ARBC Activities

Students helping create an ARBC Raingarden

The ARBC was formed in 1997. In its five years of activities, ARBC projects have included the following:

Anacostia River PRIDE DAY Cleanups

PRIDE stands for Partnership to Raise Awareness About Illegal Dumping and Enforcement. The ARBC sponsors an annual Anacostia cleanup day in the spring. ARBC members donate heavy equipment, manpower, landfill tipping fees, and other resources, to remove and properly dispose of tons of illegally dumped materials each year. Volunteers are always welcome! For more information, contact Steve Saari at 301-984-1908x103.

Rain Garden Installations

ARBC has been invovled in the installation of two rain gardens and has helped design four. Additionally, ARBC has led workshops and published materials on landscaping to reduce storm water pollution. For more information about rain gardens, visit our rain garden web page and view photos of our most recent installation! If you are a business interested in installing a rain garden, please contact Steve Saari at 301-984-1908x103.

Pollution Prevention Handbooks and Assessments

The ARBC offers a free pollution prevention assessment handbook as well as on-site pollution prevention assessments for watershed businesses. The assessments (which are totally confidential) and guidebooks help businesses determine opportunities for reducing the environmental impact of their facilities and practices. For more information contact Steve Saari at 301-984-1908x103.

Pollution Prevention Educational Guides

The ARBC recently published an educational guide aimed at elementary school students in the Anacostia Watershed. The guidebooks, which were distributed to science teachers throughout the basin, are available by contacting Steve Saari at 301-984-1908x103.

Public Awareness Campaigns

With financial support from BFI, PEPCO, Washington Gas, and Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, the ARBC has developed a campaign to increase public awareness about the connection between everyday activities and pollution in the river. Colorful posters proclaiming the challenge "A Cleaner Anacostia River - Make It Happen" have been printed and are displayed regularly on Metrobuses and in Metrorail stations throughout the metropolitan region. Additionally, the ARBC regularly publishes editorials and advertisements in local newspapers. For more information, contact Joan LeLacheur at 301-618-7522.

Businesses for the Bay

ARBC assists with the DC component of Businesses for the Bay, a voluntary pollution prevention program being coordinated through the Chesapeake Bay Program. ARBC helped promote the program to more than 900 DC area businesses through a special mailing, newsletters and an introductory brochure.

Anacostia River Cleanups

ARBC members help promote and sponsor Anacostia River cleanups both through the ARBC newsletter to businesses and through Washington Gas' bill inserts. Employees of member companies participate in the cleanups, and several member have even provided the heavy equipment needed to remove cars and other debris from Watts Branch, an Anacostia River Tributary.

Environmental Education Fairs

ARBC members help the District government conduct its annual Earth Day Environmental Fairs for area elementary, middle and high school students, who spend the day learning about the Anacostia River and how to protect the environment. For more information, contact Gilda Allen at 202-535-2239.