As Potomac River protecters, we want to put the restoration of our river and communities first

View of memorial circle from arlington Cemetery, VA

On November 5, 2026, a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that will temporarily block Trump’s proposed monumental “Triumphal Arch” planned for Columbia Island in the Potomac River.

Our river. Our responsibility.

For more than thirty years, Potomac Conservancy has worked to protect and restore the Potomac River and its watershed. As the leading nonprofit voice for the river, we represent more than 42,000 supporters who care deeply about the health, beauty, and long-term stewardship of the Potomac and the shorelines that define our region, including the nation's capital.

Potomac Conservancy is opposed to the proposed concept as currently designed and requires modifications to significantly reduce its size and scale.

Our top 3 concerns

The proposed arch would fundamentally alter the character of the Potomac shoreline and surrounding landscape. The Potomac River is itself one of the defining features of the nation's capital. The river's shorelines, islands, and open views provide an important balance to the environment of Washington, DC. As stewards of the river, we believe future investments should prioritize natural and living monuments that improve ecological health, enhance public access to area shorelines, and strengthen the connection between residents and visitors and the river upon which the capital was founded.
We’re concerned about the environmental impacts associated with constructing a project of this magnitude on Columbia Island in the Potomac River. Large-scale construction activities carry risks of polluted stormwater runoff, erosion, sedimentation, habitat disturbance, and other impacts on the river and its ecosystem. Given the Potomac's ongoing water quality challenges and the ecological sensitivity of riverfront environments, any proposal should be evaluated with exceptional care and should avoid creating new risks to the health of the river.
The scale and placement of the proposed structure would impact the open viewsheds that are among the defining characteristics of the Potomac waterfront. The proposed arch's monumental scale risks introducing a dominant visual element into a setting that has historically been characterized by expansive views with an intentional balanced relationship between built features and the natural landscape.

View from memorial circle overlooking arlington memorial bridge

The Potomac River is both a natural resource and a defining element of the capital’s identity. Decisions affecting its shorelines should reflect a commitment to protecting the river’s ecological integrity, preserving the historic balance of monumental landscapes and river viewsheds, and ensuring that future generations inherit a Potomac that is healthier and more resilient than the one we have today.