Posted on July 22, 2024
Dredging sediment is planned as the first phase of enhancing public access to the Potomac River in D.C.
WASHINGTON — Advocates for enhanced public recreational access to the Potomac River in D.C. are applauding an announcement from the National Park Service (NPS) that the agency is now committed to a restoration of Fletcher’s Cove.
The work will begin with the dredging of the historic cove, where boating access has become increasingly restricted by sediment carried into the cove by river floods. The Park Service has not announced how much the project will cost or when dredging will begin.
Over time, sediment accumulation has made boating and fishing on the Potomac River difficult in a part of the park popular with kayakers, rowboaters and stand-up paddle boarders. The dredging will improve access and restore these activities.
The dredging will set the stage for a long-term plan to address ongoing sediment issues and restore Fletcher’s Cove to a more natural state, according to an announcement from NPS.
Located about 2.5 miles upstream from Theodore Roosevelt Island in Northwest, D.C., Fletcher’s Cove has been popular for outdoor activities since the 1850s. Despite previous dredging efforts, sedimentation has continued due to changes in the floodplain over the years.
“It’s a really critical first investment,” said Rob Catalanotto, executive director of Friends of Fletcher’s Cove. “It’s a big deal because Fletcher’s Cove in our region is one of the most important places and best places to access the Potomac River. It’s one of the best places to go fishing in the spring, the best place to see wildlife in our city, and in a place like Washington, D.C., access to the outdoors is really important. We see this as one of the best sites for that and that’s why it’s so exciting.”
