Anacostia

Case description

In 1984, Maryland and the District of Columbia officially recognized the value of a restored Anacostia Watershed. In 1987, the "Anacostia Watershed Restoration Agreement" brought Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in as equal partners and resulted in the formation of the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Committee (AWRC). In the years since, local, state, regional, and Federal government agencies, environmental organizations, businesses, and dedicated citizens have contributed significant resources toward restoration and protection of the Anacostia. In 1991, this partnership adopted six overarching goals designed to restore the Anacostia River and its tributaries. Restoration has progressed toward all six goals, and in 2001 a set of 50 Restoration Indicators and Targets for the Period 2001-2010 were adopted. Implementation of the restoration indicators and targets is now underway.

Primary partners

District of Columbia
State of Maryland
Montgomery County, MD
Prince George's County, MD
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
US Environmental Protection Agency
US National Park Service

Primary objectives

Reduction of pollution loads
Restoration of ecological integrity
Improvement of fish passage
Increase in wetland acreage
Expansion of forest coverage
Increase in public and private participation and stewardship

Year of initiation

1987

What is fostering progress?

Broad-based Commitment: "Broadly felt commitment on the part of staff and the elected officials in each of the jurisdictions to continue to support the program." - Edward Graham, Director of Water Resources Programs, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Pre-existing Relationships and Continuity: Most of us have known each other for a long time; the representatives are fairly stable. It has been a big help, that we all pretty much know each other and know what our jobs are in everyday life. We haven't always agreed, but when we come to the table we try to find a place to agree upon." -Jim Collier, Water Resources, District of Columbia Department of Health
A Connective Newsletter: "We have a newsletter. That always helps. It gives you some glue." -Cameron Wiegand, Chief of Watershed Management Division, Department of Environmental Protections, Montgomery County, Maryland

What challenges were faced and how were they overcome?

Effective Communication: "The fundamental challenge is communication. You have to continue to make sure that everyone is a real good active listener" - Patricia Gleason, Chief of Maryland/D.C. Branch of Watersheds - Water Protection Division, Environmental Protection Agency Region 3
Resources: "Funding is always a challenge to run the restoration programs. It's a struggle, with a lot of competing interests. The value of expanding the partnership is that you bring in more resources and as the politicians in the area understand that there are also economic benefits to restoring the river, it's gained more and more political support for funding efforts." Larry Coffman, Department of Environmental Resources, Prince George's County, Maryland

What lessons can be drawn?

Starting Small: Beginning the cooperative partnership with relatively small-scale efforts, like inventories of potential restoration projects, helps build strong working relationships and demonstrats the possibility of success to participants.
Stimulating Broad-based Support: Generating political, agency, and public support at a number of different levels is crucial for ensuring regional cooperation and coordination.
Keeping at it: "Keep at it, keep measuring yourself. Keep forcing yourself to measure whether or not you're really accomplishing anything. Don't just have an agreement that becomes static and that you meet with no goals set forth. It's important to have goals and to measure yourself against them." -Cameron Wiegand, Chief of Watershed Management Division, Department of Environmental Protections, Montgomery County, Maryland