Public Invited to Fourth Annual Potomac River Cleanup at Mallows Bay

Activities Start at 10 a.m. on April 28

On Saturday, April 28, the public is invited to help clean up areas among the World War I-era shipwrecks moored in Mallows Bay and adjacent shorelines at Mallows Bay Park in Charles County. Local archaeologists, historians and naturalists will share information and interpret the history of Mallows Bay as part of the activities.

The cleanup begins at 10 a.m., with a rain date of Sunday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m. Volunteers can meet at Mallows Bay Park in Nanjemoy.

Mallows Bay is renowned for its “Ghost Fleet,” the remains of more than 100 World War I-era vessels built as part of America’s involvement in ‘The Great War,” which ended 100 years ago this November. 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton, along with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Timothy Gallaudet, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation President and CEO Kris Sarri, and Charles County Commissioners Peter Murphy and Ken Robinson will attend the day’s activities in a show of support for proposed Mallows Bay–Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary.

Also as part of Saturday’s events, the department and foundation will highlight their plans for long-term, continuous water quality monitoring in Mallows Bay, which will provide real-time data to the public, resource managers and scientists via the department’s Eyes on the Bay program.

Other partners in the cleanup include the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Atlantic Kayak, Charles County Government, Friends of Mallows-Potomac and Maryland Historical Trust.