Town Topics

Georgetowner •

The Potomac River got its best report card yet, a B minus, as it continued to improve its grade in the Potomac Conservancy’s biennial State of the Nation’s River reports. In 2013, it got a C, and in 2011, a D.

After decades of decline, shad, white perch and other common game fish are on the rebound; more people are spending their outdoor activities on or near the river by fishing, using water access trails and taking advantage of state parks on the river; and the top three pollutants are on the decline. According to the report, the Potomac River is on its way
to recovery.

“But the Potomac is not in the clear yet,” says Potomac Conservancy President Hedrick Belin. Pollution from urban runoff into the river is rising, blue catfish and snakeheads are invading the waters and underwater grasses, habitat and water clarity are recovering slowly, according to the report.

Washington, D.C., also received accolades, coming in for the second year in a row at the top of the Environment Protection Agency’s 2016 Top Cities list, which ranks metropolitan areas according to the number of buildings earning Energy Star certification. An Energy Star building must outperform 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide, according to a statement by the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment.

Georgetowner • March 30, 2016

The following are clarifications to an article in the Feb. 10 issue of The Georgetowner on DC Water’s plans for the Georgetown area. DC Water’s Downspout Disconnection Program is part of the Potomac River Green Infrastructure Project. The implementation of that program will “offset the amount of GI required in the right-of-way by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (i.e. roofs)” and control the amount of runoff to combined-sewer outflows 027-029. CSOs 025 and 036 will be controlled “through targeted sewer separation,” while CSOs 020, 021, 022 and 024 will be controlled “through construction of the Potomac River Tunnel,” according to an email from DC Water to The Georgetowner.

Though obtained from DC Water’s website, the labels on the map of CSOs that we published in the last issue do not accurately show how each CSO will be modified or eliminated, although it does show their locations. The inset map in that issue, showing the route of the Potomac River Tunnel, is labeled as Recommended Plan. It has been relabeled DC Clean Rivers Project. DC Water also noted that the overflow of the combined sewer is currently discharged into Rock Creek, as well as the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.

Green Infrastructure construction on the right-of-way is scheduled to occur from mid-2017 to 2019. Sewer separation construction is scheduled for 2021 to 2013, and construction on the Potomac River Tunnel is set for 2023 to 2030.

Georgetowner • March 17, 2016

A revised merger plan between local utility Pepco Holdings Inc. and Chicago-based international energy company Exelon Corp. eliminated key provisions that Mayor Muriel Bowser sought and were previously agreed to. As a result, the merger has lost support from the mayor and a number of stakeholders.

On Feb. 26, the D.C. Public Service Commission voted 2-1 to reject the plan that the mayor’s team negotiated. Addressing “four areas of concern,” according to a commission press release, the commission drafted an alternative plan that removed a guarantee to defer rate increases to D.C. residents for four years. In a 2-1 vote, it approved this revised plan, which went back to the companies for review.

“The PSC’s counter­proposal guts much-needed protections against rate increases for D.C. residents and assistance for low-income D.C. ratepayers,” the mayor said in a statement. “That is not a deal that I can support.”

Bowser was against the merger until her team was able to negotiate a $78-million investment package from Exelon for the District (versus the originally proposed $14 million). Among other things, the package included the four-year rate freeze; a $14-million direct credit for residential customers; $17 million for sustainability projects, including $10 million for the District’s Green Building Fund, $3.5 million for solar projects and $3.5 million for the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund; a commitment to purchase 100 megawatts of wind power per year; and $5.2 million for jobs and training.

People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye, of the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, also came out against the merger. “The Commission’s order eviscerates the benefits and protections essential to render the proposed merger in the public interest by making changes to the $25.6 million rate offset provision for residential customers which was the single most critical provision I supported,” she said, according to a press release. Mattavous-Frye had been against the merger since the proposal was first announced.

In order for the new merger plan to go through it must be approved by March 11, following a 14-day review period, by Bowser, Mattavous-Frye, District Attorney General Karl A. Racine — who was the first to come out against the revisions — and six other stakeholders.

Failure of the merger could be seen as a blow to the business community in the District, which they believe already has a reputation for being unfriendly toward large corporations. But environmental groups maintain their opposition to the merger in any form, despite the additional funds for green projects in the District, claiming the merger would hinder a genuine move toward renewable energies.

Update: At press time, Pepco and Exelon filed several new options for the Public Service Commission to consider.

Georgetowner • March 16, 2016

Peak Cherry Blossom Bloom Dates Announced

The National Park Service has set the date for the expected peak blooming of D.C.’s famed cherry blossoms: March 31 to April 3.

Peak-bloom dates are defined as when at least 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are forecast to bloom. It’s only an estimate though, as Yoshino cherry trees are temperamental and respond to weather and atmospheric changes.

Warm, calm weather can lengthen the time of blooms, while heavy rain or wind can bring an abrupt halt to the flowers. The park service has been predicting the Cherry blossom peak for about 20 years, but does not know exactly when it started forecasting, nor has it kept records of how accurate those forecasts have been.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held this year from March 20 to April 17, kicking off with the Pink Tie Party on March 18. Other events include the official opening ceremony, the Blossom Kite Festival and the ever-popular National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.

D.C.’s New Streetcar Unveiled

D.C.’s new (rather, seven years in the making) streetcar, the H/Benning line, carried its first passengers Saturday, Feb. 27. But the long awaited opening was met with doubt and concern about the new transit system by many Washingtonians.

According to the Washington Post, the streetcar took 26 minutes to travel the 2.4-mile line — but walking the same route only takes 27 minutes.

National Zoo Kid’s Farm Temporarily Closed Due to E. Coli

The National Zoo’s Kid’s Farm was forced to temporarily shut after some of the petting zoo animals were found to be infected with E. coli bacteria. National Zoo officials say the exhibit will be closed for at least three weeks until veterinarians monitoring the quarantined animals give the all-clear to reopen.

The culprits were four goats and a cow, all of which tested positive for the bacteria during a routine screening on Feb. 18.

NEAR Act Passed

The D.C. Council is trying a new approach to crime, shifting efforts to prevention with legislation passed March 1 called the NEAR Act.

The Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results Amendment Act of 2016 creates new offices that target the root cause of crime and sets long-term goals.

A new Office of Violence Prevention and Health Equity is designed to help the city develop a public health strategy to combat the spread of violence throughout the District by looking at risk-assessment tools, therapy and service coordination.

Another new body, the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, will identify higher-risk individuals, particularly teenagers and young adults, for a program involving life planning, therapy and mentorship.

The Community Crime Prevention Team Program focuses on connecting the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues with support services.

Finally, the NEAR Act requires the Metropolitan Police Department to provide yearly training on the prevention of profiling, improving community policing and the use of force. The goal of these programs is to improve MPD relations with the community. [gallery ids="117211,117205" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

The National Park Service announced that Arlington Memorial Bridge will have to close in 2021 unless the estimated $280-million funding for a full rehabilitation is granted. “NPS devotes much of its $20 million DC area transportation budget for repairs to the aging Memorial Bridge,” says a congressional press release. Local senators and representatives “reacted to the news with urgent calls to fund repairs.” The bridge has undergone emergency repairs since last year, causing the closure of two lanes for several months, with a Virginia-bound lane appearing to be permanently closed.