Even still, it’s not yet swimmable and fishable. Just a few blocks west of the river, the reality of the Anacostia's fishing community is unknown. “Although some laws and regulations have improved the water quality somewhat, so much more should be done.”. All kinds of junk, sewage and debris got washed into the river after three intense days of rain. The EPA’s Clean Water Act of 1972 made it unlawful to directly pollute any navigable river nationally and promoted the implementation of low-impact development on the banks of the Anacostia river. “It’s frightening to think that factories around the river have been shut down completely to combat the toxic pollutants, and yet, here we are in 2017 still with mercury-filled water in our river,” Rosenfeld said. Last year was the “Year of the Anacostia,” and DC’s best river got a lot of new attention. The … But he sees the development more positively. FENSTON: And for years, people in those neighborhoods have been fighting to get them cleaned up. FENSTON: And he says he hopes he'll one day be able to again swim in the river and take his grandkids and great-grandkids. Jobs will flow into the surrounding communities as they become cleaner and healthier to live in. Washington, D.C.'s Anacostia River has long been clogged with trash, sewage and industrial waste. It seems like it's a culture for the upper middle class or the well-to-do where the lower income, people who've been in the city and working, they're being forced out or left out. These wetlands supported a wide variety of plants, including wild rice, American lotus, and several kinds of underwater … (See Scribd document below for the full study. Anacostia definitely isn’t a tourist hotspot; people don’t even know about it unless you live here. Environmental advocacy organizations argued that cleaning up the river will have economic benefits that will outweigh the financial costs. The name "Anacostia" derives from the area's early history as … It was often called Washington's forgotten river. “Cleaning up the Anacostia is going to take a lot more effort and collaboration than expected,” Stanley said. While the industry disposed of toxic wastes, people dumped trash in obnoxious proportions and with that, the Anacostia turned into one of the most polluted rivers in the country. It is a relatively small population, only totaling 7,950 residents out of a total 73,662 in Ward 8 in 2010. I hope that organizations like mine play a huge role in that process,” Siglin said. MUNADEL: It seems like someplace that I wouldn't be welcomed at. The Anacostia is a strip of dirty water that is as much a cultural and socioeconomic divide as a geographic one. Other business regulations include refurbishing outdated business infrastructure surrounding the river in order to reduce sewage overflow and runoff into the Anacostia. JANELLE BALIKO: I am up on the eighth floor balcony. In the more affluent neighborhoods of the Washington, D.C., … It was a dividing line, separating the haves and the have-nots for generations. Filled with trash, sewage, sediment and other pollutants, the Anacostia river is a far cry from its sister river, the Potomac. A Dirty History. WHY ANACOSTIA. “I learned how to swim there. One of the major sources polluting the river is raw sewage, with a half-billion gallons ending up in the river annually, due to outdated and poor-functioning sewer systems. It's happening all over the country. “There wasn’t enough oxygen in the water. This site is near the new baseball stadium. Other ongoing pollution issues affecting the river include: accidental sewage discharges, urban runoff, heavy metals, furans, dioxin, pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Trash in Anacostia River This is actually a good thing, the result of trash from the Anacostia River being diverted by collector booms into a basin where it is scooped out by the DPW. The reason that you would be able to see the disk so far into the water below Thurmond Lake is because the dam and lake prohibit the transport of material (sediment, leaves, nutrients, etc.) But in the past few years, the river has gone from a place to avoid to an urban amenity. And for generations, those neighborhoods, the poorest in the city, were the closest to the city's biggest polluters; up and down the river, coal-fired power plants, a cement factory, gravel yards. to officially rename the area called ‘East of the Anacostia River,’” according to a statement from the group. He's the founder of an environmental group focused on the river. According to Visit Thames, the River Thames may take its name from the Sanskrit Tamas, meaning 'dark' as its waters are often cloudy and dark. Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677), The 'Long View' of London. Anacostia’s median income is 41 percent less than the D.C. average. FENSTON: It's an idyllic childhood memory, but if you were to turn away from the water, in those days you'd see the sprawling city dump. We rely on law and advocacy to improve water policy. From Hains Point, the Anacostia joins the Potomac River for 108 miles until it empties into the Chesapeake Bay at Point Lookout. It was a dividing line, separating the haves and the have-nots for generations. All this is possible in part because the river is a lot cleaner than it used to be after a couple decades of dedicated cleanup efforts and a $2.6 billion sewer upgrade that just went online. The name "Anacostia" derives from the area's early history as Nacotchtank, a settlement of Necostan or Anacostan Native Americans. Unfortunately, the river has been abused for decades, making it one of the most polluted rivers in the nation. The Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., has long been one of the most polluted in the country. It's mud. Not only does the pollution negatively impact people’s health, it also impacts wildlife and ecological stability. )The good news? 