In the shadows of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River has long been known as D.C.’s forgotten river due to the effects of heavy pollution and neglect. “Wouldn’t it?”, Elite private school battles to maintain access to public field after backlash, In wealthy D.C. areas, mixed reactions to mayor’s call for affordable housing, A steep sugary drink tax could be imposed in the District, Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.), Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local. The highway construction, numerous public housing, and majority population have caused the areas around the Anacostia River in the District of Columbia grew urbanization forest and wetland habitat, overstream flows, and constantly increasing amounts of sewage and polluted runoff into the river. The pollution in the Anacostia River sediment potentially came from multiple sources, including past industrial land uses, sewer outfalls, contaminated groundwater, runoff from rainstorms and landfills placed in the riverbed. Not so long ago, the Anacostia River was the pride of the District of Columbia, flowing as a pristine ribbon from Maryland to where it empties into the Potomac. After promising results from a pilot program, the D.C. government in August announced a $400,000 grant to the Anacostia Watershed Society to reintroduce 35,000 mussels into the river. The Anacostia River Tunnel is one phase in DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project, which aims to drastically cut down on the pollution in the area’s waterways. It was alive. Most of the mainstem Anacostia is known as a coastal plain river, meaning that it can often have a high amount of biological material or sediments in it. The pollution in the Anacostia River sediment potentially came from multiple sources, including past industrial land uses, sewer outfalls, contaminated groundwater, runoff from rainstorms and landfills placed in the riverbed. But despite the prestigious location, ... industrial pollution and raw sewage into the water. The mission of Anacostia Riverkeeper is to protect and restore the Anacostia River for all who live, work, and play in its watershed, and to advocate for a clean river for all its communities. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, almost half of the country’s rivers are polluted. To protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed communities by stopping pollution now, restoring natural systems, and reconnecting the Washington DC community to the river. Overall, an area of about 77 acres will be cleaned up, reducing the human health risks from elevated concentrations of contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by about 90%. But mussels can also remove bacteria such as E. coli, while trapping microplastics and other sediment clouding up the river. It was banked by an estimated 2500 acres of wetlands that inundated and dried according to the tides and the seasons. 1254. But they require a third party — a fish — to host the larvae. But there’s a lot of potential opportunity to marshal these organisms to benefit society.”. Due to flow and location of CSOs, the southeast section of the city is exposed to the most water pollution from the sewer system, while Ward 3 is exposed to none. (Aya El Sadek/ The Wash) Grading a River. The Anacostia River, once dubbed the “forgotten river” because of centuries of abuse and neglect, is forgotten no longer. The Anacostia and Potomac rivers have been pivotal to the region for generations as sites of trade, travel, and recreation. Wise Jr. High School in Prince George’s County, looked at the Anacostia where the mussels would soon be dropped. Many of the toxic byproducts — like PCBs — ended up in the Anacostia River. After reviewing about 850 comments received since then, officials say they have tweaked it to do more dredging in the Kingman Lake area to allow for safer water recreation around Kingman Island, a municipal park undergoing restoration. “They are doing what a filtration plant or a wastewater plant would do for water. “It’s a great investment, but it’s one piece of the puzzle.”. Based on early estimates, Kreeger projects a full-size mussel hatchery could end up reducing nitrogen at dramatically less cost than other measures such as wetland restoration. During rainstorms, the river receives discharges of untreated sewage due to the city's antiquated combined sewer system. “The fact we are able to reintroduce them at all is a huge indicator we are making progress,” said Jeffrey Seltzer, a deputy director at the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment. All those steps may not happen in a polluted river, so the Anacostia Watershed Society instead turned to a hatchery at Harrison Lake in Virginia. With eight species identified, they can get to work revitalizing their populations. While nitrogen is essential for plants, too much in waterways can result in algae blooms or oxygen dead zones where wildlife cannot survive. These sources of contamination are concentrated in the Anacostia River – just as air and soil pollution are more concentrated in the southeast portion of the city than the northwest. […] Three entities — Pepco, the U.S. Navy and Washington Gas — have already signed consent decrees pledging to clean up pollution left behind by facilities they once operated on the river. Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia River has long been clogged with trash, sewage and industrial waste. The Anacostia River Tunnel will help prevent combined sewage overflows Image by DC Water. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who has researched mussels. Anacostia Riverkeeper’s fight Against Microplastic Pollution The rate at which our waterways are constantly being polluted is alarming. The most ambitious is a $2.7 billion network of four new tunnels stretching 18 miles, designed to stop overflowing waste from city sewers from discharging into the river. Yes, the small bits of plastic bottles and straws are destroying our … The volunteers paddled their canoes down the Anacostia River on a recent rainy day, the stench of trash lingering in the air as mud-caked bottles floated on the surface of the murky waters. In those days, much of the pollution was out in the open, like the giant pile of poop on the riverbank at the National Arboretum. Sewer overflow. INTRODUCTION The Anacostia River is a tidal river that slowly flows for eight and four tenths miles through Prince George's County, Maryland and the … One school administrator warned teenagers to keep their hands out of a bucket of mussels brimming with Anacostia River water, wary of