Anacostia River Cleanup Draws 1,200 Volunteers, Removes 8 Tons of Debris

The annual Anacostia River Cleanup Day drew its largest turnout ever Saturday, with 1,200 volunteers pulling roughly 8 tons of trash, tires, and debris from the river and its tributaries between Bladensburg and the Navy Yard. Organizers from the Anacostia Watershed Society reported removing 342 tires, over 2,000 plastic bottles, and a surprising number of scooters.The cleanup coincided with the release of the Society's annual report card, which gave the river a B-minus for water quality — its highest grade in the 30-year history of the assessment. Improved stormwater infrastructure and the new tunnel system have dramatically reduced sewage overflows.