Bladensburg Waterfront Park, June 11, 2009: Club presidents, board members and guests enjoyed an environmental cruise on the Anacostia River as part of District 1's annual presidents' meeting. The cruise was conducted by Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, The Anacostia River was at flood stage due to recent rains. Storm water runoff caused the river to be brown and brought trash into the river. We got only as far as the US National Arboretum before turning back so as to make it under the railroad bridge before the incoming tide could trap us downriver.
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Following the cruise, we had picnic catered by the District 1 board; there was a "picnic arrangement" by Tanta-Cove president Poss Tarpley:
National Capital Area Garden Club president Mary Ellen Alden (standing right) presented several state awards to the co-presidents of New Carollton Garden Club (standing left and center):
NCA 1st Vice President Vickie Godwin presents a National Garden Club certificate of achievement to Capitol Hill president Vira Sisolak:
Jack Wennersten spoke on the history and future of the Anacostia River. He is the author of Anacostia: The Death and Life of an American River. Wennersten said the Anacostia had been treated as a sewer for most of the 19th and 20th century. He said fecal coliform bacteria was slowly becoming controlled but that the river still faced challenges from storm water runoff and pharmaceutical pollution.
Photos by Bill Dean. 
