State of the Anacostia River

2016 Report Card

The Anacostia Watershed Society is committed to
restoring the Anacostia River and its tributaries to fishable
and swimmable conditions according to federal law, the
Clean Water Act. Modest progress made in recent years
continues to hold steady, but substantial effort is needed to
attain safe conditions for swimming and fish consumption.
Four major obstacles prevent the Anacostia River from being
a healthy natural resource: fecal bacteria, toxics, trash, and
uncontrolled stormwater. Each of these factors is being
addressed at various levels by those entrusted with the
rivers well-being, from planning to milestone achievements.
Collaborations and commitments remain strong.
This years evaluation of select parameters shows a leveling
out overall. Improvements for dissolved oxygen, submerged
aquatic vegetation, toxics, and trash were nearly offset by
small declines in scores for fecal bacteria, water clarity,
Chlorophyll a, and stormwater runoff volume.
A swimmable, fishable Anacostia River by 2025 is in sight. It
will take the work of all of us by being better stewards of our
environments and advocating for accountability and more
sustainable practices.

2016 ANACOSTIA RIVER REPORT CARD

SCORE (%) *1

GRADE *2

TREND *3

Dissolved Oxygen

58

Needs Attention

Fecal Bacteria

60

D-

Improving

Water Clarity

40

Improving

Chlorophyll a

72

C-

Improving

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

30

Improving

Stormwater Runoff Volume

45

Degrading

Toxics

28

Improving

Trash

46

Improving

C+

Improving

Improving

WATER QUALITY INDICATORS

Overall Effort and Commitment

Grade for Entire Anacostia River

47

COMMENTS: Progress made continues to hold steady, but substantial effort is

needed to attain safe conditions for swimming and fish consumption.
*1 AWS scoring method used for Stormwater, Toxics, and Trash. EcoCheck scoring method for all other categories. (100% is best.)
*2 Standard school grading system (Below 60 = F).
*3 Five year intervals were used to compare then (1985) to now (2014-2015) for trends.
NOTE: Toxics, Trash, and Overall Effort and Commitment evaluations are from 2015. Other data sets are from 2014, the most recent available.

The following parameters are used to assess water quality and conditions:
Dissolved Oxygen is critical for survival of aquatic life and ecosystem sustainability.
Fecal Bacteria contamination is caused by sewage discharges and leaks, and from pet and wildlife waste.
Water Clarity is a measure of light penetrating the water column; this affects the health of aquatic grasses.
Chlorophyll a is the measure of microalgae biomass; this can impact water clarity and dissolved oxygen levels.
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation requires light to thrive and is essential habitat for young fish and other aquatic life.
Stormwater Runoff flushes trash and toxics from paved areas and erodes stream banks, filling the river with sediment.
Toxics in the Anacostia include PCBs and PAHs that potentially pose chronic damage to people and wildlife.
Trash is unsightly, injures and kills wildlife and is a major river pollutant, especially plastic bags, bottles, and foam.
Overall Effort and Commitment is based on current initiatives from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and
the private sector to clean up and restore the river.

For the full report, please visit anacostiaws.org/programs/publicaffairs/2016-state-river-report-card

Thanks to the following organizations in helping assess water quality:
Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition
USDA Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory
District Department of Energy and Environment
American Chemical Society
June 2016. For more on monitoring
results, trends, and why AWS believes we
can have a fishable and swimmable river
by 2025 visit www.anacostiaws.org.

The Campbell Foundation

AWS is looking for potential funders to make this reporting sustainable.
Please contact Emily Conrad if you can help.
econrad@anacostiaws.org (301) 699-6204