2010


For the past 5 years, FPVHG organized and conducted stream clean-ups throughout the Patapsco Valley:

• Over 382,788 pounds (191 tons) of trash removed
  4,566 volunteers (for all PHG-sponsored environmental events)
  
• 151 separate clean ups
  
• 5,509 trash bags, 5 dumpsters & separated large bulk trash/scrap metal items
  
• Estimated 12,782 volunteer hours
  

· NEW in 2010 - FPVHG partnered with the Mid Atlantic Hiking Group to provide safe, guided hikes in the Patapsco River Valley, free to members.

· NEW in 2010 - Partnered with Boy Scouts (advanced Eagle Scout Project) placing new storm drain stencils in targeted neighborhoods and distributing watershed education literature to neighbors.

· For the past 5 years, over 63 river sections and/or streams flowing into the Patapsco River have been adopted by volunteers, monitoring the health and welfare of our streams and sections of the Patapsco River watershed, removing trash and reporting problems to local officials for action.

· For the last 5 years, FPVHG organized and sponsored tree plantings along the Grist Mill Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park, planting 85 trees; 100 trees along Herbert Run on Arbutus Elementary and Middle School properties and 50 trees along Herbert Run on UMBC property. In partnership with the Howard County Forestry Board, FPVHG planted 224 trees/shrubs in Meadow-brook Park and 56 American Chestnut Trees in the Rockburn Branch watershed on Patapsco Valley State Park near historic Belmont.

· In 2009-2010, recreational events in the Patapsco Valley were offered, including informal history talks presented by local historians, guided bike tour along the Patapsco Heritage Trail, guided hikes and guided kayak/canoe rides along the Patapsco River, highlighting the natural beauty of hidden areas within the Patapsco River Valley. Two new key partnerships were formed. The Mid Atlantic Hiking Group provides free monthly hikes to PHG members; Howard County Tourism provides free guided walking tours in historic Ellicott City to PHG members from April through November.

· In July 2010, a 175th anniversary celebration was held of the historic Thomas Viaduct Bridge at Patapsco State Park as a kick off for a fundraising campaign to help restore this national monument. A video was developed to show the step by step process in building this unique architectural marvel.

· In 2009-2010, environmental education programs were introduced, including a rain barrel workshop (partnering with the Howard County Master Gardeners and Howard County Library), water quality identity testing through analysis of stream vertebrae and stream bank vegetation, student group stream cleanups, watershed scavenger hunts, stream captain training and stream watch volunteer workshops.

· In October 2008, a new Patapsco Heritage Trail map was developed, giving a detailed route for biking and hiking, from Ellicott City to the BWI Trail near the airport.

· In November 2006, A new pedestrian bridge was built over the Patapsco River, completing 1.25 mile Grist Mill Trail Extension, a multi-purpose trail that provides ADA accessible access into the Patapsco State Park from Ellicott City, Catonsville and other upstream communities for the first time since Agnes struck in June of 1972 and wiped out portions of River Road, eliminating the Howard County connection to the Park.

· In the fall of 2003, the Grist Mill Trail opened near Ellicott City to enhance ADA- (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible recreational opportunities. This section connects the famed swinging bridge in the Avalon Area of the park to Lost Lake, a special fishing area for children under age 16, senior citizens and visitors with disabilities, and once a reservoir for the Avalon Iron and Nail Works and the Baltimore County Water Company.

· Past sponsor of A Winter's Feast which was held in the Hollofield Section of Patapsco Valley State Park in the wintertime. This one day, three hour inter-generational event re-lives the spirit of community potluck picnics, with hot drinks and food cooked by the boy scouts on the grill outside, scout demonstration, short hike to the Patapsco River, playing with old-time toys and games, live music, sing-along songs, and sharing of stories by participants of their personal experiences and memories in the Patapsco Valley and balloon finale for those young at heart.

· For the past 11 years, the annual Garlic Mustard Challenge has been held in the Avalon/Glen Artney section of Patapsco Valley State. This one day, 4-½ hour educational event encompasses a challenge between groups of volunteers who pull out the invasive garlic mustard plant in Patapsco Valley State Park. After this two-hour volunteer activity, participants are treated to hands-on environmental displays, live music, history of the valley through local historians, old-fashioned picnic games (i.e., egg toss, sack races, etc.) and a scavenger hunt. The children's "Villain of the Valley" poster contest is held, selecting the best poster that adequately depicts the problem of the invasive plant, as well as the popular Garlic Mustard Chef Challenge, where participants enter their best recipes using garlic mustard herb as one of the major ingredients. To date, we have successfully removed 14,007 pounds of this invasive plant from areas throughout Patapsco State Park.

· In the fall 2006, several new interpretive signs were installed along the Grist Mill Trail adjacent to sites of historic interest, telling the story of the valley while providing a close-up view of its scenic beauty.

· Partnership with Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection & Natural Resources for environmental recons to determine the overall condition of the Patapsco watershed and potential projects for enhancement, active participation in Baltimore County's Storm Water Action (SWAP) Program involving community support, as well as creation of new Stream Watch Program.

