European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 03, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                National Gnoy Raphie an abandoned car litters the Banks of Anacostia River near Bladensburg my. The River s resilient Beauty has kept alive Hopes of Rescue despite pollution. Washington s forgotten River by Donald Smith National geographic London has its thames the Seine lows through  lies along i Obanks of the Potomac and adult yet elegant 8-mile jewel of River called the Anacostia most people notice the duty part first. A stench comes up suddenly just below the Bonne a Road Bridge. Rising he a Cloud it sucks to breath away from occupants of a speeding Motorboat. Heavy Rains the Day before have caused Iho antique sewer system of the capital of the United states to overflow. Now in is spilling into what Many Call Washington s forgotten River seemingly oblivious to the smell boat Pilot Perry Perret threads the Channel As if chased by demons his baseball Cap turned backward against Iho wind. His boat throws Spray in every direction Perret skilfully Dodges objects that cruise languidly downriver tree limbs Beer cans automobile tires. Trouble with lires Perrel shouts Over the engine is when they have Kirns they sit a couple of feel underwater a Here you can t so them " the idea of being catapulted into the water causes ferret s passengers to took around nervously Lor signs of submerged objects As Iho boat speeds on toward the place where the River joins its favored sibling the Potomac. Despite Iho Anacostia s pollution its resilient Beauty has Kepi Hopes of Rescue alive. Scattered Parkland bordering Iho water upstream and extensive Parkland stretching along either Bank farther South provide unexpected delights of Woodland and open space. Evon some wildlife has survived the human onslaught Hawks mallards great Blue herons otters and an occasional visiting Osprey Are seen especially in the upper regions near the wild Beauty of the National arboretum and the Lily Ponds of Iho Kenilworth aquatic gardens. In 1974, Maryland designated the Anacostia a Scenic River. It was t always a forgotten Backwater either. At its head. Bladensburg now a suburb of Washington was a major deep water seaport for More than a half Century before there was a Washington. Southern Maryland Farmers brought Hogsheads of tobacco to Bladensburg for shipment to England France Belgium and Holland. At the Lime of the american revolution. Bladensburg s docks handled More Ocean Export tonnage than any other port in the colonies except Yorktown. A. The fates of the City and the River were intertwined from the beginning with the slow decline of Iho tobacco Trade in the 19lh Century. Bladensburg began sinking beneath the Waves of history. Tobacco eventually caused the downfall of the River itself always prone to silting because of easily credible soils Over much of its 158 Square Nile Basin Iho River filled in rapidly As soon As colonial Farmers began Clearing tracts of Forest to grow crops by 18-13, when the last oceangoing ship of any significance sailed from the docks the water was becoming too shallow Lor Sale navigation. Today an Washington lies along the Banks of the Potomac and an 8-mile stretch of polluted River called Anacostia. Admirers of the Scenic waterway Hope to see it cleaned up. Adult can Wade across the River at Bladensburg. Humans still strangle the River mining in Maryland As Well As continued Rural and Urban development have kept tributaries inundated with Silt. Oil. Grease and Street debris ooze and Tumble their Way into the water. Nature can do mile to in up almost As much Estuary As River Iho Anacostia is subject to tides there is Little Flushing action and a lot of sloshing Back and Forth. A drop of water May Lake 4 Days to travel from one end of this Lazy River to Iho other. Visions of reviving the nver have come and gone leaving not much More than the dream. Currently the Best Hope is an agreement signed in 1987 by Maryland the District of Columbia and the two Maryland counties with jurisdiction Over parts of Iho Anacostia Basin. Initiatives undertaken thus far touch Iho major bases strengthening sediment control and storm water programs rehabilitating sewer lines abating land Sunoll improving water Quality monitoring and encouraging the return of fish it will take a Long Lime Beverly Bandler of the interstate commission on the Potomac River Basin tells National geographic. But we Hope people will see some differences within a couple of  in the meantime life goes on along Iho River at places like the Washington Navy Yard and several boat clubs that Dot the Banks. It s finally come to the Powers that to that Washington has two Rivers says Howard Gasaway a retired City government worker who Heads the seafarers boat club near the Mouth of the Anacostia. Back at Bladensburg Perret s speedboat drifts up to its Dock Mike Spencer stands on a Bank overlooking a Corner of River engorged with styrofoam cups plastic bags and bottles last food containers and other debris. The Anacostia is highly polluted says Spencer shaking his head other than that it s a great  saturday june 3.1989 the stars and stripes Page 17