DOEE is not being asked to simply tighten its belt in these tough economic times; instead, it is being structurally underfunded. And the Anacostia River has everything to lose.
DOEE relies on special-purpose revenues like the stormwater fee and bag fee to fund the Natural Resource Agency and its river-facing work. But those revenues have not meaningfully increased for over a decade. The result is a widening gap between what DOEE is required to do and what it has funds to do.
The District’s stormwater fee remains just $2.67 per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit is a billing unit used to calculate stormwater fees based on a property’s impervious surface area, like rooftops and driveways), which comes out to about $32 a year for a typical household. Meanwhile, neighboring jurisdictions are charging dramatically more. In Montgomery County, the equivalent charge is about $147 per ERU annually. In Prince George’s County, typical households pay around $41 to over $60 per year, and in jurisdictions like Rockville and Arlington, annual costs for comparable properties often exceed $150 to $250.
The same is true for the District’s bag fee. At just five cents per bag, it has not changed since 2010. While it was once a national model, many neighboring jurisdictions now charge 8, 10, or even 12 cents per bag. While the bag fee stays flat, river facing programs are forced to shrink.
We are trying to meet 21st-century water quality challenges with an outdated funding model.
DOEE has already indicated it cannot confidently guarantee full compliance with its MS4 permit under current funding levels. That should concern all of us, not just because of the regulatory risk of fines, but because of the real impacts the loss of critical programming has on the health of our rivers.
DC’s Citizen Science Recreational Monitoring was lost in FY26 and is not returning in FY27. That means residents lose timely, transparent information about when or where it is safe to recreate. At a time when public awareness is at an all-time high following major sewer infrastructure failures, we have lost a critical tool that builds trust and accountability.
Public boat tours were also eliminated last year. These tours are not just educational: they are often a resident’s first real experience on the Anacostia River. Hundreds of residents are missing their opportunity to connect with the river this year, and with that missing experience comes missing advocates and stewards for the City’s waterways.
The new loss of Park Stewardship and Maintenance funding in FY27 is equally concerning. These programs support community-led cleanups, restoration, and pride in the city’s green spaces. Without them, trash accumulates and invasive species spread. Neighborhoods lose safe, welcoming access to green space, and the Anacostia River gets inundated with even more trash.
At the same time, reductions in funding for the maintenance of stormwater best management practices put the District’s stormwater infrastructure at risk. These systems require ongoing care: without it, they fail. When they fail, we lose both water quality benefits and the value of prior public investment. The District was once a national leader in stormwater innovation and green infrastructure. Now, we are backsliding.
If the District is going to rely on special purpose revenues to fund DOEE’s core responsibilities, then those revenues must be updated to reflect reality. That means increasing the stormwater fee and bag fee, and ensuring those funds are directed to the most efficient programs to keep the river clean and residents engaged. Because right now, we are not just underfunding an agency: we are weakening the entire system that protects our river.
We urge the Council to act now to ensure DOEE can meet its obligations, restore critical programs, and protect the health of our waterways and our residents.
