The Restoration of the Anacostia River_The Report to Congress
- Published:
- July 9, 1992
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
The Anacostia watershed has suffered from a number of persisent water quality problems. In the tributary portions of the watershed, sediment, streambank erosion, and high bacteria levels are the most svevere problems. In the tidal reaches, the river suffers not only from high sediment and bacteria loadings generated and delivered from upstream, but also from the effects of combined sewerer overflows. These overflows and additional sources of bacteria nd nutrients generate massive loadings of oxygen-demanding materials during storms that deplete oxygen in the tidal river needed to support nlife there. Recently, the sediments in the tidal river have been found to contain high levels of toxic organics and heavy metals. Debris in the tidal Anacostia represent a substantial impediment to the restoration of the Anacostia River system.