FAll 2020 Volume 29, Issue 3

A Safe Earth Day for All! By Maureen Farrington, Marketing Manager Not even a world-wide pandemic can one of our Trash Traps stop our community members from along the . protecting our favorite river! None of this would Despite a six month delay, Earth Day happen without the in October brought out hundreds of tireless effort of our eager volunteers to do their part for a Earth Day site leaders! cleaner Anacostia River. The Anacostia From first-timers to our Watershed Society was excited to experienced site leaders celebrate 50 years of Earth Day in 2020, (some with more than and our hearts broke at the idea of 20 years working with cancelling the area’s premier cleanup us!), this group of super in April. By moving the event to the volunteers attended fall, we were still able to get out in our trainings, performed neighborhood parks and streams while site visits, and ran the keeping COVID safety measures in day for so many in our place! community. We are The weather was perfect to beautify so grateful for their our watershed on Saturday, October commitment to a cleaner 3, with the sun out and the sky clear. Anacostia River. We had 400 volunteers spread out We’d like to give a huge at 23 different sites throughout the thank you to Pepco, our watershed who cleaned up a whopping Gold Sponsor! Also, 11,000 lbs of trash, recycling, and debris Earth Day would not and kept it out of the Anacostia River! be possible without This year we welcomed a new site at the support of our local Fairmount Heights, where the town municiple governments government gave their full support and agencies including to the community members and the , the Fall 2020 Watershed Stewards Mayor’s Office of the Clean who participated there. AWS has City, DC Department of long-wanted to host a site in that Energy and Environment, part of Prince George’s County and DC Department of the watershed, and it was a treat to Public Works, Prince bring them into the Earth Day family. George’s Department of Among our other programs, Saturday the Environment, and Environmental Academy students the -National Photo credit: Jonathan Stepanoff pitched in at River Terrace not far from Capital Park and Planning Photos from top: Volunteers at Fairmount Heights; Volunteers at Commission. Kingman Island; Volunteer by NW Branch

Fall2020.indd 1 10/19/2020 11:36:01 AM Page 2 President’s Corner Anacostia Watershed Society By Jim Foster, President AWS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and restore the Anacostia River by bringing Greetings from the lonely deck partners and communities together to achieve a of the USS AWS! I miss you all clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of all terribly. We have been busy with living in its watershed and for future generations. projects this fall and taking care 4302 Baltimore Avenue of our existing babies - you know, Bladensburg, MD 20710 www.anacostiaws.org mussels, trees, wild rice - and each 301-699-6204 other. I hope you are well and perhaps thriving in your own way. President & CEO The Interim Record of Decision (ROD) for remediating toxic sediments James R. Foster in the river was released at the end of September by the District Department of Energy & Environment. This plan focuses on cleaning Board of Directors up 11 “hot spots” in the river that have been identified during the Elissa Feldman, Chair Neil S. Lang, Vice Chair many investigations of contamination and is part of a multi-pronged Kathryn Petrillo-Smith, Treasurer strategy to make the Anacostia River “fishable” by addressing legacy Lars Hanslin, Secretary contamination that poses risks to human health and wildlife. Nina Albert Donna D. An In other good news for the River, Congress passed the America’s Maria Earley Michael J. Lederman Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, a piece of landmark legislation Kathleen Linehan protecting clean water in the Bay. ACE reauthorizes and increases Cynthia L. Quarterman funding for the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, creates a new U.S. Matthew Ries Fish and Wildlife Service habitat protection program for the Bay Nigel Stephens Michael Tilchin called Chesapeake WILD, and reauthorizes the National Park Service’s Ken Williams Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails program, which has supported our boat tours program and mussel restoration efforts (see Founder & Honorary Member a note on that below). As a member organization of the Choose Clean Robert E. Boone Water Coalition, we celebrate this historic win for the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers! Staff Erin Borgeson Castelli Lastly, we are always looking for new talent to join our Board of Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Directors and help provide “Super Vision” to the organization. If you Ariel Trahan have passion for the mighty Anacostia, then we want to talk to you! Director of River Restoration Programs For the River, Emily Conrad Director of Development

Reyna Askew Maureen Farrington Manager of Community- Marketing Manager We found one of our mussel babies in the wild! Read about Mussel a224 here: based Restoration Robinne Gray anacostiaws.org/blog/running-into-our-musselpower-mussels-all-grown-up.html Kendra Bierman Gift Officer Environmental Educator Steve Kinzer Colleen Burkhardt Maintenance Engineer Office Assistant Chris Lemieux Jorge Bogantes Montero Manager of Education Program Specialist: Natural Resources Stacy Lucas Community Engagement Emily Castelli Coordinator Development Coordinator Masaya Maeda Bill Cocke Water Quality Specialist Project Manager Bryan McKnight Catherine Estes Program Specialist: Green Program Director, Saturday Infrastructure Environmental Academy

Fall2020.indd 2 10/19/2020 11:36:03 AM Page 3 Treating and Teaching: Building Community Through Outdoor Classrooms

Get ready for #GivingTuesday on December 1!

