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The goal of this project is to improve water quality in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers for the benefit of District residents, visitors, wildlife, and the environment, while providing high quality outdoor recreational space and facilities for children and adults to learn, play, and connect with nature. A further goal of the project is to reduce the stormwater pollutants that enter the local waters of the District (i.e. rivers, streams, estuaries,) as required under the applicable EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the District’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4).
North Michigan Park Recreation Center is an approximately 3.9-acre site in northwest Washington with a little over 1-acre of impervious area from the rooftop, parking lot, pathways, and playground. There are existing drainage problems onsite with stormwater from the adjacent properties to the south, which include Boy’s Town of Washington and St. Anslem’s Abbey School. A brick retention wall, rip rap swale, and grass swale were installed in the SE corner of the property during initial development in 2003. However, since then, a historic stream has resurfaced, and/or stormwater has developed a gully from the adjacent properties to the south, carrying silt, plant debris, and trash. The stream/stormwater empties into an inlet, which is often clogged causing erosion to the baseball field and soil by the ramp.
Possible solutions may include evaluating the contributing drainage area(s) for potential stormwater solutions at their sources. Bioretention systems are a potential option to treat drainage coming from the playground and adjacent properties. A Bioretention is a vegetated stormwater management system that mimics the natural environment to reduce stormwater volumes and pollutants for the purpose of restoring our streams and rivers.
A bioretention provides the following benefits:
- Reduces stormwater runoff
- Slows stormwater flows
- Removes stormwater pollutants
- Provides habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators
- Increases biodiversity
- Improves air quality
- Reduces air temperatures
By capturing stormwater and by treating the pollutants stormwater carries, a bioretention helps protect and restore our streams and rivers.
Project Status: Beginning design phase
DPR III Stormwater Retrofit Project: Public Meeting Recording - 4/10/24
More Information: Check back here often for updates as the project progresses. For questions or more information about this project, please contact: [email protected]
