Have you visited the Aquatic Resources Education Center in Anacostia Park lately? We think you should come and bring the whole family. It's an undiscovered gem right on the banks of our precious Anacostia River.

This unique center is a realized vision of a partnership between the District of Columbia, the National Park Service, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2005, a $1.2 million expansion was completed to include dedicated classrooms and offices, display areas, live local fish exhibits, a fisheries laboratory, and an aquaculture facility (or fish hatchery). Residents can learn a lot about fish and the river here!

The District Department of the Environment operates several education programs at the Center. Our fisheries biologists will enlighten you with an inside look at what's really lurking (eek!) in our waters. School groups and the public can whet their appetites with a fishery or aquatic resources presentation and enjoy a guided or self-guided tour of the Center. Visiting students will be actively engaged in hands-on activities from fish identification to water quality testing. Students have the opportunity to witness fisheries research activities such as the rearing of American Shad larvae, or the care of endangered Atlantic Sturgeon in the aquaculture facility (or fish hatchery).

The Center's fish hatchery is operated to re-populate fish such as American Shad back to their historical spawning grounds in our rivers and creeks, and ultimately to increase their survival rate. In spring of 2007 we successfully released 1 million American Shad larvae (young fish), 3,000 Blueback Herring larvae, and 5,000 Hickory Shad larvae in the Anacostia River to live out their life cycle. When not raising fish and re-stocking the rivers, the Center's scientists conduct a variety of surveys such as freshwater seines, ichthyoplankton surveys (fish eggs and larvae), and aquatic vegetation surveys to gain information about the rivers to share with residents. Most of all, the Aquatic Resources Education Center staff are ready and eager to help any visitor learn about fish and other animals that live in the rivers and creeks that run through our city.

To schedule a visit or get more information about our programs and services please call (202) 535-2276 Monday through Friday.