WASHINGTON — The Anacostia Riverkeeper works to protect and restore the Anacostia River. Through opportunities like Friday Night Fishing, free boat tours and boots-on-the-ground restoration work, the Riverkeeper makes sure our neighbors enjoy, learn about, connect with and care for the river.
It's one reason Riverkeeper Trey Sherrard is raising the alarm over a proposal to move nearly $2 million from D.C.'s Bag Tax revenues to the city's general fund. Under the act that created the $.05 bag tax in 2009, the revenue is designated for Anacostia River cleanup and protection.
Currently, the District is facing a $700 million budget shortfall. Mayor Muriel Bowser's proposed 2025 budget prioritizes education, public safety, and downtown D.C. Officials say 70% of the 2025 budget is set aside for just 10 agencies.
Under the Budget Support Act, money from dozens of special purpose funds from across the District could be moved into the city's general fund to address the budget gap. Documents show money could be moved from things like WMATA projects and the District's Vision Zero program. The Anacostia River Clean Up Fund has a potential $1.8 million that could be moved to the general fund.
According to the Riverkeeper website, the River Clean Up Fund helped volunteers picked up more than 18,000 pounds of trash from the shoreline and the river last year.
These financing worries come as D.C. gets ready for the 10th annual Anacostia River Festival. It’s a celebration of the river, the environment and all the work that’s going into preserving and cleaning the river. It also gives families an opportunity to connect with nature.
“Thirty-five years ago the Anacostia was considered one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the United States, and now it’s coming back," said Chris Williams, the CEO of the Anacostia Watershed Society. "Thirty-five years later, the water quality is improving. You're seeing fish and wildlife coming back."
In a written statement, the Bowser administration said it is not turning its back on river restoration.
“The Bowser administration remains committed to environmental stewardship and protection despite the tight fiscal climate," the statement said. "The mayor’s FY25 budget includes continued support for the Riverkeeper program, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the Anacostia Riverkeeper to safeguard our region’s water and wildlife.”
A spokesman for the District's Department of Energy and Environment explained the budget proposes transferring $1.8M in unspent carryover funding from Bag Tax revenues from prior years into the general fund. The agency says the move will not affect the annual $2.1M projected revenue from the Bag Tax and should not affect the agency’s ability to continue this program.
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