Wild Freshwater Mussel Survey at Buzzard Point

From 10/14/20 9:00 am until 10/14/20 12:00 pm
Wild Freshwater Mussel Survey at Buzzard Point

Note: This event is weather dependent

Note: This event is full

Note: This is STEP 1 to being confirmed for this event. All volunteers that register must complete our screening questionnaire by Tuesday, October 13th to be confirmed for the Freshwater Mussel Restoration Workday. 

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: Buzzard Point, Washington, DC 20003 (map link

  • We will meet at the dead end of the 2200-2000 block of  First St SW, Washington, DC 20001. Parking is limited. We recommend that volunteers park on First, Second or Half Street and then walk to the site.

Project: Volunteers will help AWS with a wild freshwater mussel survey and broodstock collection at Buzzard Point! In 2015, we started surveying the native species of freshwater mussels in the Anacostia River to understand their diversity and abundance. In 2018 we started a mussel propagation project partnering with the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Virginia collecting local broodstock from the Anacostia River. Volunteers are critical to keep this project going and to meet our goal of enhancing mussel populations to increase their water filtration capacity to help clean our river. 

Physical Level of Difficulty: Easy to moderate

  • This event will likely involve lifting, bending, and walking in mud. Participants will be expected to wear closed-toed shoes and masks for the duration of the event. If you think any of the physical requirements will be problematic, please let us know.

Registration and completion of our screening questionnaire is required. Please register at least 2 days prior to the event date. We will email you the screening questionnaire link on Friday, October 9th. It must be completed by Tuesday, October 13th. Anyone who doesn't register online or complete our screening questionnaire will be denied access to the event. 

Bathroom Situation: Bathrooms will not be available for use on site.

Participant Requirements:

  • Self-Monitoring: All participants in the Anacostia Watershed Society's (AWS) event are required to:
    • Complete online registration and our screening questionnaire prior to the event. All registrants must be able to meet the following requirements of our screening survey:
      • From September 30-October 14, volunteers must have shown no symptoms of COVID-19 including:  fever (100.4 F or greater, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, etc.
      • From September 30-October 14, volunteers must have no close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
      • From September 30-October 14, volunteers must not travel outside the DC, MD, VA area.
      • From September 30-October 14, volunteers must not have close contact with someone who has traveled outside the DC, MD, VA area.
    • Take your own temperature that day, prior to arrival at the event. If your temperature is 100.4 degrees or greater, or you have other COVID-19 symptoms, do not come to the event!
    • If you are sick, please do not come to the event.
    • If you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, do not come to the event. 
    • If you have had any close contact with an individual who has confirmed coronavirus diagnosis and/or who is presumed to have coronavirus, do not come to the event.
    • If you become ill within one week of participating in the event, please consider reporting this to the [email protected] (our Human Resources email address). We will keep your identity confidential. 
  • Cleaning and Sanitizing: All must sanitize or wash their hands immediately upon arrival and after the event.
  • Physical Distancing: Participants must maintain a distance of greater than 6 feet from other persons on the land, throughout the event. 
  • Equipment Handling: All participants are responsible for carrying any equipment they may use and they should not share equipment, such as water bottles, shovels, etc. This means carrying in-and-out, to and from the project site, and making sure that you have washed your hands before and after with hand sanitizer or soap. Assistance in carrying heavy equipment is allowed if the users maintain the required 6 feet distance. AWS strongly encourages proper handwashing/cleaning for all participants before and after events. 

For more information before the event, please contact Emily Castelli at [email protected] or call 301-699-6204 x103.


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