News Release

Share your thoughts on design concepts for Kingman Lake wetlands

Date: January 6, 2025
Contact: NCR Communications

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) invites the public to share their thoughts on design concepts for Kingman Lake within the Anacostia River Watershed. The project aims to improve 10 acres of degraded habitat by adding tidal wetlands, living shorelines, native underwater plants and freshwater mussel beds. 

This habitat is important to native D.C. species, such as the American black duck, striped bass, blueback herring and freshwater mussel.

The National Park Service and the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) are working together on the project. There is a virtual public meeting on Jan. 22, and the comment period is open through Feb. 10, 2025.

The design concepts would: 

• Add woody debris, such as tree stumps and branches, to the land and water to create habitat for native birds and fish and serve as attachment points for mussels.   
• Plant native plants throughout the mudflats to increase habitat for birds, fish and mussels.  
• Remove and control phragmites, a non-native, tall, invasive grass.  
• Create small channels that branch off main flow paths, to improve habitat diversity for native fish and birds.  
• Plant native wetland plants to provide food and habitat for local wildlife and act as sponges during flooding.  
• Plant native underwater grasses, which will benefit native birds, fish and freshwater mussels.  

Kingman Lake is along the Anacostia River, north of the CSX railroad tracks and south of Hickey Run and borders Kingman Island to the east and the former RFK Stadium Complex, Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and Langston Golf Course to the west.

How to Get Involved 

The public is invited to share their thoughts on the design concepts from Jan. 6, 2025, to Feb. 10, 2025. We encourage the public to get involved and provide feedback to help shape the wetland's future.

Public participation is vital to the planning process. The National Park Service is committed to hearing from more voices in the community. There are several ways to get involved.

Get Involved and Share Your Ideas 

Virtual public meeting on Jan. 22: Join us to learn more about the improvement efforts, see the design concepts, ask questions, and share your feedback.

Online Materials 

View the design concepts and meeting materials. The recorded presentation will be available online after the virtual public meeting.

There are three ways to submit comments:

1.) Attend the virtual public meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Meeting attendees can ask questions during the meeting. A recording of the meeting will be available following the conclusion of the meeting. Options for attending the virtual public meeting include: 

a.) Participants may join via WebEx

Meeting Number: 2306 595 3772
Password: qWJZAxQq393

b.) To connect by video system, dial [e-mail]
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number

c.) To join by phone, dial 1-202-860-2110 (local) / 1-650-479-3208 (US/Canada) and use the Access Code: 230 659 53772

d.) To request a reasonable accommodation, contact us

2.) Comment online: Submit your comments

3.) Comment by mail: Mail or hand-deliver written comments to park headquarters at:

National Capital Parks-East, Attn: Kingman Lake Restoration / NACE Superintendent
1900 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC 20020

Make sure they are postmarked by Feb. 10 to receive consideration. 

Get more information and updates on the project.
_{Please be aware that the entire comment submitted – including personally identifiable information (PII), such as address, phone number, and email address – may be made publicly available. Requests to withhold such PII from public release will be considered, but there is no guarantee that they will be withheld.}