The Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP) is intended to identify any potential contamination in the nine-mile tidal portion of the Anacostia River. Since tributaries located in Maryland feed into the Anacostia River (located in the District of Columbia), we are actively working with the state of Maryland to identify potential contamination entering the river system. Based on the ARSP findings, some of the sediment—soil at the bottom of the river—have potentially harmful contaminants from industrial and urban human activities. The ultimate goal of the ARSP is to present a plan the makes the river safe for human health and the environment.

Decades of industrial and urban activities throughout the Anacostia River’s watershed have increasingly degraded the river and caused the substantial loss of tidal fringe wetlands and marshes. Elevated concentrations of contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides are all present in sediment throughout the river, posing a risk to aquatic organisms and to humans. The District Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) plans to release the Proposed Plan for the Interim Record of Decision (ROD) to clean up the river by the end of 2019 and the final ROD will follow.

View the ARSP documents here. See an interactive story map and historical photos of the river.



Cover photo © Krista Schlyer - learn more about her Anacostia River photo series.