WATERCRAFT RESTRICTIONS: 2021 Fourth of July Celebration

Today, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced watercraft restrictions on the Potomac River on Sunday, July 4, in conjunction with the 2021 Fourth of July Celebration taking place in Washington, DC.

The following watercraft restrictions will be in place on the Potomac River from approximately 9:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.:

• South of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be a No Anchorage Zone.
• There will be a designated anchorage zone east of the security zone between the 14^th Street Bridge complex and the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge.
• There will be a watercraft safety zone north of the 14^th Street Bridge on the east side of the Potomac River (Washington, DC side); this zone will be just north of the entrance to the Pentagon Lagoon to north of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. This means no boating, no anchoring.
• Watercrafts will be allowed to anchor outside of the channel north of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and south of the 14^th Street Bridge.
• There may be intermittent travel restrictions between the 14^th Street Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge between the hours of 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Watercraft operators will be expected to follow the restrictions and remain alert for posted signage and buoys. MPD recommends that all watercraft operators and passengers not only have a life jacket or a personal floatation device, but wear it at all times while boating. As always, do not drink and operate a watercraft.
• Boaters seeking additional information should contact MPD’s Harbor Patrol Unit at 202-727-4582.