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Location: PennBranch and Twining neighborhoods in SE DC
Project Status: The Pope Branch stream restoration project was completed in December 2016.
Project Overview:
Located in southeast Washington, DC, Pope Branch is a 1.6-mile first-order tributary of the Anacostia River. The entire stream lies within DC city boundaries. The primary land uses of the 250-acre watershed are parkland and residential lands yet the impervious area in the residential neighborhoods surrounding the stream caused high rates of bank erosion and channel incisement which caused a sanitary sewer line in the upper reaches of the stream valley to become exposed and compromised. DOEE partnered with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and DC Water and Sewer Authority (DCWATER) to do a joint sewer line and stream restoration project with DCWATER as the lead contracting agency.
DCWATER first fixed the sewerline along the stream followed by the stream restoration work. In total, over 4,400 feet of stream were restored using regenerative stream design which filled in the incised stream and raised the stream bed about 3-4 feet so that it reconnected with its historic floodplain. A series of pools and riffles/cascades were installed to ensure both the lateral and vertical stability of the stream so it can remain stable even in high flow events. 663 native trees, 170 native shrubs, over 13lbs. of native grass seed, and over 100 native aquatic plants were planted as part of the restoration project.
DCWATER with funding from DOEE contracted Biohabitats to design the Pope Branch stream restoration project and Underwood and Associates were contracted to construct the project.
Project Objectives:
- Reduce streambank erosion and channel bed incision to provide long-term stream stability and downstream water quality benefits.
- Protect the sanitary sewer line
- Improve in-stream and riparian habitat conditions
Presentations: NA
Contact Information:
Josh Burch
Environmental Protection Specialist
[email protected] | (202) 734-9527