Anacostia River Sediment Project
Why is this happening?
The Anacostia River and the land area that drains to the river have a long history of urbanization, industrialization, and agriculture, which has resulted in pollution, poor water quality, and contaminated sediments in the river bed. The District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)’s Anacostia River Sediment Project was initiated to identify any potential sediment contamination in the nine-mile tidal portion of the Anacostia River, Washington Channel and Kingman Lake.
Since 2013, the Anacostia River Sediment Project has proceeded through a succession of phases. The initial phases determined the nature and extent of the sediment contamination (Remedial Investigation) and the risk posed to humans and wildlife (Risk Assessment). These studies concluded that elevated concentrations of contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, heavy metals, and pesticides from industrial, urban, and human activities are present in sediment throughout the Anacostia River, posing a potential risk to humans or aquatic wildlife.
The Anacostia River Sediment Project has identified potential solutions to the risks posed by contaminated sediments (Feasibility Study). After input was gathered from broad array of stakeholders on the available options for remediation (Proposed Plan), DOEE issued an Interim Record of Decision that identifies the early action cleanup remedies for the most contaminated areas in the river and outlines the process for their implementation.
View Anacostia River Sediment Project document library here.
Cover photo © Krista Schlyer - learn more about her Anacostia River photo series.
SEDIMENT PROJECT LATEST NEWS
ARSP 100-Percent Design Report
DOEE ‘s Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP) 100-Percent Design Report was released in Summer 2025 on the ARSP website. It includes the detailed drawings, technical specifications, calculations, and project plans and takes into account all comments previously received. The response to comments (RTC) matrix for the 90% Design Report are shown in Appendix M. The 100-Percent Design Report is open for public comment through October 14, 2025. Comments should be clearly marked “Anacostia River Sediment Project: 100 Percent Design Report” and either be: (1) emailed to anacostiariversedimentproject@dc.gov, or (2) mailed or hand-delivered to Department of Energy and Environment, Dev Murali, 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002.
USFWS Forage Fish Report, April 2025
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has finalized the forage fish report titled “Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Organochlorine Pesticide Concentrations in Whole Body Mummichog and Banded Killifish from the Anacostia River Watershed: 2018-2022, Final Report”. This report presents the results from monitoring of mummichog and banded killifish from 296 composite samples for four years.
Beneficial Use Guidance for Dredged Material
DOEE developed the Beneficial Use guidance, July 2024 related to potential beneficial uses for dredged material generated from waters of the District of Columbia (District or DC waters) for placement within the District focusing on District-owned, -operated, or -managed property. The guidance has been developed addressing public, stakeholder, and agencies comments on the draft document. Further, DOEE considered extensive exchange and discussion with federal agencies to seek their input in revising the document. Beneficial Use Guidance, July 2024 can be accessed following the link here.
Field Activities in the Anacostia River
DOEE mobilized its field team on July 28, 2025 to conduct additional pre-construction sampling in support of dredging Kingman Lake channels and the area adjacent to Seafarers Yacht Club and the Anacostia Community Boathouse Association. The data collected will be used to classify the dredged material for final disposition and characterize the sediment that will remain after dredging. Additional baseline sampling was also conducted of Early Action Areas in Kingman Lake and the Washington Channel to establish baseline conditions prior to the implementation of the remedy next year (2026). Sampling is expected to run from July 28th through mid-September. DOEE’s weekly progress reports of field activities can be found here.
Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River (LCCAR)
The LCCAR meets quarterly to discuss and advise on the District's Anacostia River Sediment Project (ARSP). Assembled in September 2014, the Leadership Council consists of 25 high-level local, state, and federal government officials and environmental leaders who support the Mayor's vision for a fishable and swimmable Anacostia River. To watch a recording of a meeting and/or review meeting materials please click here.
The Anacostia River Sediment Project is not the only effort to clean up legacy contamination in the Anacostia River. 15 Potential Environmental Cleanup Site (PECS) - defined as an area along the shoreline of the Anacostia River where current or historical activities included the storage, handling, use, or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum products - have currently been identified. More sites may be identified as information becomes available.
Key Documents
Interim Record of Decision
The Interim Record of Decision (ROD) outlines the early actions that the District will be taking to clean up contaminated sediment in the Anacostia River. Read it here.
Focused Feasibility Study
The Focused Feasibility Study explored the feasibility of different options to address the issue of toxic sediment in the Anacostia River.
Read it here.
FAQ
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