Habitat volunteers from the Office of Naval Intelligence White Hats Association cleaned up stream banks at two locations along Marumsco Creek in Woodbridge on Saturday, July 30, 2016. The project was organized by Habitat for Humanity Prince William County and the Prince William County Department of Public Work’s Environmental Services Division.
Litter was removed from a drainage channel near Pinetree Drive, including a 55-gallon drum, and erosion was abated with rip-rap.
Near Millwood Drive, a rip-rap forebay, check dam and earthen berm were created to finish a bio-basin and swale to Marumsco Creek. The work mitigated some of the run-off from streets that cause erosion and pollution of the waterway.
The President of the White Hats Association, a 2nd Class Petty Officer stationed at the Office of Naval Intelligence in DC, organized the Habitat volunteer team. The White Hats Association is comprised of Junior Sailors who freely give their time to support the community.
Habitat for Humanity Prince William County regularly partners its Habitat volunteers with work needed by the Prince William County Public Works Department. Tim Hughes, an Engineering Assistant with Prince William County’s Environmental Services Division, provided materials for the Marumsco Creek project and led the volunteers with Habitat’s Construction Manager, John Blake.
Steep banks compounded the work and the Habitat volunteers were taxed by the extreme heat and humidity. But the stunning beauty of Prince William County’s landscape were enhanced by their efforts!
Community Development projects like this one are part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization program (NR). The NR program engages the residents of neighborhoods and other community partners to revive neighborhoods and make them safe, inviting places to live. Community development projects impact many residents. They improve the health and well-being of residents by revitalizing public areas, removing blight, improving water quality and generally giving residents improved access to public areas and a better sense of well-being and safety.
If you’d like to participate in a Community Development project, or you know of one that should take place, please contact us at 703-369-6708 or programs@habitatpwc.org.