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. Many of the fishermen Bolin sees have coolers used to store caught fish, which leads him to believe they are likely taking them home for food. The River Thames is the cleanest river in the world that flows through a major city. Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677), The 'Long View' of London. A 12-mile walking trail is drawing joggers and bikers to the shoreline, and redevelopment projects close by, including the popular … Share on Facebook. Each year, Washington’s antiquated combined sewer system dumps over 2 billion gallons of raw sewage and storm water directly into the river. The Anacostia River, as has been brought up numerous times, serves as a racial disparity dividing line. “You can not even swim or fish in the Anacostia river—it’s that polluted,” Morrison said. Remediation measures are slowly cleaning the water. This is a major feat considering that fifty years ago the river was so polluted that it was declared biologically dead. The trail network links Prince George's and Montgomery Counties to the Kenilworth … None of the tourists visit the southeast region of D.C., so why bother cleaning it all up?”. Anacostia Riverkeeper works to protect and restore the Anacostia River for all who live, work, and play in the watershed. “Tourists go there and sit on the Tidal Basin and have a good time. Erosion Control January 19, 2016 at 7:43 pm. There were dead bodies floating in the distance and there was garbage by the shore. After the historic rainfall in 2018 wiped the river's submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), these underwater grasses came back with a vengeance covering over 96 acres! “It appears that the District doesn’t care much about the conditions of the river. All rights reserved. It’s time for the forgotten river to get the recognition it needs in order to better the lives of the poor and working-class communities around them. These community efforts to improve the Anacostia river have been effective in the short term. They have filed five different petitions over the past seven years for river cleanup. With the effect of the oceanic tides, the river comes up against an incoming current made of salty seawater. We are laying the groundwork to help bring businesses and investment to the entire watershed by making it a more attractive and healthy place to live.”. that originates from the landscape upstream of the lake, to the river below the dam. Jeff Stanley, a 45-year-old teacher and Anacostia resident, has lived with his wife and two children for 20 years in Anacostia. He has a lawn chair set up by the water on the east side of the river. Posted on September 15, 2014 by Camilla Sherman - Phinizy Blog Feed, Research Blog. The Anacostia River might be small — 8.5 miles — but don’t be fooled by its size. Community-based work allows people to become connected with their environment and learn to appreciate the importance of making their community a healthier and cleaner place to live. Waterkeepers … “We didn’t notice any trash,” he says. Hi Beaverlakesmart, Since we can’t avoid flood because of many reasons, we can still maintain cleanliness in water even if there is flood. Indeed, the Anacostia River remains an imperiled watershed that suffers not just from trash but also from ongoing toxic pollution, according to a newreport. Around 40 to 50 families are living and selling their production along the Mekong River in front of Sambour market. These environmentally-friendly infrastructure suggestions will limit the amount of stormwater runoff in the river. As it gentrifies, which it is expected to according to St. Elizabeth’s Development, whether the river remains as neglected is yet to be seen. Objects in focus Dirty old river: secrets of the Thames London's history has always been closely connected to the River Thames, one of the UK's longest and deepest rivers. They hold many clean-ups in order to bring the community back to the river so they can build a relationship with it, and also foster a stronger sense of community as well. But as member station WAMU's Jacob Fenston reports, there are worries not everybody will benefit from the Anacostia's comeback. Decreased pollution and increased wildlife are two things helping to improve the river’s health. He said he’s watched the river become clearer—and the fish become healthier—ever since the 1990s. Filled with trash, sewage, sediment and other pollutants, the Anacostia river is a far cry from its sister river, the Potomac. My areas of interest include health equity, housing access, and criminal justice reform. Tweet on Twitter. When a new year arrives, there are always people who make resolutions–some which they keep and others that are broken by Groundhog Day. And that's what was circulating, you know, through your house. Exactly how many people are fishing in the Anacostia River’s polluted water is not yet ... the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be sponsoring a survey