District Waterways Advisory Commission (DWAC)

District Waterways Advisory Commission (DWAC)

The District Waterways Advisory Commission advises the Office of District Waterways and adopts the Waterways Advisory Plan, which creates a strategic vision for the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, the Washington Channel, and adjacent property.

The Advisory Plan shall include recommendations for:

• The orderly, safe, and efficient use of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and the Washington Channel for boating and recreation
• Public and private uses of property and infrastructure adjacent to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and the Washington Channel
• Interagency and regional coordination on issues relevant to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, the Washington Channel, and adjacent property
• Environmental conservation and management of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, the Washington Channel, and adjacent property
• Strategies for coordinated economic growth on and adjacent to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and the Washington Channel
• Assessments of safety and security risks and needs on and adjacent to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and the Washington Channel
• Identification of transportation gaps on and adjacent to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, the Washington Channel, and opportunities to increase local control of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, the Washington Channel, and adjacent property.

The Commission shall be comprised of fourteen (14) voting members appointed as follows.

• Seven (7) members appointed by the Mayor with experience in at least one of the following areas:
  • Public safety
  • Environmental stewardship
  • Economic development or tourism
  • Maritime management or policy
  • Athletics and recreation
  • Maritime transportation.
• Seven (7) members appointed by the Chairman of the Council as follows:
  • Two (2) Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, each of whose single-member districts borders a waterway, one from east of the Anacostia River and one from west of the Anacostia River
  • Two (2) individuals representing a Business Improvement District that borders a waterway, one from east and one from west of the Anacostia River
  • Two (2) individuals, each representing a marina or yacht club located in the District; provided the individuals do not represent the same marina or yacht club
  • An individual with expertise or interest in waterway management.

The government officials who head the following entities, or their designees, shall serve as ex officio non‑voting members of the Commission:

• The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)
• The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (DMPSJ)
• The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
• The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS)
• The District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
• The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)
• The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA)
  The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (EventsDC)
• The Public Service Commission (PSC)
• The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

The Mayor shall request that each of the following federal agencies appoint a representative as an ex officio non‑voting member of the Commission:

• The National Park Service (NPS)
• The United States Coast Guard (USCG)
• The Department of Defense (DOD)
• The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
• The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)

The Commission shall meet at least once every month until the first Advisory Plan developed pursuant to D.C. Code § 8‑191.03 is published and at least quarterly thereafter.