Rock Creek Conservancy exists to restore Rock Creek and its parklands as a natural oasis for all people to appreciate and protect.
Rock Creek Conservancy is the only organization dedicated solely to Rock Creek and its parks. The creek meanders 33 miles through the Washington metropolitan area, crossing federal lands as well as district, city, county, and state boundaries. Although parkland borders much of the creek, the surrounding development threatens the health and beauty of these natural areas. Rock Creek Conservancy is uniquely positioned to foster outreach, education, and efforts to overcome threats to Rock Creek.
We work through a combination of education and advocacy. Our strategy is to build partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and residents to work together to preserve Rock Creek for present and future generations.
Rock Creek Conservancy is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service and files a IRS Form 990 each year.
History
For years, people knew of both the enormous value of Rock Creek and the threats it faced, but there was no agency or organization that focused exclusively on this natural treasure. Several federal, state, and local agencies recognized the need for an organization that could be a voice for Rock Creek and worked together to launch a new organization to serve this purpose.
In 2005, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded a grant to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) to promote the formation of a group to focus on overcoming threats to Rock Creek. This grant provided funding to hold informational meetings, create an organization, develop a board of directors, and improve awareness of the creek and its issues. Partner organizations included the Montgomery County Government, the National Park Service, the DC Government, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the City of Rockville, and the Audubon Naturalist Society. Then-ICPRB staff member Steve Saari wrote the original grant proposal and was deeply involved with the early development of the group that became FORCE--Friends of Rock Creek's Environment.
In 2011, the organization changed its name to Rock Creek Conservancy.