Norwood resident, Fred Daw, pitches in at the 24th annual Darby Creek Clean-Up at the Heinz Refuge this pasat April. Photo by Frank Doyle, refuge volunteer.

Darby Creek Clean-Up at Heinz Refuge, April 19, 2008. Alexis Deorio from Girl Scout Troop 9270 (Fishtown section of Philadelphia)and leader, Gina Lucano. Photo by Ned Connelly, refuge volunteer.

Clear, warm skies greeted over 200 people from around the area who turned out to volunteer and pitch in for the 24^th annual Darby Creek Clean-Up at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum on Saturday, April 19.

Sponsored by the Darby Creek Valley Association, Friends of the Heinz Refuge, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,  the event took place along the creek at the east portion of the refuge at the new "marsh restoration" area and at the west end along Route 420, just north of the I-95 southbound entrance. 

Refuge facilities manager, Mike McMenamin, is the Clean-Up coordinator and said more trash than ever was pulled from the creek filling up 3 large dumpsters totaling approximately 80 or 90 cubic yards of debris.

People participated as part of a large group as well as individuals.  Among  the groups were scout troops and cub packs; church and civic groups; community service crews; elementary, middle and high school groups; college groups; environmental organizations and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and volunteers.  Whether in groups or individually, McMenamin said, "These people really worked and have helped to make the refuge visitor's experience all that much better."  He noted that while the clean-up is always a success, because of the tidal influence at the refuge, each rain event and as well as the tides themselves, always bring more material into Tinicum Marsh and large bottlenecks of flotsam can build up so every year there is more to clean up. 

The rest of the watershed was cleaned up the following Saturday. Due to the tidal influences downstream at the refuge it is often impossible to have the clean-up on the same date as the rest of the creek.

For now, things are looking much better at the refuge and throughout the Darby Creek Watershed thanks to the dedicated people who are willing to pitch in and get a little muddy for a very good cause.