Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Anacostia Water Quality Monitoring Project
By Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
The broad goal of the study is to significantly expand data collection at the Northeast Branch Anacostia and Northwest Branch Anacostia to include water-quality sampling and analysis for a wide suite of natural and anthropogenic constituents (nutrients, sediment, metals, bacteria, and organics such as PCBs and PAHs).
Since the late nineteenth century, ecological problems in the Anacostia Watershed have largely resulted from an expanding human population and the associated changes in land use and land cover. The ongoing loss of forest and wetland habitat, alteration of streamflow, increases in nonpoint source pollution, and discharges of combined sewer overflow and industrial waste have all contributed to the decline in the ecological health of the watershed. These shifts in land use patterns over the last three centuries have drastically changed the ecology of the watershed.
The Anacostia Watershed encompasses 456 square kilometers (176 square miles) within suburban Maryland and the District of Columbia, and crosses two major physiographic provinces, the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. The Anacostia watershed is one of the most densely populated watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin. The Watershed has undergone many changes through the years, mainly due to the influence of urbanization on the ecosystem. Major restoration efforts began in 1987.
Historically, many industries were based along the banks of the Anacostia River. Over the years, hazardous substances from these industries and other human activities were discharged directly into the river or were washed into the river by runoff. The Watershed also has experienced substantial deforestation and agricultural development, intense and continuous urbanization, industrial development, and significant loss of fringe wetlands and marshes. The River has been severely stressed by the effects of point and non-point source discharges of contaminants brought about by these changes within the Watershed.
This has resulted in significant sedimentation and elevated levels of hazardous substances, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides such as chlordane, lead and other heavy metals, and polynucleararomatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment throughout the 13.5-kilometer run of the Anacostia River. In addition, the lower reach of the River within the District of Columbia is subject to raw sewage discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) during rain events exceeding one-half inch. Significant sedimentation during wet weather flows also impacts and deteriorates the river morphology.
Some of these hazardous substances have been found in fish at levels that endanger the health of the fish. Numerous fish in the river exhibit tumors and lesions. In addition, hazardous substances have been found in the fish at levels that may threaten the health of people who eat them. The District of Columbia declared several fish consumption health advisories in the 1990s with restrictions on bottom-feeding species and game fish, and a fish consumption ban for pregnant women and children.
An estimated 90% of the original wetlands in the Watershed have been lost. The Watershed has been designated one of only three of the region's Areas of Concern by the Chesapeake Bay Program due to risk to aquatic life. A fish consumption ban was imposed by the District of Columbia due to PCB and pesticide contamination of fish. Loss of habitat, erosion, sedimentation, flooding, destruction of wetlands, channelization, toxic pollution, decaying older communities and waterfront areas and loss of river-based recreational opportunities such as boating, fishing and swimming all characterize what had become of the Anacostia River and much of its watershed.
This project will collect samples for nutrients, trace metals, organics, including PCB's and PAH's, bacteria, and suspended sediment at the Northeast and Northwest Branches of the Anacostia River on a monthly basis, and during storm events using automatic sampling equipment. Additionally, continuous water-quality data will be collected, including water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH.
In subsequent project years, once adequate samples have been collected, the measured nutrient concentration values will be related to concurrent values of continuously measured parameters (water temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, pH, and dissolved-oxygen content) to estimate nitrate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and suspended-sediment concentrations in the stream water at 15-minute intervals. The load for each time interval will be calculated by multiplying the estimated concentration by the discharge for the interval computed from the stage-discharge relation established for the site. Total loads for any given period of time can be calculated by summing the loads computed for each measurement interval during the specified period.
