Five Things to Know About SUP in DC
We might be a little biased, but we think DC is one of the premier places to paddle on the East Coast. People outside of the region may not consider the Nation’s Capital to be a paddling hub, but for anyone crossing one of the bridges or walking the waterfronts, you know that paddling in DC is hugely popular and here to stay. For the experienced and new paddlers alike, here are five things we think you should know about SUP in DC.
Not all water in DC is paddle-able. There are a lot of great places to paddle, but have you ever thought about where you can’t? Both the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers are fair game, but there are a few spots in town that prohibit recreational paddling, like the Reflecting Pool and the Tidal Basin. Why it matters for paddlers: This one’s pretty obvious. Knowing the local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction in which you’re paddling will help protect the sport for everyone. For example, we know it’s pretty tempting to paddle with some iconic backgrounds, but we know some out-of-town paddlers who got pulled off the Tidal Basin by Park Police not too many years ago. Don’t risk the citation or ruin it for other paddlers.
Our rivers are tidal. Both the Anacostia River and the Potomac River are tidal in our region. The Northeast and Northwest Branches of the Anacostia converge in Bladensburg, MD and form the tidal Anacostia River, flowing downstream almost 8.5 miles to meet the Potomac River at Hains Point. A little over 100 miles of the approximately 400-mile Potomac River are tidal. The tidal Potomac spans below Little Falls in Maryland, flowing downstream through DC until it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. Why it matters for paddlers: Tides can impact your put-in/take-out location, the route that you paddle, and the effort it takes to paddle. For example, there’s a brand new launch spot at Columbia Island Marina that’s easier to use at high tide but much more difficult to use at low tide when the ramp to the floating dock becomes very steep and harder to navigate with slippery feet and the equipment you’re carrying.
DC has jurisdiction of the rivers. Within DC’s borders, the city has the rights to both the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Why it matters for paddlers: All rescues are coordinated out of DC jurisdiction. Dialing 911 in case of emergency can route you to a multitude of jurisdictions, including those in Maryland and Virginia. If you’re paddling in DC, DC is the only one with responders on the water or ready to go. We’re not telling you to not call 911 in an emergency, but having the right emergency phone numbers pre-loaded into your phone contacts is always a good idea. From the words of one DC Harbor Patrol officer, the Harbor Patrol Unit’s number is the one you should dial for the quickest response. (202-727-9099 for those who want to add it to their contacts right now.) For example, last year we paddled upon an abandoned SUP at the gates to the Tidal Basin. We needed to report it in case there were any missing persons alerts, so we contacted DC Harbor Police, knowing they had the rights to the river and could respond quickly.
Widely accessible, free public launch sites in DC are hard to come by. We hate to be downers, but this one had to make the list. There’s a lot we could say about water accessibility in DC but we’ll save that for another day. Just know that, if you’ve got your own equipment, it can be tough to find free, legal put-ins in DC proper that are widely accessible to the general public. It’s why we like apps like Go Paddling, which help connect people to launch spots in their area. It’s important to remember, however, that not all of these spots may be legal put-ins. We’re not going to tell you to use them or not to use them, just know you could be putting yourself and others at some risk both physically and with the law. Why it matters for paddlers: Similar to #1 on this list, it’s all about knowing the rules and regulations where you’re paddling. It keeps you safe and helps protect the sport for others. For example, many of the non-improved put-ins in our area, both in DC and across the river in Virginia, are less than ideal launch sites - we can think of one that has concrete and rebar just under the water’s surface and another that requires you to scramble over loose, slippery boulders. We’re also pretty confident neither of these two examples are approved by local authorities. It’s just important to have all the facts before you go.
Water quality is on the rise. It really wasn’t that long ago that both the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers were deemed unsafe to recreate in. Groups like the Potomac River Conservancy, the Anacostia Riverkeeper, and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, among others, are hard at work restoring and protecting water conditions and spreading much-needed awareness. Why it matters for paddlers: Despite the bad rap these rivers still get, they’re pretty safe places to paddle with some precautions in mind. Both the Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network perform water quality testing that’s available to the public. It’s a great resource to refer to before heading out. As experienced paddlers in the region, we also follow general guidelines after rainfall and rising water levels. For example, we generally wait 24 hours after after a heavy rainfall and/or after the river levels start receding because of pollution runoff from upstream and the potential for sewage overflow from the city. This is just our personal preference.
There’s a lot to learn about paddling in DC and we love to introduce people to the sites and history of the area. Come paddle with us!
And, if you’re a local paddler we’d love to hear what you think should make this list! What do you want people to know about SUP in DC? Comment below!
