WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, D-MD, today toured the Anacostia River on a pontoon boat to see first-hand the damage that pollution, debris and runoff have done to the river, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Senator told members of the Anacostia Watershed Society and environmentalists that he is committed to restoring the Anacostia. He told the group that he has proposed a 10-year Army Corps of Engineers’ study on ways to restore the Anacostia.
  He also supports continued funding of efforts to restore the Anacostia.

“The Anacostia River is the forgotten river that has been seriously affected by the loss of wetlands, deforestation and urbanization,” said the Senator.
  “The degradation of the river has a major impact on the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and we need to work to reverse it.”

Senator Cardin also talked about his proposals to require the federal government to construct all its new buildings in a more energy efficient and environmentally sound manner and to reduce storm water runoff from federal buildings.

“The federal government has an opportunity to set an example of environmentally sound construction practices for the rest of the nation. Restoring the environment takes leadership and the federal government needs to take an active role in this effort.”

The Anacostia River flows from the Maryland suburbs to its mouth at the Potomac River.
  Its watershed encompasses 176 square miles and contains 13 sub-watersheds in southeast Washington, D.C., and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
  Since 1989, the Anacostia Watershed Society has removed 536 tons of trash and more than 11,000 tires from the river.