We’ve all watched as some mysterious (to me) work has gone on at Greenbelt Lake for months now. An endangered worker there even made the news. But the work is finally completed and yesterday was the Grand Re-Opening of the Forebays – which are what, exactly?
Well, here’s one of them.

And this newly installed sign describes the role of forebays in cleaning stormwater, and shows the location of the other one.

The event began with a mayoral welcome and water protection tips from our Public Works Environmental Coordinator, both of which I arrived too late to catch. But there was lots more happening at stops around the lake.

The Anacostia Watershed Society demonstrated not just stormwater-retaining techniques but the fact that the topic can hold a crowd’s interest. Well done!

The Kindness Rocks Project and face-painting.

Prince George’s Clean Water Partnership.

The Beltsville-based Low Impact Development Center.

The Prince George’s Department of the Environment folks talked about their Rain Check program and lots more – including the disheartening fact that the growing number of Canadian geese that now overwinter on Greenbelt Lake are fecal-pollution machines.

The contractor Corvias worked with the county as the Clean Water Partnership to fix the forebays.

Unrelated to water but super-fun to talk to were the “Buffalo Soldiers,” also known as the the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, Chaplain H. V. Plummer Chapter.

These history buffs are so knowledgeable and entertaining, I recommend talking to them at any of the many local events they attend.