Feds Spend Your Money to Restore Washington D.C. Stream

OK, I admit it, I'm a little biased here.  I've actually worked on this stream a little.  Yep, it was a little urban ditch, of no particular consequence.  Fixing it as they've done here is great, but why does it have to be our money?  Why can't Washington D.C. fix its own streams?  They got the financial benefit out of screwing them up in the first place.  The whole project here is being sold on the idea that spending the money in the community is the benefit, as touted by the EPA Bay Program:

Restoration of urban stream has big impact on D.C. economy

Completed in 2011, the efforts to restore Watts Branch included the restoration of an eroded stream channel and the relocation and improvement of streamside sewer lines. The work—a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the District Department of the Environment, the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority and others—reduced erosion, improved water quality and wildlife habitat, and provided local residents with an urban sanctuary where green space is otherwise limited.

Watt's Branch before restoration

The restoration project also accounted for 45 jobs, $2.6 million in local labor income and $3.4 million in value added to the District of Columbia and 20 counties in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

after restoration

Of course, it helps enormously that the before restoration picture was in in winter, when things are bared and ugly, and the after restoration was in spring or summer, when the vegetation is lush.

According to the EPA, $3.7 million in project implementation costs were funded by multiple agencies and organizations, including the EPA and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Read more about Restoring a Stream, Restoring a Community.

If we could keep our own money, maybe we could restore our own streams...