Winter Stream Monitoring

Cancelled due to weather. Rescheduled to January 25.

Discover what creek critters live in the Little Falls Branch

LFWA monitors the Little Falls Branch four times a year - doing a biological census of the macro-invertebrates that live on the bottom of the creek. This count of benthic organisms - numbers of individuals and diversity - gives us a picture of the health of our creek. By mapping the data over the years, we have good assessment of how well our stream is surviving in our dense urban area. Our monitoring is done in partnership with Nature Forward (nee Audubon Naturalist Society).

This event is primarily for trained monitors. Before going into the field, new monitors should have a basic knowledge of macroinvertebrate identification and stream ecology, either from previous training or by attending the Nature Forward water quality training sessions. Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, for information about the Nature Forward courses and volunteering.

Little Falls Stream Valley Park
Massachusetts Avenue Entrance
Bethesda, MD

Ever wonder where the Little Falls creek goes? Start the New Year with a LFWA lead hike to the mouth of the creek on the Potomac River. We will meet at the Park entrance on Massachusetts Ave and follow the creek to the river. You can park at the gravel parking lot (Mass Ave and Little Falls Parkway).

It’s an easy 4.8 miles round trip, almost all on hard surfaces. Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome. If you want to go all the way to the Potomac, there is about 100 yards of scrambling through the brush. You might want to have hiking boots if you’re going to do that.

NEW ROUTE FOR 2026!

The entrance to the towpath at Lock 5 is temporarily closed. So, this year we will be rerouting through the Brookmont neighborhood and going to Valley Road where we will cross the Clara Barton Parkway at Lock 6 where there is a pedestrian crosswalk.

Download a google map of the new route for your phone HERE.

Download a PDF of the map HERE.

RAIN DATE: In the event of inclement weather, we will reschedule for Saturday, January 3 , same time, same place.

Fall Stream Monitoring

Discover what creek critters live in the Little Falls Branch

LFWA monitors the Little Falls Branch four times a year - doing a biological census of the macro-invertebrates that live on the bottom of the creek. This count of benthic organisms - numbers of individuals and diversity - gives us a picture of the health of our creek. By mapping the data over the years, we have good assessment of how well our stream is surviving in our dense urban area. Our monitoring is done in partnership with Nature Forward (nee Audubon Naturalist Society).

This event is primarily for trained monitors. Before going into the field, new monitors should have a basic knowledge of macroinvertebrate identification and stream ecology, either from previous training or by attending the Nature Forward water quality training sessions. Please contact Sarah Morse, stormwater@LFWA.org, for information about the Nature Forward courses and volunteering.