For information contact: Elenor Hodges 703-228-6427

ARLINGTON STREAM STEWARDS TRAINED TO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH
volunteer program to train presenters for watershed presentations

Arlington, VA July 26, 2001 - Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) is seeking volunteers to serve as Project Watershed Watch stream stewards, a program that will provide training for delivering classroom and community presentations about Arlington's watersheds. Volunteers who speak a second language are especially needed.

"The stream stewards will be an important component to our watershed outreach plan for Arlington County," said Aileen Winquist, a planner with Arlington County Department of Environmental Services. "These volunteers will enable us to expand our reach about important environmental and health issues related to the water quality in our streams."

Volunteers will complete a five-hour training this fall and then commit to delivering five presentations about Arlington's waterways during the year in Arlington schools or within the community. The training is scheduled for September with two options: Thursday, September 13 and 20 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. or Saturday, September 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The training is free and materials will be provided. An application is available from ACE at 703-228-6427 or office@arlingtonenvironment.org

Project Watershed Watch is funded in part by a $9,500 grant to ACE from the Virginia Environmental Endowment. Project partners include Arlington County Department of Environmental Services; Arlington County Parks, Recreation, and Community Resources; Friends of Four Mile Run; the Northern Virginia Regional Commission; the Northern Virginia Conservatin Trust; and the Virginia Native Plant Society. Project Watershed Watch will engage Arlington County residents in monitoring, restoration, and conservation activities along Four Mile Run.