Sediment and chemical contaminant loads in tributaries to the Anacostia River, Washington, District of Columbia, 2016–17
A study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Washington, D.C., Department of Energy & Environment to estimate the loads of suspended-sediment-bound chemical compounds in five gaged tributaries and four ungaged tributaries of the Anacostia River (known locally as "Lower Anacostia River") in Washington, D.C. Tributaries whose discharge is measured by the USGS ar
Core Science Systems, Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Water quality in the Anacostia River, Maryland and Rock Creek, Washington, D.C.: Continuous and discrete monitoring with simulations to estimate concentrations and yields of nutrients, suspended sediment, and bacteria
Concentrations and loading estimates for nutrients, suspended sediment, and E. coli bacteria were summarized for three water-quality monitoring stations on the Anacostia River in Maryland and one station on Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. Both streams are tributaries to the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and contribute to the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Two stations on the Anac
Water Resources, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Toxicity of Anacostia River, Washington, DC, USA, sediment fed to mute swans (Cygnus olor)
Sediment ingestion is sometimes the principal route by which waterfowl are exposed to environmental contaminants, and at severely contaminated sites waterfowl have been killed by ingesting sediment. Mute swans (Cygnus olor) were fed a diet for six weeks with a high but environmentally realistic concentration (24%) of sediment from the moderately polluted Anacostia River in the District of Columbi
Ecosystems, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Suspended-sediment sources in an urban watershed, Northeast Branch Anacostia River, Maryland
Fine sediment sources were characterized by chemical composition in an urban watershed, the Northeast Branch Anacostia River, which drains to the Chesapeake Bay. Concentrations of 63 elements and two radionuclides were measured in possible land-based sediment sources and suspended sediment collected from the water column at the watershed outlet during storm events. These tracer concentrations were
Water Resources, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Tidal freshwater wetland herbivory in Anacostia Park
Herbivory has played a major role in dictating vegetation abundance and species composition at Kingman Marsh in Anacostia Park, Washington, D.C., since restoration of this tidal freshwater wetland was initiated in 2000. In June 2009 an herbivory study was established to document the impacts of resident Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) herbivory to vegetation at Kingman Marsh. Sixteen module
Water Quality in the Upper Anacostia River, Maryland: Continuous and Discrete Monitoring with Simulations to Estimate Concentrations and Yields, 2003-05
From 2003 through 2005, continuous and discrete waterquality data were collected at two stations on the Anacostia River in Maryland: Northeast Branch at Riverdale, Maryland (U.S. Geological Survey Station 01649500) and Northwest Branch near Hyattsville, Maryland (Station 01651000). Both stations are above the heads of tide for the river, and measurements approximately represent contributions of ch
Summary of ground-water-quality data in the Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C., September-December 2005
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the District Department of the Environment (formerly the District of Columbia, Department of Health, Environmental Health Administration), conducted a ground-water-quality investigation in the Anacostia River watershed within Washington, D.C. Samples were collected and analyzed from 17 ground-water monitoring wells located within the study area from
Summary of water- and sediment-quality data for Anacostia River well sites sampled in July-August 2002
This data report is a summary of chemical analyses conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey on ground water and sediment in the tidal Anacostia River watershed, Washington, D.C. during July-August 2002. Cores were drilled and wells were established at three shoreline sites: two wells at the New York Avenue overpass, two wells at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and one well at Anacostia Park. Additi
Toxicity of Anacostia River, Washington, D.C., USA, sediment fed to mute swans (Cygnus olor)
Sediment ingestion is sometimes the principal route by which waterfowl are exposed to environmental contaminants, and at severely contaminated sites waterfowl have been killed by ingesting sediment. Mute swans (Cygnus olor) were fed a diet for 6 weeks with a high but environmentally realistic concentration (24%) of sediment from the moderately polluted Anacostia River in the District of Columbia,
Ecosystems, National Wildlife Health Center
Sediment yields of urban construction sources, Montgomery County, Maryland; a progress report, Rock Creek-Anacostia River Basins
Keeping microplastics out of the Bay
Chesapeake Bay Program — by Morgan Corey — January 23, 2020
Toxics, long-ignored, once again on cleanup radar
Bay Journal — by Timothy B. Wheeler — November 5, 2018
Matthew G Pajerowski
Supervisory Hydrologist
mgpajero@usgs.gov
Jonathan Dillow (Former Employee)