Anacostia Watershed cleanup: COG receives nearly $1 million for new project to remove derelict vessels, large debris, and trash

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program recommended the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) for a grant of approximately $1 million with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a project to reduce trash and protect local ecosystems in the Anacostia Watershed. The federal funding leverages $90,000 in matching funds from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), DC Department of Energy and Environment (DC DOEE) and Prince George's County Department of the Environment (PG DoE) for the cross-jurisdictional project. Through the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, COG will be working in collaboration with project partner, the Anacostia RiverKeeper (ARK), to improve the health of the watershed by removing an estimated 60,000 pounds of trash and debris and 33 abandoned or derelict vessels (ADVs) from marinas along the Anacostia during the four-year lifespan of the project.

The trash and debris removal from the Lower Beaverdam Creek (LBC) will be implemented on a 1,500-foot section of the Anacostia tributary, located in southern Prince George's County, Maryland. COG has been monitoring LBC for 12 years and the data shows that this stream site has one of the highest trash counts among the 43 sites monitored in the watershed. The site contains the highest concentration of automobile parts, tires, appliances, and metal scraps, which harm fish like striped bass, American shad, hickory shad, as well as other wildlife accessing the stream.

Map of Lower Beaverdam Creek (LBC) where the trash and debris removal will take place.

"This project will not only reduce pollutants and toxins in the Anacostia River but also discourage public littering through various methods aimed at preventing ocean pollution," said COG Executive Director Clark Mercer. "There will be outreach to upstream businesses and the local community as well as an online platform where people can send geotagged pictures of large trash items in the river and nearby waterways to ultimately empower the community to keep large debris from accumulating in the future."

"Removing trash and debris, especially abandoned vessels, is crucial to reviving the health of our waterways and ensuring that our watershed residents have access to a clean and safe river," remarked Anacostia Riverkeeper President, Suzy Kelly. "We are proud to partner on this project and make a tangible difference in the health of the Anacostia watershed, benefiting both the environment and the surrounding communities."

Throughout the 8.5 miles of tidal Anacostia River in DC and Maryland, there will be several barge river cleanups targeting large debris such as dockless bikes, electric scooters, and picnic tables. In total, 33 ADVs from five marinas along Boathouse Row in the Anacostia will also be removed. The new funding will help boat clubs and marinas on Boathouse Row take ownership of a problem they have been contending with but lacked the necessary resources to accomplish.

In addition to protecting the environment, the project will advance regional equity goals. Thirteen of the seventeen census tracts adjacent to the tidal Anacostia are identified as COG Equity Emphasis Areas (EEAs), which have high concentrations of low-income individuals and/or traditionally disadvantaged racial and ethnic population groups.

As the project activities are implemented, COG will be working with the Anacostia RiverKeeper, National Railroad Passenger Corporation and Washington Sanitary Sewer Commission, the National Park Service, MDE, DCDOEE, PG DoE and community organizations throughout the entire project.

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