to find out who is fishing in the river and why. Along with this runoff, debris and toxic pollutants gather in the Anacostia, including pesticides, lead, and mercury. “It was pretty clean.” After … The Old Man of Anacostia. She's an urban studies professor at Queens College in New York. “I learned how to swim there. Academics have a term for this. Baliko's luxury apartment building is where the old cement factory used to be. It is approximately 8.7 miles (14.0 km) long. We create meaningful encounters with the river for all citizens in order to open opportunities for enjoyment of the Anacostia River. … People in Georgetown don’t have to worry about clean water in the Potomac,” Stanley said. Just a few blocks west of the river, the reality of the Anacostia's fishing community is unknown. The Anacostia River, which runs through Maryland and the District of Columbia, has suffered from decades of pollution, mainly from runoff and hazardous waste sites. In 2018, D.C. Water will complete a deep tunnel project that will capture the vast majority of this overflow, and hold it until it can be treated at Blue Plains. But some people who've lived by the river for years see a downside to the cleanup. Groundwork Anacostia is one organization trying to clean up the river. So we don’t want to just have a river where we’re sitting in a restaurant and saying, ’Oh, it’s nice to have this nice river.’ We want to get our money’s worth for this investment,” said Gretchen Mikeska, the Anacostia Coordinator for D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment. With their day to day activities, they are polluting the river water as they always throw waste in the river especially plastic waste. Community members are now taking matters into their own hands. It’s no wonder that by 2010, the District was willing to do whatever it took to force the city to pay attention to its aquatic ecosystem. 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. She says that the D.C. sewage system infrastructure is not adequate for massive rain storms and desperately needs to be updated soon. FENSTON: The Anacostia wasn't just a dirty river. In Anacostia, crime, including violent crime, is reported as 38% higher than in the rest of the District of Columbia. FENSTON: We're at a quiet spot on the Anacostia, the afternoon light filtering through the cattails. The Anacostia River is a heavily polluted river that flows from Maryland and traverses the nation’s capitol, bordering historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Der Anacostia River ist ein Fluss in den Vereinigten Staaten, der auch die Hauptstadt Washington, D.C. durchfließt und dort in den Potomac River mündet. The racial diversity in this neighborhood is nearly opposite that of Georgetown: with 94% of residents identifying at black (non-Hispanic) and only 3.2% identifying as white (non-Hispanic), 1.8% … With big projects like the Anacostia River Tunnel making huge positive impacts on the river’s health, headlines started saying things like “ Coming Soon to D.C.: Rivers Clean Enough for Swimming.”. … Remediation measures are slowly cleaning the water. FENSTON: Of course, D.C. isn't alone in reclaiming its river. people insist that “it was never a goal of r.e.e.l. CHESTNUT: The Anacostia needs to be viewed as Washington, D.C.'s river - not the forgotten river but the river. Learn more About The … In contrast, the Georgetown Waterfront ranks number 23 on the list of 418 activities. In 2007, a study on the river was conducted by the Anacostia River Watershed Society that found excessive levels of trash in the waterway, nearly 80% of which came from some form of food or beverage container. This organization, along with six other nonprofits as part of United for a Healthy Anacostia, focuses on water quality improvement and improving the conditions of the river and its surrounding communities to attract potential residents and visitors. 61. The River Thames From Source to Sea . There has been a lot of discussion recently about the Savannah River’s designation as the 3 rd most polluted river in the U.S. We had a chance to provide our thoughts on the topic in a series of reports by WJBF’s meteorologist Jason Nappi (view these here) and … ” Pingback: This Week in #MOWater News. Moreover, if there’s too much rain runoff, like in a big storm (that’s why it’s sometimes called “stormwater”) it can cause both flooding and serious erosion. Both the Delaware River and the Schuylkill are tidal rivers, with strong undercurrents, and, at least around the city’s perimers, their water is too dirty for swimming or fishing. The Anacostia River Trail is now complete. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. You'd smell not just the trash but the smoke from open-air trash fires. “We focus on teaching them about the importance of composting and cleaning up the environment to make the Anacostia River a safer and healthier place.”. Greene says she is concerned for the factory infrastructure surrounding both the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. None of the tourists visit the southeast region of D.C., so why bother cleaning it all up?” Morrison said. For years, the Anacostia River had been written off as an aquatic wasteland.Debris and dissolved pollutants floated along the eight miles of water and into the water source for D.C. residents for over 40 years, making the river less of a natural beauty and more of a mockery –- one of the city’s biggest disappointments. How long does it take you to get from, like, your apartment to being in your kayak? 