typewriters and electric scooters have one thing in common: they have been found in the anacostia river. 

the ocean conservancy, an environmental nonprofit working to protect the world’s oceans, hosted its annual international coastal cleanup on the anacostia river at anacostia park on sept. 27. the effort aims to keep the river free of debris and trash, but also addresses the deeper challenge of reducing flood risks for the anacostia community, said sarah weller, senior manager for the international coastal cleanup. 

“the debris causes more flooding if it’s in there, either floating at the surface or caught up in natural debris,” weller said.

prior to the cleanup, weller said volunteers would be cleaning the area near the river and expected to collect 400-500 pounds of trash.

weller said the ocean conservancy only does one river clean-up per year on the anacostia river. but the anacostia riverkeeper, an organization measuring and preventing pollution in the river, hosts river clean-ups throughout the year. their volunteers have removed more than 182,000 pounds of trash since 2014.

rising flood risks

riverkeeper trey sherard of the anacostia riverkeeper said rainwater sweep debris and trash from city streets into the river. as a result, there is less room in the natural riverbed for water from the next storm. the rain still needs somewhere to go, so it floods out into the neighborhood.

“there’s going to be more water trying to get down here anytime it does rain,” sherard said. 

sherard added that the flooding residents see most often is along the road of the anacostia park — where the volunteers cleaned up trash at the event. 

research from first street, an organization monitoring locations at risk to climate change, said 22.4% of properties in the anacostia historic district have a risk of flooding. 

flooding is also tied to public health problems like increased respiratory and related allergic health effects due to dampness and mold, a yale school of public health study found. residents living east of the anacostia are twice as likely to report “fair or poor health” compared to those west of the river, an aarp study reported.

george washington university geography department chair david rain said there are other factors making anacostia more prone to flooding. he said the ground in the neighborhood is mostly clay and sand, materials which cannot reliably support the weight of a house. the instability of the ground causes foundations to crack and lean to one side, lowering houses closer to rising water.

there has also been increased rainfall within the past decade, which, along with anacostia being on a floodplain, is leading to a higher risk of flooding compared to the overall risk of the district of columbia, he said.

taking action in anacostia

one volunteer, mia elliott, said it was her second time at the river clean-up through the ocean conservancy. she is originally from los angeles, and said her connection to the ocean prompted her to volunteer. 

she said she notices litter on the streets of the city which often get caught in the waterways.

“i mean, obviously that’s, like, horrible for the residents and the environment,” elliott said. 

a 68-year-old community member and environmental advocate of anacostia, brenda richardson, said she has been a victim of flooding. richardson said she lives in a townhouse which is over 100 years old. she added that every time it rains and water goes over the curb, her basement floods.  

“it’s just something i’ve come to grips with,” richardson said. “and i’ve learned to deal with it.” 

the d.c. department of energy and the environment, or doee, aims to improve conditions for residents like richardson with its riversmart program. meredith upchurch, 55, associate director of the doee’s natural resources administration, said the goal is to stop stormwater from going into rivers and streams. 

upchurch said doee sends contractors to homes to recommend how to stop or slow stormwater. according to a doee pamphlet, these projects include rain barrels, planting trees, and more. 

but riversmart may not be a permanent solution. even before the government shutdown beginning oct. 1, the u.s. house of representatives cut $1 billion from the district’s budget, threatening programs like riversmart.

according to richard jackson, director of the doee, the d.c. council prioritized protecting the program.

“we’ve been able to have money added to it,” jackson said, “but this was purely from a local enhancement.” 

now, with federal funding lapsed, the future of riversmart funding remains uncertain.

but weller from the ocean conservancy said community clean-up efforts remain a crucial tool for combating flood risks around the world. in addition to the conservancy’s annual clean-up in anacostia, the organization hosts different international coastal clean-ups in europe and africa. 

“these volunteer clean-ups are really important for flood prevention,” weller said.

editor’s note: coverage of water stories is made possible, in part, by the walton family foundation.  the editorial content is determined by planet forward staff and students. we thank the walton family foundation for their continued support.