Capital Region Earth Force Takes Rep. Moran to Four Mile Run

Capital Region Earth Force has engaged roughly 549 area young people in water monitoring during the month of October. In partnership with Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Arlington County Environmental Services, students have sampled local streams and begun the data collection process for GREEN. Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia joined Luz Chamorro’s students from Gunston Middle School at Four Mile Run in Arlington, Virginia, on October 22nd.

“You are on a mission, a very important mission to undo the damage that has been done to our environment for the last several years, “ Rep. Moran told the students. “You and many other people your age are going to accomplish this mission because you owe to your children and your parents for them to be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water.”

Rep Moran then proceeded to conduct macroinvertebrate sampling and water testing with the students. The Four Mile Run watershed is one of the most heavily urbanized drainage basins in the Northern Virginia region. The watershed is less than 20 square miles and home to approximately 156,000 people. Roughly 85 percent of the watershed's land area has been developed and nearly 40 percent of the watershed is covered with impervious surfaces associated with this development (e.g., buildings and pavement).