7News Speaks one-on-one with volunteers cleaning up the Potomac River for Earth Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — In celebration of Earth Day, the Potomac Conservancy, LULAC Lambda, and the National Park Service are calling on volunteers to help remove trash from ecologically sensitive areas in Arlington’s Gravelly Point Park.

The cleanup event aims to improve water quality and protect wildlife habitats in the Potomac River, which supplies drinking water to over five million people. Despite recent improvements, the Potomac River remains unsafe for swimming and fishing. The Potomac Conservancy's latest river health report card gave the river a "B" grade, an improvement from a "D" in 2011. An updated report card is expected in 2025.

7News's Joy Wang speaks with Potomac Conservancy's Senior Director of Community Conservation about the clean up event.