If you are interested in helping to take care of the natural communities of Rock Creek Park, here are some ideas:
Volunteer
- Learn about volunteering at Rock Creek Park.
- Team up with Rock Creek Conservancy, a citizen-based, non-profit organization that hosts volunteer restoration events for the benefit of the lands and waters of Rock Creek. Contact: www.rockcreekconservancy.org (202) 237-8866 info@rockcreekconservancy.org.
- Team up with Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, another citizen-based, non-profit organization that hosts volunteer restoration events in partnership with the National Park Service to restore a 27-acre historic gem on one of Rock Creek’s tributaries in the nation’s capital.
In the Park
Trails:
Stay on trails and respect fences. Park staff sometimes put up fences to keep out deer or to discourage foot traffic in erosion-prone areas. You can help by staying out of fenced-in areas.
Pets:
Keep your pet on a leash so that it does not disturb animals or dig up plants. Clean up after your pet to help keep streams and rivers clean.
Keep Your Eyes Open:
Alert park staff if you see any of the following along the trail: diseased vegetation, infestation by non-native insects, invasion by non-native vegetation (especially Early Detection Rapid Response species), trash, unauthorized trails, or anything that looks amiss. Make a note of your location, take a picture if you can, and contact Rock Creek Park’s Chief of Resources Management at 202-895-6010.
At Home
Landscape with Natives:
Many non-native invasive plants started out as—or still are—popular landscaping plants, so you can help limit their spread by choosing native plants for your yard. If you do plant non-natives, remove seeds and berries before wind and animals spread them. English ivy won’t produce berries unless it’s climbing a vertical surface, so keep it off trees and walls.
Protect Streams:
Keep litter, fertilizer, pet waste, and yard waste off the streets where it can wash into the storm drains that lead directly to creeks. Consider installing a rain garden in your yard to slow down stormwater run-off and help recharge the groundwater.