The Eleventh Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup, to be held Saturday, March 27, 1999 from 9:00 am to noon, will be the largest ever. Winter rains have washed countless tons of trash onto the shores, and help is needed to collect this unsightly debris that mars the beauty of the river and poses a hazard to wildlife.

Individuals, families, and groups are invited to participate in the event at one of the more than 100 cleanup sites located along much of the 383 miles of the Potomac, and many of its more than 100 tributaries in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Participants should wear boots or sturdy shoes and expect to get a bit damp or dirty. Bags and gloves will be provided by leaders at each site. Please contact the Alice Ferguson Foundation at 301-292-6665 for site locations throughout the watershed.

The cleanup is funded in part by a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Also involved with this unique cooperative are the efforts of federal, state, county and city governments working with environmental and civic organizations, scout troops, school groups, businesses and concerned citizens.

For the first time the cleanup will become part of a national initiative. In July 1998, President Clinton formally designated the Potomac River as one of only 14 American Heritage Rivers. The Potomac River basin achieved this designation because of the distinctive history and variety of cultures, awe- inspiring natural beauty and great opportunities for recreation. With the American Heritage designation the Potomac watershed communities can receive Federal technical, financial and informational support to assist their locally led projects. The Potomac Watershed Cleanup is one way for locals to support and help this important initiative. For the second year in a row the cleanup is a global event. Sponsored by the Arakawa Sakura Club, Japanese residents will conduct a cleanup on the Arakawa, the Potomac's sister river.

In previous years as many as 3,000 volunteers joined forces to haul over 130 tons (260,000 lbs.) of trash off shoreline sites, spanning from the headwaters to the tidewaters. The litter included countless pieces of Styrofoam, plastic, paper, and cans. In recent years volunteers have been bewildered over some of the odd items they retrieved, including thousands of balls, a packed suitcase, an ice cream vendor cart, a bathtub, a locked safe and a Volkswagen Beetle. In a practice drill, the local rescue squad used the "jaws of life" to cut the VW apart and removed it from the river bank.