August 2025
Photo Credit: Jonah Bryson
Two decades ago, standing under the skies in the District on a clear summer night in August meant being able to spot the faint glow of the Milky Way and glimpses of distant constellations. In the span of just 20 years, the stars have seemingly vanished from our view. Not because they’re gone but because we’ve obscured them as a result of changes we’ve made and the rise of light pollution.
Over time, the District has become increasingly saturated with artificial light from streetlights, homes, billboards, shopping districts, office buildings, and vehicles that stay on through the night. Light pollution combined with poor air quality results in more than just aesthetic changes; it rewrites our relationship with the night sky itself. In many parts of the city, a child might grow up never seeing the Milky Way. This quiet vanishing alters our connection to our natural environment.
Reclaiming our night skies isn’t out of reach. We can reduce light pollution through initiatives such as converting public lighting to be energy-efficient and downward-facing, as called for in the Energy section of the Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan. Recently, the District modernized streetlights through the DC Smart Street Lighting Project. Reducing light pollution and clearing the air not only benefits our skies; it is one step forward in reclaiming our starry imagination.
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2025 District Sustainability Award Winners Spotlight
The District Sustainability Awards highlight businesses, individuals, and organizations that are working toward a more sustainable DC. This year, six winners were announced at Destination DC’s Sustainability Summit. We will highlight one every month in the newsletter. This month we are featuring OurFarm DC:
OurFarm DC’s mission is to create sustainable food systems through partnerships with District schools, food banks, and communities. OurFarm DC develops urban agriculture programs adhering to best practices for growing, maintaining, and distributing locally grown food to residents in an effort to address food insecurity.
To learn more about this year’s District Sustainability Award winners, read the case studies here.
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Reuse DC 2024 Annual Report Published
On an annual basis, the Donation and Reuse Program provides a report to the Mayor and the Council describing its activities in the previous year to meet set requirements to reduce needless waste and increase diversion of reusable material, including edible food, from landfills and incineration through donation and reuse. This year’s report is published as an interactive website (StoryMap) with sections on textiles, plastic waste, food waste, and more. Check out this link to view the report.
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Report on Air Quality Trends in the District of Columbia Published
Last month, the District published an interactive website (StoryMap) with air quality trends from 1996 to 2024. It includes summary information about the District’s status meeting air quality standards and lots of charts and data related to air quality. Check it out here and see what’s ahead in the District’s 2025 Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan.
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Report on Thriving District of Columbia School Gardens Published
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education's (OSSE) School Gardens Program assists schools in building and maintaining school gardens and provides training and technical assistance to teachers in utilizing school gardens as a teaching tool. OSSE developed a new school garden success StoryMap that includes a map of school gardens with photos, stats, and success from teachers from the 2024-25 school year. If you have photos to add, you can send them to Sam.Ullery@dc.gov. If you know of more success stories, you can suggest them through the form at the bottom of the StoryMap site.
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New Look for the Bag Law Decal
The Department of Energy and Environment Bag Law decal has a new look! Stores, restaurants, and other DC businesses can now go to the Bag Law webpage and print the newly redesigned decal and display on cash registers, doors, windows – anywhere customers will see! Be sure to encourage the businesses you frequent to display the new decal to do their part for a cleaner, healthier watershed.
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2025 Songbird Art Contest Now Open
The 2025 Songbird Art Contest invites young artists to celebrate the beauty and wonder of North America's songbirds. Open to all K-12 students, this annual competition encourages creativity and conservation by spotlighting some of the continent’s most captivating – and threatened – bird species. This year’s featured species includes Black-and-white Warbler, Pinyon Jay, Purple Finch, Varied Bunting, and White-breasted Nuthatch. Visit this link to learn more about the contest and how to submit entries by the deadline of November 30.
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2026 Fish Art Contest Now Open
The Fish Art Contest is an annual art and creative writing contest for students in grades K-12, hosted by the Department of Energy and Environment, in partnership with Wildlife Forever. The contest focuses on educating students about fish, aquatic habitats, and conservation through art and writing. Students research local fish species, create original artwork, and write about their findings. Visit this link to learn more about the contest and how to submit entries by the deadline of February 28, 2026.
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Benning Road Electric Vehicle Charging Station Upgraded
The project to replace an out-of-service charging station at 3355a Benning Road NE near I-295 is now complete! The Department of Energy and Environment, through a grant received from the Federal Highway Administration in 2024, and in partnership with established taxicab operator Transco Inc., added four high-capacity DC fast charging ports that more than tripled the speed of vehicle charging compared to the previous station capacity.
