Renew America Success Stories

Bladensburg Economic & Environmental Revitalization Program

Description

The Bladensburg Economic & Environmental Revitalization project, managed by the Department of Environmental Resources of Prince George's County (DER), is a comprehensive, long-term effort that seeks to restore the Anacostia River and the Port of Bladensburg to health. By restoring the environmental health of the River and Port, DER intends to prove that spending money on improving environmental health is an investment that will be returned many times over by increasing the local tax base, protecting property values, and stimulating new job growth. In addition, a natural treasure will be restored to the local community, enabling residents to fish, swim and engage in low-impact activities like canoeing in a healthy, clean river.

Two hundred years ago the River and the Port were in pristine condition and, as such, served as the hub of economic activity for the region. Past development practices and other human activities, however, have seriously damaged the river, turning it from an economic and environmental asset to a liability.

The numerous stakeholders in this initiative (local businesses, developers, area residents and property owners) each benefiting from one or more of the anticipated results of this project (i.e., a revitalized economy, commercial opportunity, cleaner water, and higher property values) have been consulted and have been participating in the development of the project since its earliest stages.

Program Highlights

• The project comprises nearly one hundred separate environmental projects designed to provide flood protection and reduce pollution runoff, to ameliorate storm water runoff and to educate numerous shareholders regarding their roles in the ongoing efforts.
• The project's primary goals are to restore a major recreational fishery, and to provide prime redevelopment area to convert pollution-prone industrial areas to cleaner commercial uses. 
• A significant initiative of the project is an educational campaign targeted to both residents and businesses aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution.
• The project is a multi-million dollar and multi-year effort that ultimately will involve dozens of private, government and nonprofit partners.
• A unique feature of the project is the construction of "bioretention" facilities to provide both an economic and environmental benefit. (Bioretention is a method of managing stormwater runoff using native plants and soil). These structures, which appear as formally landscaped gardens, lend aesthetic appeal while removing pollutants from storm water runoff. These structures, which costs less and work better than traditional storm water treatment facilities, can serve as a model for other urban communities as they are ideal for stormwater retrofits conducted in intensely urban environments.
• By reducing the pollution that flows into the Anacostia River, the progress of bioconcentration will be halted, providing a significant health benefit to residents who currently fish in the River despite its polluted condition. (Bioconcentration is a process in which certain pollutants are passed from prey to predator, concentrating in organisms higher on the food chain -- including humans.)
• Reducing pollution within the Anacostia will help to clean up the receiving waters, such as the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: Prince George's County's Department of Environmental Resources manages the project, in cooperation with various agencies within the state, county and local governments; additional partnerships have been created with the Bladensburg Local Development Corporation, local businesses, residents and property owners.

Budget: The Bladensburg Economic & Environmental Revitalization project is multi-million dollar, multi-year effort.

Community Served: All residents in the local watershed, and principally the 10,000 residents and 250 businesses located near the Port of Bladensburg.

Measures of Success:

Program effectiveness is being measured, in part, by certain indicators of environmental quality, including volume of storm water runoff flowing into treatment facilities, the amount of green space that is added to the area, and the area's water quality. In addition, the local economy will be closely monitored for expected improvement.

Success stories designed by Mark Nowak

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