· Past sponsorship of "Greenway Guides," a volunteer program of nature and history guided walks.

· Past sponsorship of "Story Circles," a highly praised program that captures and preserves oral history from older Valley residents and presents the stories in a staged setting, including presentations by the Patapsco Players.

· Sponsorship and grant management of comprehensive research and publication (Summer 2001, Maryland Historical Society) of The Patapsco Valley: Cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Maryland, by Henry K. Sharp.

· Sponsorship and grant management of Patapsco: Portraits of a Valley, featuring photographs and accompanying interview text. This is now a traveling exhibit. The Library of Congress for their bicentennial celebration selected the project as a "local legacy." Photographs currently reside at the University of Maryland Baltimore County Campus in Baltimore.

· Participation in the development of the National Road Corridor Management Plan. The Maryland Department of Planning is the lead agency in a public-private-government partnership to preserve, enhance, interpret, and market (for heritage tourism) Maryland's part of the Historic National Road, with potential designation as an "All American Road."

· Coordination and participation with local, state, and federal preservation organizations to inventory and preserve the historic and cultural assets of the Valley. Currently, the FPVHG is investigating the possibility of obtaining certified heritage area status for the Patapsco Heritage Greenway.

· Creation of a website to educate others about the mission and events of the Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway at www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org.

· We are currently working with Howard County Government, Constellation Energy, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and others to expand the stream watch program in Howard and Anne Arundel Counties, increasing the monitoring of local waterways and conducting additional watershed cleanups.

· Worked with the Maryland State Highway Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation officials to create safe bike lanes along a section of Frederick Road, from River Road in Catonsville to the bridge in historic Ellicott City (which connects both Baltimore and Howard counties), on both sides of the road.

2009

Key statistics and initiatives:

• Over 1,400 volunteers participated in FPVHG-sponsored environmental events
• Thirty-two (32) river/stream cleanups, removing over 39 tons (79,143 pounds) of trash/junk from Patapsco Valley
• 106 new trees planted; 56 of those trees created a new American Chestnut Trees Grove; 135 previously planted trees maintained
• Over a ton (2,119 pounds) of invasive garlic mustard removed from the Patapsco Valley
• Thirty-eight new members, totaling 238 members
• 63 stream watch volunteers throughout the Patapsco Valley area
• New Business Plan developed
• New part-time Executive Director position

• Creation of new advisory committees (Management/Financial, Education, Environment, Fundraising, History, Land Use, Membership, Public Relations, Recreation and Events, and Trails
• New informal history talks (Relay, B&O Railroad Station in Ilchester and Ellicott City
• New guided kayak rides along the Patapsco River
• New guided bike rides along the Patapsco Heritage Trail
• New guided bird-watching hikes in Patapsco State Park along the Grist Mill Trail
• New stream watch training held in spring and fall for stream watch volunteers
• Rain barrel workshop held in partnership with Howard County Master Gardeners, distributing rain barrels to interested participants
• Participation in new hands-on educational program in partnership with CCBC Catonsville Campus Biology and GPS Departments, teaching students to analyze stream species and canopy, to determine and track changes in stream water quality
• New environmental/history scavenger hunt educational program
• School-age group cleanups (ranging from 80-100 students)
• Comprehensive stream survey of Coopers Run by Environmental Committee Team
• New business group cleanups, partners & sponsors

• Over 1,500 volunteers participated in FPVHG-sponsored environmental events
• Thirty-two (32) river/stream cleanups, removing an estimated 74,758 pounds (over 37 tons) of trash/junk from Patapsco Valley
• New pilot school-age group cleanups (ranging from 80-200 students)
• New pilot business group cleanups
• 50 new 6-foot trees planted; 85 previously planted trees maintained
• 31 stream watch volunteers throughout the Patapsco Valley area
• Recon investigations of Cedar Run and Bull Run/Soapstone Branch/Santee Branch
• New “Patapsco Heritage Trail” map created for biking and hiking from Ellicott City to the BWI Trail
• Forty-four new members, totaling 203 members

2007

• Our members and other volunteer friends were responsible for removing over 35 tons of trash throughout the Patapsco River Valley area.
• Thirty separate FPVHG sponsored clean-ups were conducted based on past recons and stream watch reports of problem areas.
• Clean-ups were conducted in Cooper's Run, Deep Run, Herbert Run, Miller Branch, Patapsco River, Sawmill Branch, Soapstone Branch, Sucker Branch and Tiber Hudson Branch.
• Our volunteers groups include: boy and girl scout troops, church groups, community and civic groups, college students, public school students and hundreds of individuals who came out just to help make a difference!
• Thanks to our 696 volunteers, approximately 71,272 pounds of trash was removed.

Click here for additional details on upcoming events and contact information.

Completed Viaduct and Hotel Signs [2006]
Organized Grist Mill Bridge/Trail Celebration [2006]
Create a PHG Display Panel [2006]
Develop an Endowment Program
The Hal Sharp Book
Garlic Mustard Challenge

A Winter's Feast - Patapsco State Park Hollofield Area
was held Sunday, March 4, 2007; click here for details.
DEPRM report
Others