Anacostia Park in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Anacostia River Floodplain
Anacostia Park
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Natural floodplains protect people and wildlife. Floodplains, the low-lying areas adjacent to rivers, include wetlands, a valuable ecosystem. Wetland trees and aquatic plants, such as cattails, wild rice, and spatterdock slow floodwaters and filter water. They also provide habitat and feeding grounds for birds, turtles, and fish. Much of the natural Anacostia River floodplain was lost when trees were cut, wetlands filled, and roads and buildings replaced marsh grasses.
Development along the Anacostia River led to serious flood damage to people's homes, businesses and eroded the riverbank itself. However efforts have been made to restore floodplain functions by replanting native grasses and preserving open space such as Anacostia Park. The District and federal governments work to further reduce flood risk to people and property through education, flood mapping, maintenance of flood walls or levees, development regulations, and more.
"During floods, Washington looked like Venice"
Washington Star (1937)
[Captions:]
Flooding conditions at the Washington Navy Yard in 1936.
Wild rice thrives in the natural floodplains of the Anacostia River.
Erected by National
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 38° 52.724′ N, 76° 58.176′ W. Marker is in Southeast Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Anacostia Park. It can be reached from Anacostia Drive Southeast half a mile north of Nicholson Street Southeast, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Anacostia Dr, Washington DC 20020, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Life of a River (here, next to this marker);
Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
This sign serves as a historical marker because it shares how the history of human interaction has affected the local environment.
— Submitted April 20, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