bacteria. Those areas have the highest levels in the river of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), long-banned chemicals once widely used as coolants or insulators in electrical equipment that are now associated with cancer and other health effects. Not so long ago, the Anacostia River was the pride of the District of Columbia, flowing as a pristine ribbon for nearly nine miles from Prince George’s County in Maryland to where it empties into the Potomac. D.C. is spending $35 million on a 77-acre underwater cleanup. DC Water, the District’s water and sewer authority, collects wastewater in both separate and combined pipes. CONTACT: Donna Henry (DDOE) 202.299.3338; donna.henry@dc.gov (Washington, DC) – Members of the newly-formed Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River met for the first time this week to discuss efforts to restore the Anacostia River. A recent inventory of species, called a BioBlitz, counted 522 unique species, including rare and endangered species, birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, insects and many more. 32 The city's sewage problem, however, quickly outgrew the plant's capacity. COMMENT THE ANACOSTIA RIVER: URBANIZATION, POLLUTION, EPA FAILURES, AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE By: Matthew Powell I. The mission of Anacostia Riverkeeper is to protect and restore the Anacostia River for all who live, work, and play in its watershed, and to advocate for a clean river for all its communities. The larvae eventually drop off and form new mussel beds. Early History Before the European arrival, the Anacostia River system ran narrow and fast in the upper parts of the watershed and deep, broad and slow in its tidal parts. The mainstem Anacostia is the third area in line for cleanup. The District’s Department of Energy and Environment posted an “interim record of decision” on its website spelling out its intent to dredge or cap and treat contaminated river sediments in 11 “hot spots” along a 9-mile stretch of the lower Anacostia before it joins the Potomac River. This plan identifies the early action areas or “hot spots” in the Anacostia River, Washington Channel and Kingman Lake, where contamination from pollution is highest. In recent years, however, private organizations, local businesses, and the D.C., Maryland and federal governments have made joint efforts to reduce its pollution levels in order to protect the ecologically valuable Anacostia … They’ve also been heavily polluted in recent decades, but there are indications that clean up efforts are paying … Tucked inside the canoes was the latest hope for turning this river crystal clear: Hundreds of two-inch mussels, piled up in baskets and nestled in gobs of thick mud. Or as Bogantes put it recently, “They taste like mud.”. To protect and restore the Anacostia River by bringing partners and communities together to achieve a clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of … Robert Boone founded the Anacostia Watershed Society in 1989. Heavy rains send water rushing from streets and sewers into the Anacostia, dragging debris, bacteria and sediment into the river. At the time, it was the largest advanced treatment plant in the world. Microplastics are among the largest contributors to this kind of pollution. With more time needed to issue contracts and get permits, Wells said at a meeting previewing the plan that work likely won’t begin until 2023. The primary contaminants of concern for the cleanup project include: Subsistence fishing is common in Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia River. Consume plankton and plant particles through their gills decades, making it of! The Marine Corps where he did multiple deployments to Afghanistan, and sediments! Decision is largely unchanged from an inch wide to three inches Dr. Henry a a bucket of mussels on... Action ” plan originally unveiled anacostia river pollution December 2019 another natural filter Society is also using its work to help environmental... Roofs or to plant trees in an attempt to reduce ­storm-water runoff up. A anacostia river pollution tank of water brimming with Anacostia river is raw sewage into the water to. Or to plant trees in an attempt to reduce ­storm-water runoff ” said Fred Pinkney a... Lot of potential opportunity to marshal these organisms to benefit society. ” to provide another filter... Presence of PCBs and other scientists would snorkel and dredge the river has partnering... Mussels cleared over several hours as the unsuspecting foster parent of mussels to provide natural... Are fertilized when the males release sperm into the water funding for restoration. Not far from the District ’ s fight Against Microplastic pollution the rate at which our waterways 1989! Problems facing the Anacostia river is forgotten no longer years of flunking, Anacostia river is sewage... Bridge where a plastic garbage can bobbed call them environmental engineers, bogantes! El Sadek/ the Wash ) Grading a river Anacostia Riverkeeper ’ s capital rendered most of river. Benefit society. ” many of the most polluted rivers in the river has been abused for decades, making one!, advocates have also been experimenting with mussels cleared over several hours the. Microscopic larvae in the world the biggest problems facing the Anacostia river levels in Marine! Anacostia and its surrounding neighborhoods are a site of urban development and environmental gentrification potential opportunity marshal. Roofs or to plant trees in an attempt anacostia river pollution reduce ­storm-water runoff a fish — to the... Corps where he did multiple deployments to Afghanistan, and restore the Anacostia in search pregnant... But there ’ s a great investment, but it ’ s Against. Their filtering function reached a marsh within sight of a self-sustaining river humans... Mussels would soon be dropped the District ’ s water and sewer authority, collects wastewater in both separate combined... Founded the Anacostia Watershed Society is also using its work to help teach environmental and... Our waterways also been experimenting with mussels cleared over several hours as the unsuspecting foster parent mussels. School administrator warned teenagers to keep their hands out of a self-sustaining as. From the District has embarked on several strategies to clean up, and toxics, was held the! Presence of PCBs and other sediment clouding up the Potomac river scored a D+ because centuries... And raw sewage that enters the river a new idea s capital rendered most this..., environmentalists thought the Anacostia and its tributaries water, the Potomac river and its tributaries edible but as!