Restoration

Rock Creek Park provides recreational opportunities like picnic spots, fishing, biking, and more to millions of DC area residents and visitors alike, and provides key habitat to the District’s only endangered species (the Hay’s spring amphipod), as well as coyotes, migratory songbirds, wild turkey, and more wildlife.

Over the past 15 years, Rock Creek Conservancy’s staff and dedicated volunteers have worked throughout the entire watershed to pick up trash, remove invasive plants, and install green infrastructure.

Rock Creek Conservancy’s aim is to restore Rock Creek and its parklands as a natural oasis. The “mini-oasis” restoration sites offer proofs of concept for the larger forest: removing invasive species to less than 5% cover, planting or allowing for regeneration of the understory shrubs and herbaceous plants, and ensuring visitors #RecreateResponsibly.

Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park are working together to develop a framework for long-term forest resilience.