The Potomac River seems to be giving the Anacostia a run for its money these days. The Potomac Conservancy has downgraded the health of the river from the D+ they gave it in 2007 to a D in a new report. The river saw a lower rating because of “continuing concerns about poor land use practices in the face of a growing population, ongoing struggles to control pollution, and a suite of new concerns, ranging from emerging contaminants to invasive species.”

The report argues that a population increase has led to more dangerous runoff chemicals flowing into the river.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery