Skip to main content

Hoyer Secures Federal Funds to Clean Up and Preserve Prince George's Waterways

June 25, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny Hoyer today announced that the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2005 Energy and Water Appropriations bill which includes federal funds to help restore and preserve the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers which were included in the bill at the request of Congressman Hoyer.

"As the major waterways serving the recreation and business interests of Prince George's County , I am pleased that I was able to secure funds in the House bill today to continue our work to restore the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Improving access to these waterways and restoring the watershed will enhance the County's economy by ensuring that these two bodies of water remain viable gateways to our Nation's capital, while improving the habitat for our region's natural wildlife."

The following funding for Prince George's County Water projects was included in the House passed Energy and Water Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005:

Paint Branch Restoration, $200,000

The Paint Branch, a tributary of the Anacostia River, has become blocked to spawning fish because of a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission sewer main that was installed (properly) several decades ago, and has become exposed in recent years because of the degradation of the stream. Repairing the blockage would restore 6 miles of stream to the spawning habitat of the blue back and alewife herring, an unusually large amount of habitat to be restored by removing a single blockage.

In some places the stream has moved as much as 150 feet laterally from its original banks, causing major erosion along the course of the waterway. The Army Corps of Engineers proposed to return the stream to its original banks, take measures to control its flow to prevent future erosion, and restore riparian buffers upstream to prevent further erosion and exacerbation of the problem. Congressman Hoyer also was successful in securing $200,000 for this restoration project last year and this year's funding continues to support pre-construction, engineering and design work associated with this project.

Anacostia River Restoration Plan, $220,000

In the early 1990's, the Corps completed a study of the present and future uses and problems of the Anacostia River's water and related land resources. The reconnaissance report made a number of important recommendations to address the degraded river system that is a gateway to our Nation's capital. Since that time the Corps has undertaken or participated in a variety of studies and projects in the watershed including the beneficial use of dredged materials, removal of fish passage blockages, and wetlands restoration. The quality of the watershed continues to improve greatly with these efforts conducted by local, State, and Federal agencies.

Congressman Hoyer has secured more than $30 million over the years for projects to improve the water quality of the Anacostia River and to restore the health and natural beauty of the river and the surrounding natural resources. These improvements enhance public enjoyment of the river, and improve the health of plants and animals throughout the watershed.

As the lead Federal agency in water resource management, the Corps has a vital role to play in the restoration of the Anacostia River. This funding will help the Corps complete the plan and feasibility studies for the Anacostia River in cooperation with local, State, and Federal stakeholders. This is essential to the long-term health and revitalization of the watershed.

Anacostia and Potomac River Trash and Debris Removal, $1.2 Million

The Anacostia and Potomac Rivers are littered with trash and debris, which enter the watershed's tributaries and tidal river largely through urban storm drain systems. The trash and non-woody debris pose serious chemical and biological risks to our waterways by interfering with the establishment of aquatic plants, leaking toxics from certain types of trash such as oil filters and batteries, and creating hazards to the wildlife that ingest the floating debris. This funding will be used by the Army Corps of Engineers to remove storm-water trash before it can reach the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Congressman Hoyer has secured more than $9.4 million dollars to support this project.

###

Issues:Environment