Anacostia Watershed Society Inc

THIS AWARD IS TO FUND THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY (AWS), WHICH WILL WORK TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SUB-WATERSHED ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - SAVE AMERICAS TREASURES GRANTS AWARDED VIA CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING PROVIDE PRESERVATION AND OR CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE TO NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND COLLECTIONS. GRANTS REQUIRE A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR, NON-FEDERAL MATCH, WHICH CAN BE CASH OR DOCUMENTED IN-KIND. THE GRANT PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (NEA), THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH), AND THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS). BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATES, TRIBES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND NONPROFITS. THIS PROJECT IS AWARDED TO THE NONPROFIT, ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY, FOR DOOR, WINDOW, FLOOR, BRICK, AND SIDING REPAIR AS WELL AS SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON HOUSE.

THIS $225,000 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING TO THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY WILL SUPPORT 1) A CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT SURVEY OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER WATERSHED WITH ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS 2) A VERNAL POOL INVENTORY AND RESTORATION ACTION ASSESSMENT AND 3) A COMPREHENSIVE MUSSEL SURVEY OF THE UPPER ANACOSTIA RIVER WATERSHED.

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY TO IMPLEMENT ITS TREATING AND TEACHING PROGRAM AS DIRECTED IN THE 2022 CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT OR AS IDENTIFIED IN AN APPROVED TECHNICAL CORRECTION IF ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THIS PROJECT. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE THE EXECUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A TREATING AND TEACHING PROGRAM. WORKPLAN ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES WITHIN THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED: ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS AND ADVOCACY IN IMPROVING LOCAL WATER QUALITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROVIDING ONGOING EDUCATIONAL AND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE ADULT AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING ACROSS COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED WATER QUALITY. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED, INCLUDING PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY IN MARYLAND AND WARDS 7 AND 8 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WITH THIS GRANT, ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY WILL PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO THE OFTEN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF DC AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY. WE WILL SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON MEETING INCREASING DEMAND FOR OUR FREE, PUBLIC BOAT TOURS VOLUNTEER RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES (INCLUDING TREE AND WILD RICE PLANTINGS, MUSSEL TAGGING AND SURVEYS AND INVASIVES REMOVAL), AND OUR ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE MANY PUBLIC EVENTS HOSTED IN THE WATERSHED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS HELP US ACHIEVE OUR CORE MISSION TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE RIVER AND FOSTER A SENSE OF LIFE-LONG STEWARDSHIP, WHILE ALSO HELPING US ACHIEVE THE RESTORATION GOALS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVING A CLEAN AND REVITALIZED ANACOSTIA AND CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITH THIS FUNDING, AWS WILL INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS AND EDUCATION TO THE NATURAL, HISTORICAL, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER WATERSHED. THESE EXPERIENCES WILL IN TURN GROW OUR COMMUNITY OF ENGAGED INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL JOIN AWS IN REACHING OUR RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION GOALS FOR THE ANACOSTIA. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1. PROVIDE MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EXPERIENCES TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS FROM DC AND PG COUNTYS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES 2. ENGAGE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO RESTORE 20 ACRES OF NATIVE FOREST AND WETLAND HABITAT, PROMOTING OUR PROJECTS AS MODELS FOR LARGE SCALE RESTORATION EFFORTS ACROSS THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED. 3. TRAIN AND DEPLOY HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME CITIZEN SCIENTISTS FOR THE ANACOSTIA AND CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED 4. CONTINUE TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO CONTROL POLLUTION, INCLUDING EARTH DAY CLEAN-UPS AND OTHER VOLUNTEER EVENTS. GRANT DELIVERABLES PLANT AND MAINTAIN 5 ACRES OF TREES IN WETLAND AREAS TO REPLENISH FORESTED AREAS DEPLETED BY THE EMERALD ASH BORER LEVERAGE VOLUNTEER EVENTS TO RESTORE 5 ACRES OF TIDAL WETLAND HABITAT ALONG THE ANACOSTIA RIVER PROVIDE BOAT TOURS TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE RECREATION ACCESS TO THE ANACOSTIA RIVER TO 660 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. BOAT TOURS INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT THAT COVERS THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER. CONDUCT FOUR DEDICATED SPANISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAMS TO PGCS LATINX COMMUNITIES THAT WILL INCLUDE BOAT TOURS AND CITIZEN SCIENCE OUTINGS RECRUIT 3,000 VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN AWS FIELD-WORK EVENTS ENGAGE 200 COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN CITIZEN SCIENCE OUTINGS LEVERAGE OUR CITIZEN SCIENCE FINDINGS TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE HEALTH AND RESTORATION PRIORITIES FOR THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED AT OUR PLANNED INAUGURAL WATERSHED CONFERENCE

