WASHINGTON – Leaders from D.C. government and environmental agencies are coming together to support a major clean up of the Anacostia River.

For years, raw sewage and other toxins have taken its toll on what most residents have dubbed the “the forgotten river”.

However, supporters of a clean up such as Benjamin Grumbles of the Environmental Protection Agency are optimistic for the river’s future.

“Our hope is that the Anacostia will be the greatest urban river revitalization in the country,” he said.

The Anacostia River runs from Prince George’s County through the district and empties into the Potomac.

This week about 40 federal, state, and local leaders went on a boat tour to see the environmental damage done to the river.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, one of the leaders on board, described the river as the “stepchild water way of the region.”

She said leaders from the area’s congressional delegation are coming together to fix the problem. Minor steps such as planting wetlands have been done, she said.

“We saw the beginnings of what we will do already.”

Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), said the U.S.Congress is studying legislation that will help efforts.

“The Anacostia River is one of the national treasures right in the backyard of the nation’s capital,” he said. “We need to make a concerted effort to clean it up.”

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.) Veronica Robinson, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON – Leaders from D.C. government and environmental agencies are coming together to support a major clean up of the Anacostia River.

For years, raw sewage and other toxins have taken its toll on what most residents have dubbed the “the forgotten river”.

However, supporters of a clean up such as Benjamin Grumbles of the Environmental Protection Agency are optimistic for the river’s future.

“Our hope is that the Anacostia will be the greatest urban river revitalization in the country,” he said.

The Anacostia River runs from Prince George’s County through the district and empties into the Potomac.

This week about 40 federal, state, and local leaders went on a boat tour to see the environmental damage done to the river.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, one of the leaders on board, described the river as the “stepchild water way of the region.”

She said leaders from the area’s congressional delegation are coming together to fix the problem. Minor steps such as planting wetlands have been done, she said.

“We saw the beginnings of what we will do already.”

Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), said the U.S.Congress is studying legislation that will help efforts.

“The Anacostia River is one of the national treasures right in the backyard of the nation’s capital,” he said. “We need to make a concerted effort to clean it up.”

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)