2021 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Priorities

Welcome to ANS’s2021 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Priorities page! (Some bills updated as of 2/28/21) This year’s session is unusually short and runs from January 13 – February 27, with crossover on February 5. Legislators were working on a compressed schedule and are only allowed to bring a limited number… Continue reading

Troubled Waters

In my last post, we explored Washington DC’s sewer system history and what plans DC Water has for sewer restoration. In this post, let’s look a little deeper at a few of our sites with high “dry day” bacteria levels and what might be the causes of those spikes. As… Continue reading

Healthier Streams for Healthier Communities

Our world is interconnected. Our health is directly related to the health of the world around us. Humans are 60% water and the health of our water has a direct impact on our own health. The Embark Richmond Highway redevelopment presents an opportunity to protect and restore our environment while… Continue reading

A Tale of Two Sewer Systems in Washington DC

Since my last post we’ve been able continue the DC Water Quality Monitoring Program with volunteers! I had also briefly explained the differences between a combined sewer system (CSS) and a separate sewer system (MS4) and how they can both contribute bacteria to our waterways in that post. But how… Continue reading

When it Rains, it Smells

When it rains there are several things you might smell. One is ozone, which is sharp and has a sort of fresh aroma. Another is known as petrichor, which is that distinctly pleasant earthy scent you smell when it rains on dry soil. Now, If you’ve ever walked some of… Continue reading

ANS Submits Testimony on the FY2021 DC Budget

Last week, ANS and 5 partner organizations submitted testimony on the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) budget to the DC Council Committee on Transportation and the Environment. ANS works closely with DOEE on many climate change, clean energy, and water quality programs, including the Clean Energy DC Act,… Continue reading

Priority Campaign Area: Biodiversity & Habitats

This is one in a series introducing ANS’ new Conservation Advocacy Priority Campaign Areas. Since 1897, ANS has worked to protect the habitats and wildlife of the Washington, DC, region. The stream valley corridors that knit our region together with ribbons of blue and green space are critically important in… Continue reading

Take Action! Protect Ten Mile Creek Now!

What’s Happening? In 2014, ANS, Montgomery Countryside Alliance, Friends of Ten Mile Creek, and many others fought and won a long battle to protect the very delicate, fragile and pristine Ten Mile Creek Watershed from over-development, setting a limit of impervious surfaces to 6% in the most sensitive part of… Continue reading

Read and Participate/ Lee y Participa: DEP’s 2020 Clean Water Art Project!

Montgomery County’s Department of Environment is launching it’s 2020 Clean Water Art Project. Kids of all ages – this is your chance to come up with the most innovative art design and make you famous in your community! The winning drawing will be painted on the pre-selected community’s storm drain.… Continue reading

ANS Goes to Capitol Hill!

On March 4th, ANS joined more than 100 other environmental advocates for the Choose Clean Water Coalition’s 8th annual Chesapeake Bay Day on Capitol Hill. Lisa Alexander, ANS’s Executive Director, is co-chair of the steering committee for the Coalition, which has members from more than 250 organizations throughout the Chesapeake… Continue reading