A More Pristine Occoquan River/Reservoir—October 5, 2024
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) hosted their bi-annual river/reservoir cleanup event. With the belief that collective action can lead to significant change, 205 dedicated volunteers—including 78 children—gathered to help restore and preserve the natural beauty of the Occoquan and its surroundings.
The cleanup covered multiple critical areas, including the Bull Run, Fountainhead, the Occoquan Regional Park/Marinas in Fairfax County, the Lake Ridge Marina, the Town of Occoquan, and the Harbour Brethren Club in Prince William County. A wide array of community groups and organizations lent their support, such as the Sandy Run Scullers Rowing Club, Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), George Mason Powerlifting Team, Ulliman Schutte Construction LLC, Northern VA Geocaching Org. (NoVAGO), Bull Run Rotary Club, Osbourn High School Interactive Club, Nicki Bellezza (FCWA), South County Key Club (SCKC), Lake Ridge Middle School National Honor Society, Boy Scout Troop 1396, BS Pack 1365, BSA Troop 219, BS Troop 1369 and their leaders, and families with their children, who also played a crucial role. A special acknowledgment goes to Harry Wiggins of Troop 1396, who generously provided his pontoon boat so Scouts could remove trash from the water.
Volunteers were able to gather an impressive 140 bags of trash alongside a variety of oversized items collected, such as three tires, a shopping cart, four chairs, two gasoline cans, four buckets, five gutter moldings, six large plastic pieces, two coolers, a small trampoline, a large metal piece, several Styrofoam pieces, two poles, two wooden pallets, and a picnic stool, 12 whiskey bottles, golf club, and a bow/arrow.
The event would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, the numerous organizations, volunteers, and participants. FOTO extends a heartfelt “Thank You” to the Fairfax and Prince William County park managers, their staff, and the FOTO’s station managers who contributed their energies to make this cleanup a success.
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