On the shore of the Anacostia River, Prince George's County, Md. - A host of leaders concerned about the health of the Anacostia River gathered today to kick off an extensive project that will improve the imperiled waterway and surrounding environment.
Located on the eastern shore of the Anacostia River immediately north of the Route 50 Bridge in Prince George's County, the 50-acre environmental project will relocate an unregulated landfill to a new state-of-the-art facility, as well as create 34 acres of wetlands and woodlands. The initiative is a key element of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project's environmental program.
"It is very appropriate that we break ground on this 'ground-healing' project during the week in which we celebrate Earth Day, as this project embodies the Day's spirit of collaboration," said Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari, who was joined by Federal Highway Division Administrator Nelson Castellanos, District of Columbia City Administrator Dan Tangherlini and other guests with long interest in the environmental project.
Before creating the wetlands, 330,000 cubic yards of material will be excavated from the site, including more than 100,000 tons of debris from a pre-existing, unregulated landfill that was used during the first half of the 20th century. By comparison, 330,000 cubic yards laid end-to-end would reach from the project site to beyond Pittsburgh, Pa.
The buried trash and debris will be excavated and placed into a new, sanitary landfill elsewhere on the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission property. The landfill will then be capped to prevent water infiltration. Moving the trash into a proper landfill will help protect groundwater and enhance river water quality.
Approximately 85,000 wetland plants will be planted at the project site, creating more than 20 acres of new tidal wetlands that will provide fish habitat and help to improve the water quality of the Anacostia. Additionally, fourteen acres of the project area will be reforested.
"Historically, 90 percent of tidal wetlands in the Anacostia watershed have been lost," said Pat DiNicola, Wilson Bridge Project environmental mitigation manager. "Alone, this project will increase the acreage of tidal wetlands in the Anacostia watershed by nearly 20 percent."
In addition to creating wetlands and forest along the Anacostia that benefits wildlife and the river, the project will improve parkland for use by the public. In conjunction with the proposed Anacostia River Trail, 4,600 feet of trails will be created through the property, including access directly to the river through the created wetlands. The project is a combined effort of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project including the Maryland State Highway Administration and Federal Highway Administration; Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Prince George's County; the District of Columbia; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Contacts:
John Undeland
WWB Project
703/329-0300 or 571/237-2690 (cell)
Michelle Holland
WWB Project
703/329-0300 or 703/930-7286 (cell) |
