Wet, soggy and cold weather could not stop the Environmental Club from cleaning up a local creek and its surrounding area April 3. Six members of the club helped in the cleanup of Saucey Branch Creek in Bryn Mawr Park, which is located behind Balducci’s in downtown McLean.

The activity was part of the annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup run by the Alice-Ferguson Foundation. Saucey Branch is a small creek in the Pimmit Run watershed, part of the Potomac watershed.

Fairfax Trails and Streams sponsored the cleanup of Pimmit Run and asked the Environmental Club to help. This was the first time the club participated in the area wide cleanup.

“We haven’t done a big project other than recycling this year,” club president Kristen Atwood said. “We wanted to do something else so we don’t lose our identity as the Environmental Club and just become a recycling club.”

The Environmental Club and Fairfax Trails and Streams spent two hours cleaning up the creek and park, despite the conditions due to the rain storm the previous day. The ground was wet and muddy. The volunteers hiked through areas of thick brush and grass in the cold temperature.

“It was a little windy at first but it wasn’t that bad,” Environmental club member Kelly Phelan said. “It made me not want to go at first but when I got there, it was fun. I was glad that I went and it was a good experience.”

The club found many objects during the cleanup including beer and soda cans dating from the 1980s. Basketballs and lunch trays were also picked up. Atwood found an empty briefcase and Phelan found a sea shell.

The club cleaned up a smaller creek in Olney Park last year but without the help of any other organizations. Next year they hope to do this again, but with outside help.