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Calling for DC Sustainable Energy Utility Advisory Board Applicants
The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) Advisory Board (Board) is charged to provide advice, comments, and recommendations to the Department of Energy and Environment and the DC Council regarding the procurement and administration of the DCSEU, advise on DCSEU performance, and monitor DCSEU under its contract. Right now, the Board has a vacant position for the Building Construction Industry representative. Interested in learning more? Check out the Board’s web page and send your resume to Jennifer Johnston at Jennifer.Johnston@dc.gov.
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Join Sierra Club DC’s Climate Leadership Program
The Sierra Club DC Chapter Climate Leaders Program is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. This program provides high school students with training, mentorship, and leadership experiences as they work on impactful environmental projects. Participants can also earn community service hours. Visit the website or view the flyer for additional information. Applications are open through September 1.
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Made in DC x ReFashion Grant
Applications are open for the Made in DC x ReFashion Market Access Grant Program from the Department of Small and Local Business Development. Grants will be awarded to local, non-storefront-based makers, creatives, and small business owners, including those with a focus on fashion. The program aims to increase access to market opportunities for businesses that lack a physical retail presence. To learn more about this opportunity please click here. Applications are due August 22.
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Request for Applications - Kingman Rangers Workforce Development Program
The Department of Energy and Environment seeks an eligible entity to enhance the natural environment of Kingman and Heritage Islands in the Anacostia River and provide meaningful employment to District residents with barriers to employment. The amount available for the project is $467,211. To learn more about this opportunity please click here. Applications are due September 12.
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District Department of Transportation – Environmental Program Supervisor
This position is located in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and leads the Environmental Planning Branch. The Branch is responsible for reviewing DDOT projects to ensure compliance with local and federal environmental laws and regulations, air quality planning and coordination, and other environmental projects as needed. To learn more about this opportunity and apply, visit careers.dc.gov and enter job ID 29918. Applications are due August 30.
Get Ready for Pawpaw Season!: This blog post from Casey Trees highlights fun facts about this native “tropical” fruit. Pawpaws are North America’s largest native fruit with a curious flavor that is described as a mix between a banana, mango, and pineapple. You can already spot the unripe fruits on pawpaw trees, which grow in wooded areas near bodies of water.
Here’s How Park Officials Prevent Flooding: This ABC 7 News story shows the impacts of heavy rains and flooding on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath and how the National Park Service is responding.
Oxon Run Day
Join Friends of Oxon Run for the 4th annual Oxon Run Day on Saturday, August 23 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Oxon Run Park. The event will feature fun activities for the entire family, including live music, food, and arts and crafts. There is no registration needed; just show up to one of the most beautiful parks and green spaces in the District and enjoy being outdoors!
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Summer in the Parks at Carter Barron
On Thursday, August 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. join Rock Creek Conservancy at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park for music from DJ Lance Reynolds and fun-for-all-ages games and activities. This is the last in a series of summer events to bring Rock Creek communities together to enjoy our public lands and learn more about how to recreate responsibly. Learn more and register here.
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9th Anacostia River BioBlitz
The Anacostia River Bioblitz is a multi-day event taking place September 11-14 where participants help document the biodiversity of the Anacostia River watershed using the iNaturalist app. It's a citizen science project where anyone can contribute to a better understanding of the river's ecosystem by observing and recording plants, animals, and other organisms. The event is organized by the Anacostia Watershed Society. This species information can be used by scientists, naturalists, natural resources managers, students, artists, schoolteachers, and more! To learn more and get involved, check out this page.
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Fix-It DC
Fix-It DC events are community repair events dedicated to changing the “throw-it-away” mentality. Visitors bring their broken items to the Fix-It DC event where volunteer Fix-It coaches provide guidance in troubleshooting how to repair each item. The next event is Wednesday, September 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the MLK Library (901 G St NW). Visit https://doee.dc.gov/service/fix-it for more information and to register.
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Kingman Island Friends and Family Day
The Department of Energy and Environment and its partners are excited to host the 5th Annual Kingman Island Friends and Family Day on Saturday, September 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Explore, learn, and engage in a range of outdoor activities including live music, yoga, paddling, fishing, dancing, arts and crafts, nature exploration, a kid’s clothing swap, a stuffed animal repair workshop, a pre-event bike ride with Hill Family Biking, and much more. Learn more and register today here!
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Food and Farm Fridays
Building Bridges Across the River at THEARC hosts a weekly event where residents can access free, locally grown produce, prepared meals, and other resources. It takes place every Friday afternoon through late November. To learn more and attend this event, view the calendar here.
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