Anacostia River

The Anacostia River maybe in the shadow of the US Capitol, but it is a far cry from a pristine reflection of America's power. The Anacostia River flows through the heart of Washington DC, emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. One side of the River is home to America's government officials and the other is notorious for having one of the highest murder rates in the country. Not only has the Southeast, DC waterfront received a reputation for violence, but the river itself is one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Over 2 billion gallons of raw sewage mixes with 70,000 tons of trash, sediment and toxic pollution and flows into the Anacostia annually. This pollution is catastrophic for the native wildlife; bald eagles, brown bullheaded catfish and other fish and bird species.

Expedition: Blue Planet took time in April to visit one of it's own hometown heroes; the Earth Conservation Corps working to clean up the river and the community. The ECC is part of AmeriCorps, a government-funded public service program. The ECC's mission for the past 17 years has been to, "empower our endangered youth and to reclaim the Anacostia River, their communities and their lives."

Just steps from the Capitol, the Anacostia River is one of America's most polluted rivers and one of the most dangerous communities. One local organization Earth Conservation Corps is making a difference, cleaning up the river and changing the community one life at a time.

In 1991, Bob Nixon saw the Anacostia River devastated by years of pollution and neglect and decided to take action. The founder of the Earth Conservation Corps, Bob Nixon explains in his own words the goal of the ECC.

Alexandra interviews Patric Frazier, a prime example of the ECC's impact on the troubled Southeast DC community. Frazier dreams of one day using his experiences to inspire others in the community.

Rodney Stotts, a reformed troubled youth has been with the ECC since its inception and now uses his experiences to educate others like himself on the importance of the river's wildlife, including the ECC's mascot Hoots.