2 thoughts on “ Why does that water look so dirty? I recently went to India for a visit and had a great time there. Water quality specialists at the District Department of Energy … We had screen doors, screen windows and fans. We deploy green infrastructure to improve water quality. Cache Lance is a volunteer with the Green Team, which operates through Groundwork Anacostia. Efforts to clean up the river over the past 10 years have reduced the sheer amount of trash. Now, it's finally happening... CHECKER: But it's coming along with this redevelopment that is going to price them out of the neighborhood. Decreased pollution and increased wildlife are two things helping to improve the river’s health. A lot of the work done to improve the river conditions has been community-based because of the inaction from the D.C. government. FENSTON: The recent transformation here on the west side of the river has been remarkable. FENSTON: This is Melissa Checker. A few blocks away, an abandoned boiler factory is now a microbrewery. But the Anacostia River today is undergoing something of a makeover. It was banked by an estimated 2500 acres of wetlands that inundated and dried according to the tides and the seasons. Resolutions: It’s Time To Be on Time, and Beautify Our Space. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared the river to be “impaired by trash,” the second river in the country to be categorized this way, following the Mississippi River. To this day, the statistics are stark. Anacostia Waterfront Trust Executive Director Doug Siglin said their efforts are revolutionary, as they want to focus on both strengthening their community and improving water quality. 2 thoughts on “ Why does that water look so dirty? WASHINGTON- You don’t want to eat the fish in the Anacostia River. They are also linked with cardiovascular disease, and they are one of the many contaminants in cigarette smoke and particulate air pollution. The Anacostia River is highly polluted, mostly from Washington Navy Yard and Washington D.C. Water and Sewer Authority — which are both close to the river. FENSTON: The Anacostia wasn't just a dirty river. More people with means living near the river means more people invested in the river's health. “One day, people will be able to swim and fish in the Anacostia. I'm a Senior majoring in Public Health. Per capita income is just over half of the per capita income for the District as a whole. They dumped raw sewage and tons of garbage into the river, prompting its long-standing reputation for being dirty and unsafe. Why is that River so Dirty? Another school of thought is that the river is named after the Roman Tam, meaning 'wide', and Isis meaning water. Why is the River Thames so dirty ... it depends on how close it is. Three Supreme Court justices, four Civil War generals and America's first female Marine are among those buried in Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington's oldest burial ground. The Anacostia River is an 8.7 mile river that flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, DC. The colour of the river is so prominent, it basically gave the river it's name in the first place. For NPR News, I'm Jacob Fenston. CHECKER: For historic reasons, often having to do with, you know, various forms of institutional racism, people of color have lived around industrial neighborhoods. The D.C. Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment on this story. “For instance, a certain type of hand sanitizer and birth control pills can get into wastewater treatment plants and can kill fish or cause them to develop abnormalities such as becoming unisex.”. Here’s what needs to happen. JACOB FENSTON, BYLINE: Growing up near the Anacostia River in the 1950s and '60s, there weren't many public pools where African-American kids could cool off on a hot summer afternoon, so Dennis Chestnut and his friends found their own place to swim. To this day, the statistics are stark. “The program is especially beneficial for these students because they get to learn about how important the environment — especially their own community’s — is,” Lance said. Hi Beaverlakesmart, Since we can’t avoid flood because of many reasons, we can still maintain cleanliness in water even if there is flood. Why? It was too polluted,” he said. Some residents, like William Rosenfeld — who has lived in Anacostia for 10 years — feel these federal laws are not enough. Erosion Control January 19, 2016 at 7:43 pm. BALIKO: All of about five minutes (laughter). See more. The goal is to highlight people in different parts of their healing journeys through ... © 2021 • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNO • Log in, where normal cells are transformed into cancer, “A platform for vulnerability”: A conversation with the creators of Lumxn, The “rise up.” photo exhibit brought the Black Lives Matter protests below ground, AU uses past anti-union tactics against WAMU organizers, staff relationship with university remains strained, WAMU content staff move to unionize after a year of upheaval, AU stays quiet, D.C. City Council takes the first step to establish an Office for the Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing. Our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information inundated dried. 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