The day to show the power of giving locally is back!

This year on#GivingTuesday , the Anacostia Watershed Society is asking you to help us reach even By Ariel Trahan, Director of River Restoration New outdoor classroom installed by AWS more people! On this special day of at John Bayne Elementary giving, we’re asking our members Now, more than ever, we are seeing the Through the Treating and Teaching and supporters to reach out to their importance of outdoor education. AWS program, a partnership of several friends to give them the opportunity has always focused on getting kids different local organizations funded by to give to a local non-profit that gets out to the river itself and equipping the Clean Water Partnership and the results. teachers with the knowledge and tools National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, that they need to utilize their own we have been able to work with eight Make your gift go further by schoolyards as outdoor classrooms. schools this year in Prince George’s supporting us on this day through County Public Schools to build the Catalogue for Philanthropy! custom outdoor classrooms on their The Anacostia Watershed Society is schoolyards. eligible for special #GivingTuesday prizes, such as most donors in an While there were COVID-related delays, hour! Stay tuned on our email list all eight outdoor learning areas will be and website for more information. ready when students eventually return to in-person learning. These outdoor learning areas will not only add resources and capacity for in-person learning and allow for social distancing, but will also provide the additional benefits of fresh air, hands on learning opportunities, and increased access to nature. While PGCPS is starting the 2020-21 school year with virtual learning, we are Thank you to working closely with the school system to provide professional development our donors! opportunities for teachers and New outdoor classroom and raingarden installed beginning work with a new cohort of at Waldon Woods Elementary School in Prince schools on the design plans for the * George’s County. next round of outdoor classrooms.

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Left: Wild Rice patch at RFK at August 2020; Right: The same patch planted in 2013 The Year of Wild Rice overgrazing. By Jorge Bogantes Montero, Program Specialist: Natural Resources That’s when the Anacostia Watershed Zizania aquatica, two Latin rail, making it a famous Sora hunting Society came to the rescue! In 2004, we destination in the 19th century. words that bring joy to this started a wild rice revegetation effort Wild rice suffered a sharp decline in that has lasted to this day. With advice dreadful Anno Domini 2020, from wetland experts, we started the and the scientific name of our beloved the last century due to a relentless campaign of wetland destruction propagation of wild rice from a local wild rice, a tall native wetland grass source, the Jug Bay wetlands at the that once carpeted the Anacostia River. through sedimentation, dredging, and filling of the so called “malarial Patuxent River. Jug Bay became a true If you have ever been to Jug Bay in swamps.” More recently, the resident reference ecosystem for our restoration the Patuxent River, you can get an population of Canada geese, a non- efforts in the River, our model idea of how our favorite river used wetland. The Patuxent River A Tale of a Wild Rice Tattoo by Former AWS Intern Julia Keane migratory and introduced subspecies One of my favorite experiences as a to look: hugged by a vast expanse of of the goose, was brought to the area wetlands endured the same student at University of Maryland was wild rice with its graceful yellow-green from the Midwest and wreaked havoc vegetation grazing problems interning at AWS. The Anacostia River is inflorescences, a flag of the summer in on the river’s wild rice. The geese caused by an overabundant a lifeline for DC and surrounding areas, the Anacostia River. Once a keystone find the plant very palatable. Having geese population. Unsurprisingly, species in the Anacostia marshes, Wild become overabundant in the river, they the wild rice was widely but was becoming increasingly polluted. Rice creates prime habitat for the Sora decimated the annual native grass by decimated by the feathered The main goal of the internship was to honkers. Every year, we have help restore wetland species, including been collecting wild rice seed at wild rice. I have a lot of great memories Jug Bay with our partner Greg from my time in the marshes, but one Kearns, the legendary naturalist that will always stick with me is when I at the Jug Bay Natural Area. got to help collect seeds off the wild rice The seed of wild rice must be plants. It was a tedious task but one that refrigerated over the winter, required immersing yourself head first and then either mudballed into its environment. into the marsh or grown in a I was surrounded by butterflies, red nursery come early spring and winged blackbirds, herons and every be planted by early summer. other animal that relied on these plants Mudballing is exactly what it for food. I loved how you could hear the sounds like: mixing the seeds wind through the stems and smell the with mud, rolling into a ball, then quintessential scent of marshland. But hurling them into the Anacostia these plants weren’t just aesthetically River marshes. This is a popular Flourishing Wild Rice at pleasing. As we boated from section to

