Plants, woodlands, grassy areas and marshes filter rainwater and runoff before it enters the Chesapeake Bay. Roadside trash damages wetlands and often ends up in the Bay, reducing water quality and endangering wildlife. We noticed a heavily increased volume of trash surrounding local roadways during the pandemic, with increased use of local waterways and decreased group clean up efforts with local scouting and school group activities cancelled. I organized trash clean up efforts in our community, to remove waste before it would be washed into the Bay. All following COVID guidelines, we collected over 2,100 pounds of debris, including a washing machine, lawn chairs, a ladder, oil cans, tires, several hundred glass bottles, and hundreds of plastic bags. Our waste removal efforts restore wetlands, improve water quality, and protect wildlife.