DC History & Local Area Studies: Ecology of DC

The Potomac bluestone was added as the official rock of Washington DC in 2015 in Law 20-220, the "DC Rocks, So We Need One Act of 2014"

Sykesville Formation

Sedimentary and igneous rock layers recrystallized to become the metamorphic rock of the Piedmont. Quarries along Rock Creek, and at Little Falls, Maryland, provided Washington, DC with building stone from the Piedmont’s Sykesville Formation, also known as Potomac Bluestone (Gneiss). Foundations of the White House, Capitol, and Washington Monument, along with buildings like the Lock Keeper’s House and the Old Stone House in Georgetown were built with the Sykesville Formation.

In 1890, Rock Creek Park became one of the first federally managed parks. Since then, citizens seeking recreation and re-creation in nature have sought out this 1700 acre park. As an administrative unit of the U.S. National Park System, Rock Creek Park now manages Meridian Hill Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, Montrose Park, Old Stone House, the Francis Scott Key Memorial Park, Fort Stevens, and many more sites throughout D.C. Each of these parks has significant history of their own; find out more by visiting the National Park Service website http://www.nps.gov/rocr/

CapitalSpace is a partnership initiative of the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Park Service, and the District of Columbia to develop shared strategies for working together on parks and open space throughout Washington, D.C., particularly in the city’s neighborhoods. The CapitalSpace plan represents the first time in almost 40 years that a comprehensive analysis of all of Washington’s parks and open spaces has been undertaken.

The Commission adopted the final CapitalSpace Plan on April 1, 2010. Commission staff continues to work with partnering agencies to implement the plan’s recommendations.

NCPC creates and updates the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital Region and crafts long-range plans and policies. NCPC annually produces the Federal Capital Improvements Program (FCIP). On a monthly basis, the Commission reviews federal and District of Columbia development projects and provides legal rulings based on recommendations from NCPC’s staff.

Located in the NE corner of Washington, D.C., and the Maryland border, near the banks of the Anacostia River preserves a plethora of rare waterlilies and lotuses in the cultivated ponds near the river & the Kenilworth Marsh, the only remaining tidal marsh in Washington, D.C.

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) works with the community to establish gardens across the District. DPR currently has 26 community gardens under its jurisdiction, including Friendship Gardens near American University.

Databases covering Environmental Studies and related fields, including access to core resources such as Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management , GEOBASE, World Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Abstracts, and Biological Abstracts.

Anacostia and Potomac River Monitoring Program
2013 Stormwater Rule and Guidebook
Chesapeake Bay Program
Floodplain Management
Stormwater Management
Watershed Protection Water Quality

Aims to reduce stormwater runoff by offering incentives to District of Columbia homeowners such as reduced cost rain barrels and assistance in installing environmentally friendly landscaping (Bayscaping).

Potomac Riverkeeper, Inc. was established in 2000 by principals from other environmental organizations, including the Potomac Conservancy, Piedmont Environmental Council, Audubon Naturalist Society, and Sierra Club. The goal was to create a strong advocate, the Potomac Riverkeeper, and enforce existing federal and state laws governing the Potomac watershed and protecting it from exploitation. Potomac Riverkeeper stops pollution and restores clean water in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and their tributaries through community action and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.

The mission of the Anacostia Watershed Society is to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed communities by cleaning the water, recovering the shores, and honoring the heritage.

Advocacy group devoted to cleaning up the Bay.

Downloadable Quality Controlled Local Climatological Data (QCLCD) consist of hourly, daily, and monthly summaries for Washington, D.C. and approximately 1,600 additional U.S. locations. Data are available beginning January 1, 2005 and continue to the present. Please note, there may be a 48-hour lag in the availability of the most recent data.

COG is an independent, nonprofit association that brings area leaders together to address major regional issues in DC, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. COG’s membership is comprised of 300 elected officials from 22 local governments, the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, and U.S. Congress.

Air Monitoring & Assessment
Air Pollutants and Standards
The Clean Air Act and its amendments: CAPS and HAPS.
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Air Quality Inspections, Investigations, and Enforcement
Air Quality Data Assessment and Analysis
Air Quality Index