Fall2020.indd 4 10/19/2020 11:36:08 AM Page 5 restoration breaking wetland activity work in cold and among 4th hot weather. graders. And, thank you With a geese students, for all overpopula- the thousands of tion in the wetland plants Anacostia planted over the River, any years through revegetation our Rice Rangers endeavor had environmental to be protect- education pro- ed from the gram. birds. The only Through way to pro- our wetland tect our wild revegetation, Mudballing at Kingman and Heritage Islands rice plantings we have also by the National Park Service and the was by creat- propagated many other native District Department of Energy and ing 800-900 wetland plants such as arrow arum, the Environment, with Google Earth square feet pickerelweed, rushes, American Lotus satellite imagery. We roughly estimated corrals. An and other species. But our focus has a total area of 7 acres of dense wild Left: Wild Rice patch at RFK at August 2020; Right: The same patch planted in 2013 area small been to enhance wild rice populations rice growth at Kingman marsh north enough to de- because of its importance for the river’s of NE, and the north ter geese due to the fact that the birds wetlands. Sixteen years of wetland fringe wetland --right north of the need ample areas to land and take off, restoration, and the recent goose bridge. In the past just like airplanes. Fencing on wetland population management efforts, have decade, the dense wild rice acreage has real estate is a very different thing culminated in what we consider a normally been 3 acres or less. Until now from fencing in terra firma. Add wad- 2020 wild rice bonanza, particularly most of the growth has been rather ers and the travails of DC weather into at Kingman marsh, the stronghold scattered. This is great news for fish and the mix, and you’ve got a pretty physi- of the species in the tidal Anacostia. wildlife! Will we see more Sora rails? So cally taxing marsh work out. Thank you We did a comparison of recent aerial far they are a relatively rare visitor to volunteers! for all the hours of back photos taken by helicopter flights, these wetlands...Time will tell.

A Tale of a Wild Rice Tattoo by Former AWS Intern Julia Keane One of my favorite experiences as a section my intern advisors told me how student at University of Maryland was wild rice, a once prolific plant in this area, interning at AWS. The Anacostia River is was now declining at a scary pace. This a lifeline for DC and surrounding areas, impacted the water quality, the ability but was becoming increasingly polluted. of the wetlands to protect the coast The main goal of the internship was to from flooding, and the local biodiversity. help restore wetland species, including Throughout my internship I fell in love wild rice. I have a lot of great memories with this plant and what it meant to the from my time in the marshes, but one health of the Anacostia River. that will always stick with me is when I A couple years later, right before got to help collect seeds off the wild rice graduation, a group of friends and I I live in California now, but on a recent plants. It was a tedious task but one that decided to go on a road trip and get visit back to Kingman Island I was required immersing yourself head first tattoos together. I was in the midst shocked by the lush landscape of into its environment. of applying for jobs in California so I wetland plants. In just a few years, fish I was surrounded by butterflies, red wanted a tattoo that would remind me populations have bounced back, water winged blackbirds, herons and every of Maryland and the beautiful wetlands quality is at healthier levels, and wild other animal that relied on these plants I had spent most of my college career rice is on the rise. I know that all of this for food. I loved how you could hear the studying. My internship with AWS played is due to the hard work of the people wind through the stems and smell the a large role in my life, so I thought at Anacostia Watershed Society and I’m quintessential scent of marshland. But wild rice would be a perfect way to happy this tattoo can always serve as a these plants weren’t just aesthetically commemorate that. reminder of my time with them. pleasing. As we boated from section to

Fall2020.indd 5 10/19/2020 11:36:12 AM Page 6 Meet our Meadows By Robinne Gray, Gifts Officer When we think of rivers and streams, it’s common to consider them as only the water in the channel. But bringing a river like the Anacostia back to life involves more than working directly with the water in the riverbed. Because any healthy river ecosystem depends on the relationship between the water and the surrounding land, what’s on and near the riverbank is important, too. In their natural environments, rivers are surrounded by all kinds of habitats, including wetlands, forests, and meadows. Distinct from forests and wetlands, meadows are “dry land” covered by herbaceous plants and having few or no trees. Meadows – also called grasslands – are a shifting and regular part of the landscape, occurring when forest openings are created by These signs mark Anacostia Watershed Society meadow restoration sites throughout the region. storm blow-downs or fires. are full of life, and they contribute many As part of our holistic effort to restore In our urban and suburban of the same benefits as forested areas: the Anacostia River watershed, AWS is communities of the DC region, the wildflowers and grasses that live in currently stewarding five meadow sites meadows typically need to be meadow environments can have deep covering about nine acres with the help intentionally created and maintained. roots that prevent soil erosion. These of community volunteers and school If they are present at all, meadows may plant communities filter stormwater kids. We created our first site along the be devalued as empty spaces or seen and create stream buffer, sequester Northwest Branch south of Magruder as neglected areas that are ripe for carbon, and create habitat essential for Park in Hyattsville around 2007. development, since they are already pollinators and other wildlife. Another, larger meadow site is nearby cleared of trees. Yet these “vacant” lots at the confluence of the Northwest and Northeast Branches, not far from our headquarters in Bladensburg. These sites are located in the river’s floodplain, near levees constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Our early efforts required negotiation with the Army Corps, whose regulations specified that the floodplains were to be kept mowed and clear of trees so they would not collect debris if there was a flood. This policy also meant that the large areas of riverside land were essentially biologically sterile and required frequent mowing along with regular application of herbicides to keep the areas covered in a “lawn” of non-native, low grasses. With the help of partners and advocates from the local community, AWS got permission to establish meadow areas with native and naturalized plant species such as black-eyed Susan, common milkweed, boneset, switchgrass, Indian Meadow at RFK staduim with butterflies Continued on page 7