MEANINGFUL ANACOSTIA WATERSHED EDUCATION

TITLE: MUSSEL POWER OVERVIEW: SINCE 2019, THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY (AWS)'S MUSSEL POWER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AWS, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE WILLIAM S. SCHMIDT OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER, AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL CAPITAL PARKS EAST. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO RE ESTABLISH HEALTHY MUSSEL POPULATIONS WHILE ENGAGING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MEANINGFUL WATERSHED EDUCATION EXPERIENCES. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS, INTRODUCTORY CLASSROOM WORK AND MUSSEL CARE BY STUDENTS, A FIELD STUDY ON THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, AND PARTICIPATION IN AUTHENTIC HANDS ON MUSSEL RESTORATION WORK. AWS PLANS TO ADD 5 SCHOOLS PER YEAR TO GET TO FULL SYSTEMIC IMPLEMENTATION IN ALL 29 HIGH SCHOOLS BY SPRING 2026.

TA#P18ACXXXXX,ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIET

DESCRIPTION:THIS GRANT PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN 15 DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS - NINE OF WHICH ARE TITLE I SCHOOLS - TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. THE GRANTEE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE, PROMOTING EDUCATION ABOUT CLEAN AND SAFE WATER IN THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THEIR FRESHWATER MUSSEL RESTORATION PROGRAM 'MUSSEL POWER' AND OUR AMERICAN SHAD RESTORATION PROGRAM 'SCHOOLS IN SCHOOLS'. THE GRANTEE AIMS TO INCREASE THE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE HISTORICALLY NATURE DEPRIVED COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEAST DC, BY TRAINING TEACHERS AND PROVIDING AWS EDUCATOR-FACILITATED CLASSROOM AND FIELD TRIP LESSONS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAMMING THEY SEEK TO EMPOWER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE, BUILDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE ANACOSTIA RIVER AND ITS VITAL SPECIES. THEIR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO INTEGRATE NATIVE SPECIES MWEES INTO THE DC PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM, AND INSPIRE SUSTAINED CHANGE IN STUDENT AND COMMUNITY BEHAVIORS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT AWS AIMS TO IDENTIFY KEY GRADE LEVELS WHICH BEST SUIT THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND LEND THEMSELVES TOWARD CURRICULUM INTEGRATION WITH OUR PROGRAMS. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN BLADENSBURG, MARYLAND AND WASHINGTON, D.C AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDES THE DELIVERY OF 'SCHOOLS IN SCHOOLS' PROGRAM AND THE 'MUSSEL POWER DC' PROGRAM WHICH ENGAGES STUDENTS WITH A COMPELLING, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HELP THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN PROTECTING NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND CLEAN WATER WHILE ALSO WORKING TO INCREASE THE AMERICAN SHAD AND MUSSEL POPULATION IN THE ANACOSTIA RIVER. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS, THE ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR ALL PARTICIPATING TEACHERS. THESE PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PLACE IN 15 TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN D.C AND WILL ENGAGE A COMBINED TOTAL OF 950 STUDENTS, 25 TEACHERS TO CATALYZE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO ENERGIZE THEIR COMMITMENT TO ECOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUILD CAPACITY ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP CAPACITY AMONG THE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS. SUBRECIPIENT:THIS PROJECT WILL AWARD SUBAWARDS FOR A TOTAL OF $23,655. AWS WILL DEVELOP A SCOPE OF WORK AND BUDGET FOR EACH SUBRECIPIENT THAT IS INLINE WITH ITS OVERALL WORK PLAN. PROJECT STAFF WILL MAINTAIN REGULAR CONTACT WITH PARTNERS, ENSURING SHARED TIMELINE, CLEAR DATES FOR DELIVERABLES, AND ADVANCE TROUBLESHOOTING SHOULD SUBRECIPIENTS ANTICIPATE ANY DELAYS OR BARRIERS TO DELIVERY. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: 25 TEACHERS ACROSS 15 TITLE I SCHOOLS WILL INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP INTO THEIR LESSONS, AND 950 STUDENTS WILL BE EDUCATED ON CHALLENGES RELATED TO WATER QUALITY AND BIODIVERSITY. IN ADDITION TO THE 100 NATIVE FRESH WATER MUSSEL AND 22,500 AMERICAN SHAD FRY. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE THE950 STUDENTS, 25 TEACHERS, IN ADDITION TO THE PARENTS AND GREATER COMMUNITY WHERE THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE.

CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS NETWORK

TO ASSIST IN THE RESTORATION OF THE ANACOSTIA TO A FISHABLE AND SWIMMABLE RIVER THROUGH COMMUNITY GREENING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE ADVOCATING

CHESAPEAKE CONSERVATION CORP INTERN

TO SUPPORT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ANACOSTIA RIVER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER.

P18AC01024