WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) would like to congratulate District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker on the signing of the Anacostia Accord. The signing of the Accord, which took place today at the District Department of Energy and Environment, signifies a renewed commitment by the jurisdictions to work collaboratively on trash reduction measures in the Anacostia River watershed.

The Anacostia Accord is part of a larger effort being undertaken by the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership to restore water quality throughout the watershed. The Partnership, led by COG, is a consortium of local, state, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and private citizens working toward a cleaner, healthier watershed. The Partnership was formed through the 1987 signing of the Anacostia Restoration Agreement.

The Partnership’s goals include reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and trash pollution in the River and its tributaries. Partnership members are undertaking a wide variety of projects including stream restoration, riparian plantings, expanding wetland acreage, reducing trash entering the river, installing stormwater controls, improving migratory fish passage, among others. These actions will work with the other robust efforts underway to eliminate combined sewer overflows and to identify and clean up toxic sediments in the River to provide for environmental and ecological restoration throughout the watershed and a fishable, swimmable Anacostia River.

COG commends all members of the Partnership for the roles they play in cleaning up the Anacostia River. It is only through working together on these efforts, and many others, that the River will be restored. Read more about the signing of the Accord on Twitter at #trashfreedc.

Join COG this Saturday, October 15 from 11:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. for the Festival del Rio Anacostia at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park. This family friendly celebration of the outdoors and the Anacostia River is being held alongside co-sponsors CHISPA, the Anacostia Watershed Society, the Anacostia Riverkeeper, the Friends of Sligo Creek, the Anacostia Watershed Citizens’ Advisory Committee, the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.