the second barrel they already knew what to do before being told. Great Job Granby Elementary!
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FOTO Seed and Plant Exchange - Norfolk, Virginia
On Sunday, April 30, 2017 FOTO hosted its first seed and plant exchange in Norfolk, Virginia. Participants were primarily dancers from the Lakewood Dance and Music Center. Plants included strawberries, a variety of vegetables, herbs, wildflowers and trees/bushes (Red Maple, Rose of Sharon, Nandina, Lilac and Glory Bower). Seeds varieties were in abundance. All participants went home with plenty to plant! Left over plants will go to local community gardens here in the Norfolk, Virginia area.
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FOTO Donates Raised Bed, Soil/Compost and Flowers to Penn Elementary School
Under the guidance and the help of FOTO providing the garden box, soil, and plants, eager students from Ms. Loriann Pawlik's Penn Elementary class are planting their flowers to attract butterflies.
Make a Contribution or Donation:
Please send a check or money order payable to FOTO to the address below:
or pay with credit card using paypal by clicking the link below:
Contact Information
Friends of the Occoquan P.O. Box 1452 Woodbridge, VA 22195-1452 Tel. (703)624-7124
