91茄子

The decision to move forward on a delayed action project backed by the city that will clean the bottom of the Anacostia River will be made before the year is over

A project to clean harmful chemicals that have plagued the Anacostia River for years is on track to begin cleanup efforts by the end of this year, according to city officials.

The Anacostia River Sediment Project has a goal to clean the river鈥檚 sediment, or contaminants, at the bottom of the river that affect the fish and water quality.

According to the District Department of Energy and Environment, the project will be given a final decision as soon as December.

Questions from 91茄子 about the estimated cost of the final project were left unknown but so far, the to determine the nature of the river鈥檚 contamination has cost about $25 million.

The soon to be tax-funded project sparks a new excitement for residents who have been hoping to swim in the neighborhood river that鈥檚 been neglected for generations.

鈥淚 never thought it would be possible,鈥� said Terry Wilkinson, a Southeast D.C. resident.

Wilkinson enjoys the Anacostia Park and walking trails along the river. Since she moved to the Navy Yard area across from the River, she has doubted it would ever become a place where residents can enjoy the water too, much like they do the Potomac River.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about the project,鈥� said Wilkinson. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about the possibility of swimming in the river.鈥�

The Anacostia River Sediment Project鈥檚 objective is to make the river more swimmable and fishable by 2023.

For years, residents have avoided interaction with the water in the Anacostia River in fear of waste and chemicals contaminating the water.

Even though the river lies just east of the Potomac River and stretches well into Virginia and parts of Maryland, the Anacostia has been nicknamed as the city鈥檚 鈥渇orgotten river.鈥�

Like many other urban rivers, the Anacostia has a long history of industrial and commercial activity. Storm sewers, tributaries, pollution, groundwater and industrial sites, like the Kenilworth Landfill, are just some sources of impurity to the river.

According to Gretchen Mikeska, the Anacostia coordinator for the Department of Energy and Environment, industries have dumped waste, trash, and other toxins into the river for nearly 140 years. Efforts to clean the river have been ongoing for more than 20 years.

鈥淭he Anacostia River Sediment Project essentially looks at the legacy of contamination and how it has affected the sediment, fish, and other organisms living in the river,鈥� said Mikeska.

Sediment, also known as pollutants and harmful chemicals, have gravely affected the river鈥檚 health. The project has been examining the river鈥檚 condition and determining what type of cleanup efforts need to be implemented for successful sediment removal.

Mikeska said the process to analyze the river and make determinations has been slow and complex. The project was first initiated in 2014 after the city decided to allocate money to restore the river further.

鈥淭here are other successful clean ups across the country we also look at,鈥� said Mikeska, 鈥渂ut big river clean ups take a long time.鈥�

In addition to hosting forums and updating their with information about the project, public input is another focal point.

Last year, the department released their Remedial Investigation Report, Human Health Risk Assessment, and Ecological Risk Assessment to inform the public about the plan to clean the bottom of the river. People were allowed access to the report and given the opportunity to comment.

鈥淧ublic commentary is important for this project,鈥� said Mikeska. 鈥淧eople had questions and concerns about their health, community and fishing. They also want to know what is going to happen in the next few years.鈥�

The city will begin to see new changes along the river at the beginning of the new year. With the addition of D.C. Water鈥檚 Anacostia River Tunnel, water quality is expected to improve and organizations like the Sierra Club and the Anacostia Riverkeepers still work to clean up trash and keep alive the positive legacy of the Anacostia.