Want to Swim in the Potomac? Army Corps to Study the Possibility

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could soon study how to legalize swimming in the rivers around the nation’s capital—a scenario that would have seemed impossible in the not-too-distant past.

2 minute read

December 27, 2022, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The Yards Park, in Washington, D.C.

The Anacostia River is in need of some TLC, and some swimmers! | Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

According to an article by Jacob Fenston, “someday in the not-too-distant future, going for a swim in the District’s rivers could be a real option on a hot summer day.”

“In the latest step toward making swimming in the city possible, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct a feasibility study, identifying areas on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers where it’s clean enough and safe enough to swim,” according to Fenston. The study is contingent on President Joe Biden signing the Congress-approved 2022 Water Resources Defense Act.

The possibility of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers being clean enough for swimming first made the Planetizen newsfeed in 2018, when the grades for water quality, granted by local advocates, first crossed into passing territory for both rivers. At the time, the Potomac River’s grade was a B, and the Anacostia a D-. In 2020, the most recent grade for the Potomac River, the grade had slipped slightly to a B-. Unfortunately, the grade for the Anacostia had slipped back into fail territory.  So, the efforts of the Army Corps of Engineers will be a welcome addition to the clean up effort.

The Potomac Riverkeepers launched a campaign earlier this year, documented in another article by Fenston, to legalize swimming in the Potomac River for the first time in 50 years.

Local advocates note that people are already going in the water around D.C., but formal legalization would help clear the way for recreational locations devoted to swimming.

Friday, December 16, 2022 in DCist

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

May 20 - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

May 20 - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.