The Wharf Water Cleanup - Earth Day 2025

We'll get kayaks from the Wharf Boathouse on Recreation Pier, work together to collect trash from the waterways, then get together for an after-work party.

Participants will be provided with kayaks, paddles, life preservers, rubber gloves, and trash bags for collecting floating trash.

All money raised from this event will be donated by The Wharf to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

This event is supported by Pacifico Preserves, Pacifico's philanthropic organization committed to protecting the outdoors and advocating for better access to adventure for all and Giant Food because This is Home.

All participants in the Wharf Water Cleanup must be 21+ at the time of participation. Your ticket includes a Pacifico swag bag, snacks courtesy of Giant and whoever collects the most trash wins a special Pacifico prize!

5:00pm - Check-in at The Wharf Boathouse on Recreation Pier

5:30pm - Kayak Kickoff- Start paddling and collecting trash!

6:30pm - Last call to bring trash back to Recreation Pier, Group photo

6:30pm-7:30pm - Group happy hour paddle party

Following the trash collection, all participants in The Wharf Water Cleanup are invited to a Paddle Party from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. We'll have light bites and a complimentary Pacifico beer for every participant.

• Registration is $15 per person. All money raised from this event will be donated by The Wharf to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
• This event will take place rain or shine, except in extreme weather in which kayaks are prohibited from launching.
• Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
• In the unlikely event of a cancellation, all proceeds will still be donated.
• This event is open to participants aged 21+.
• Participants are required to sign a waiver upon arrival and follow all safety requirements for kayaking.

Every year, The Wharf's amazing restaurants, shops, music venues, and special events bring millions of visitors directly to DC's waterways, so we take our environmental stewardship and water cleanliness very seriously. We created floating wetlands to collect water pollutants, we gather all our trash in sealed containers, and we even constructed giant cisterns to capture runoff before it reaches the river. However, our most visible impact on the waterways comes each year during our Washington Channel Water Cleanup.

When it rains, wood debris and trash are washed from shores throughout the region into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. The floating trash and debris are then pushed into the Washington Channel by the tide and wind, where they gather along the shore. All this debris harms the environment and aquatic life, damages piers and boat propellers, and is unsightly for everyone who lives, works, and recreates on the water.

Our community's annual cleanup efforts regularly remove multiple dumpsters full of wood, trash, and debris from the Washington Channel.

By registering for this event, you agree to release and hold harmless the District Wharf and all associated parties from any and all liability and damages arising from your participation in this event. You agree to all rules and regulations above.

Host or Publisher The Wharf