Anacostia Riparian Meadow Restoration

In 2007 the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) initiated an experimental research project, called the 38th St. Bridge Project, on the rip-rap slope along the streambanks in order to demonstrate an alternative to the county's annual mowing-and-spraying of herbicide to control invasive species along the streambank. Results show that the plot cultivated with native herbaceous plant species and subjected to invasive plant control support more native plant species diversity and wildlife than those that are subject to the mowing-and-spraying method. The project also improved the urban landscape along a city nature trail, which offers recreation service to the project.