WASHINGTON — Eels were once a tasty meal for early Washingtonians and Native Americans who lived along the banks of the Potomac River. The American eel thrived in the rivers and streams of this area, but are now rare — victims of the urban landscape.
Therefore, environmentalists were excited when they found a small American eel in one of the streams running through Rock Creek Park earlier this year.
“I think that the most important thing is that there’s life in D.C. streams,” said Eliza Cava, director of conservation at the Chevy Chase-based Audubon Naturalist Society.
Volunteers have been monitoring three streams in Rock Creek Park since the mid-1990s and have found just two of the eels in the past nine years; one was found this year.
“One eel tells us that one eel made it. But where there’s one maybe there’s more behind it,” Cava said.
The environmental group released a report this month on the health status of streams in Rock Creek in Washington D.C. The group said its surveys have found plenty of aquatic life ranging from insects to amphibians and fish.
But the monitoring of the streams — Pinehurst Branch, near Beach Drive, Melvin Haven Run in North Cleveland Park and Normanstone Rune near 30th Street NW — has found that the water quality in the tributaries has deteriorated over the past nine years, from “fair” to “poor.”
Stormwater runoff carries road salt, pesticides and other pollutants into the streams. Early 20th century water projects placed sewer pipes beneath some streams and the older pipes can leak into the natural streams.
Urban areas present their own difficulties for animal life. And “the most sensitive organisms — dependent on cool, clean water and undisturbed habitat — are less likely to be found in cities,” the report says.
The ANS has issued a number of recommendations including more regular monitoring of water quality in the city’s streams and managing stream restoration projects that help prevent stormwater from reaching the streams.
“We are concerned that excess nutrients may be affecting the health of these streams,” the ANS said in its report. “As we continue monitoring, we will look for effects of these sewer reconstruction projects. We urge DOEE (D.C.’s Department of Energy and Environment) to do the same.”
For volunteers who are interested in assisting, the ANS’ Creek Critters app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
WTOP’s Will Vitka contributed to this report.