Fall2020.indd 6 10/19/2020 11:36:14 AM Page 7 Environmental Education at Any Age By Reyna Askew, Manager of Community-based Restoration, and Chris Lemieux, Manager of Environmental Education Undeterred by obvious challenges, our use our new-found fungal knowledge Maryland Master Naturalist program immediately as recent rains have turned continues to thrive in a new remote the area into a mushroom hunter’s format. With four classes completed, we paradise. are already a quarter of the way through While we’re busy foraging away, we’re the year-long program! looking forward to our upcoming The most recent class focused on the classes featuring birds as well as mycological world (that’s fungus!) and amphibians of Maryland. our mind’s have been blown! Did you Our Watershed Stewards Academy has know that there are several types of adapted and continued to grow in 2020. bioluminescent fungus species right Our spring cohort has just completed here in the watershed? Did you know their coursework and is beginning to that our watershed is also home to a create their capstone projects while fungus that can turn flies into zombies!? our fall cohort begins classes. Through Well, you would have if you were in our virtual classes we learned how to this class! We’ve also been able to find macroinvertebrates in our local streams, how to reduce stormwater runoff pollution with plants, and how to organize our communities for environmental change. Most recently, we were able to get together (in small groups and physically distant) to explore some of the wonders at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Nash Run. At the Nash Run Trash Trap, we discovered that roughly 70% of end up in our river. We also had the the trash in our waterways doesn’t opportunity to get out onto the river float! Meaning that even once we have in some small groups and we learned tackled the plastic bottles and cans that like our communities, the river is floating on the river’s surface, we will resilient and continues to heal, rebound, still need to work to reduce pollution at and teem with life. Watershed Stewards on a physically-distant boat tour the source to make sure that it doesn’t

Meadows, continued from page 6 of the Saving Our Native Grasslands food for some baby birds! A robust grass, beebalm, and partridge pea. (SONG) program, funded by the Capitol insect population will also feed small No herbicides are applied, and the Hill Community Foundation, and the mammals such as mice, voles, moles, meadows only need to be mowed Chesapeake Bay Trust. Our newest and and rabbits, which in turn will attract once in late winter. We are establishing smallest meadow is at Marvin Gaye Park larger predators such as owls, hawks, another small demonstration meadow next to a community garden, created and foxes. plot in University Park near the in partnership with DC Parks and Hyattsville Library. Meadows are a foundational part of a Recreation and DC Natives. food web that is essential to a healthy, One prominent meadow is in the Meadows and gardens can have a naturally functioning ecosystem. As we District near RFK Stadium. In an mutually beneficial relationship, with learn how bird and insect populations ongoing effort, volunteer groups are the native plants helping to attract are dwindling across the helping us clear the area of invasive pollinators needed by the garden and the world, it’s clear that meadow woody plants, like red mulberry, plants. More broadly, meadows habitats have an important role to bush honeysuckle and Japanese lush with native plants support a play in sustaining biodiversity for local honeysuckle, that had taken over variety of insect life. Invertebrates and migratory species. Imagine the the unused areas near Parking Lot 6 such as snails, mantises, caterpillars, potential if other currently lifeless areas where the Metro line passes overhead. grasshoppers, katydids, true bugs, such as road medians and power line Elementary school students then spiders and beetles are important not cuts were transformed into meadow help us plant the prepared sites with only as pollinators but as food for other habitats! native plants they’ve grown as part animals. Caterpillars are protein-packed

Fall2020.indd 7 10/19/2020 11:36:15 AM Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID College Park, MD Anacostia Watershed Society Permit #1871 The George Washington House 4302 Baltimore Avenue Bladensburg, MD 20710 office: 301-699-6204 fax: 301-699-3317 [email protected] www.anacostiaws.org

Fall 2020 Edition

Thank you from all of us at the Anacostia Watershed Society! Your support has meant the world to us during this unprecedented year. We can’t wait to see you all again soon!

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