ANACOSTIA RESTORATION

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ANACOSTIA RESTORATION

• Indicators How They Are Helping Achieve Water
  Quality Goals?

SWRR April 2006 Meeting Ted Graham, Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments
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Indicators and Water Quality Goals

• Restoration of the Anacostia Watershed
• Water quality
• Habitat
• Stewardship
• Institutional Framework for Restoration
• Setting for Indicators Targets
• Indicators and Targets How are They Helping?
• Keeping score
• Setting program targets
• Communicating progress
• Incentive?

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The Anacostia Watershed
Size (square miles)
District of Columbia 30 (17) Prince
Georges 86 (49) Montgomery
60 (34) TOTAL 176
(100)
0.3 of the Chesapeake Bay watershed area (64,000
sq. mi.)
Population
District of Columbia 292,811 (36) Prince
Georges 311,573 (39) Montgomery
200,073 (25) TOTAL
804,457 (100)
5.7 of the Chesapeake Bay watershed population
(14,000,000)
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Priority Problems

• Fecal bacteria
• Low oxygen levels
• Sediment
• Toxics
• Trash
• Degraded habitat

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SOURCES
CARRIERS
POOR WATER QUALITY
RESULTS
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Restoration by Regulation

• CSO Long-Term Control Plan
• DC-WASA (2001)
• Municipal Stormwater Permits (Beginning in 1990s)
• DC-WASA, DOH DPW
• Prince George's County
• Montgomery County

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Restoration by Cooperation

• Regional cooperation since 1987
• 1987, 1991 1999 Agreements
• Local, state, federal partnership
• Common commitment to IT

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Agreements

• Agreement to Cooperate (1987)
• Six Point Action Plan (1991)
• Goal 1 Improve water quality
• Goal 2 - Restore protect ecological integrity
• Goal 3 - Restore natural range of fish
• Goal 4 - Increase wetlands
• Goal 5 - Expand forest cover riparian buffer
• Goal 6 - Increase public awareness and
  participation
• Indicators and Targets (1999, 2001)
• Define indicators tied to the six goals
• Set targets to be achieved by 2010
• Reconvene biennially to assess progress

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IT Expectations

• Encourage watershed-based planning
• Foster regional cooperation
• Develop public involvement and support
• Help set program budget priorities
• Engage elected officials

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Indicators Targets

• Indicators
• 50 selected from over 100 candidates
• Each measures a distinct aspect, e.g.
• Inputs - Stream Miles Restored
• Tied to management actions
• Outputs - Dissolved Oxygen
• Tied to expected outcomes
• 2010 targets selected for each of the 50
  indicators

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Goal 1 Reduce Pollutant Loads

• Ten Indicators, including
• Total suspended solids (sediment)
• Combined sewer overflows
• Fecal coliform contamination
• Dissolved oxygen
• Trash index
• Toxics and metals
• Example
• Dissolved Oxygen
• 2001 Baseline - 75 of the time less than 5 mg/L
• 2010 Target - 10 of the time less than 5 mg/L

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Urban Development
Washington D.C.
Sediment
Potomac River
Anacostia River
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Toxics

• 1992 Sediment Study
• Metals
• Lead
• Mercury
• Zinc
• Cadmium
• Organics
• DDT
• Chlordane
• PCBs

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Trash
Trash problems are widespread and require
constant attention.
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Robert Boone, Anacostia Watershed Society
4,000 tires dumped in the Anacostia River drainage
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Goal 2 Ecological Integrity

• 11 indicators, including
• Temperature
• Macroinvertebrate community health
• Resident fish community health
• Stream miles restored
• Example Stream Miles Restored
• 2001 Baseline about 15 miles since 1987
• Target 20 additional miles by 2010

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Stream Restoration
To repair degraded stream habitat
Devastation - 1990
Restoration - 1992
Natural Healing - 1999
Restoration on Wheaton Branch of Sligo Creek
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Little Paint Branch Stream Restoration
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Goal 3 Fish Passage

• Three indicators, including
• Percent anadromous fish range open
• Percent anadromous fish habitat utilization
• Example Percent historic spawning range open
• 2001 Baseline about 15 miles open
• Target 20 additional miles

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Goal 4 Wetland Acreage

• Three indicators, including
• Created/restored tidal wetland acreage
• Created/restored non-tidal wetland acreage
• Example Restored Tidal Wetland Acreage
• 2001 Baseline about 75 acres created since 1987
• Target create an additional 60 acres

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Kenilworth Marsh in D.C.
After Restoration
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Goal 5 Forest Cover

• Five indicators, including
• Miles of created riparian forest
• Acres of created upland forest
• Example Miles of Created Riparian Forest
• 2010 Baseline about12 miles created since 1987
• Target create an additional 112 miles

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Goal 6 Public Involvement

• Eighteen indicators in three categories
• Use
• Stewardship
• Advocacy
• Example Active Subwatershed Friend of Groups
• 2010 Baseline six active
• Target fourteen, covering all subwatersheds

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Volunteer Tree Planting
Gum Springs Fall 2000
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IT Accomplishments

• Promoted interagency coordination
• Stimulated public awareness
• Systematic program for monitoring, tracking
  reporting
• 50 indicators
• 2010 targets for each indicator
• Basis for 2001 signing ceremony
• Framework for reporting progress continuing need

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Restoration Indicators and Targets Report Card
(2002-2010)
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Not a Panacea

• Biennial meetings have not occurred
• Incentives and pressures are indispensable
• Grants
• Consent orders
• Permit conditions

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Contact Information
Ted Graham WashCOG [phone] tgraham_at_mwcog.or
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