Anacostia Watershed Society
Stream Corridor Assessment
Riggs Road to New Hampshire Ave

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Anacostia Watershed Society

The following information was provided by Masaya Maeda of the Anacostia Watershed Society.

AWS has decided to conduct a SCA (Stream Corridor Assessment) survey on the Northwest Branch and has already conducted it on a small portion of the stream. We would like to identify environmental problems such as eroding stream banks, inadequate stream buffers, exposed pipes, altered stream channels, fish migration barriers, pipe outfalls, in-stream construction sites and trash dumping locations along the branch. The major findings will be reported appropriately. The data will be also used to raise people's awareness of stream problems and eventually it will be incorporated into WRAS project by State Government.

Survey Date: 4/5/2005

Site 211109 Unusual condition
This water was coming from a stormwater pipe outfall or piped tributary. The upstream portion of this small tributary to NW Branch was piped. Because it is piped, I could not track down the source. Almost no fish or aquatic animal can live in this water. We have to stop these inputs from its source.
Picture taken looking downstream
Picture taken looking upstream

211113 Unusual condition
This is evidence of sewage overflow. This case had already been reported to WSSC. WSSC crews are working hard to figure out the cause. If you want to express your concern to WSSC, please do not blame WSSC individuals but blame WSSC as an organization. WSSC individuals work with us very well though we need to share our concerns closer than now. It is suspected that infiltration upstream causes exfiltration or overflow downstream, for example here. Again, WSSC tries to learn the exact cause.
Broad view. Paper products are the white matter.
Zoom-in picture showing the paper products
Evidence of paper products coming from the sewer collection system
Zoom-in picture of the previous picture

213102 Exposed pipe (manhole stack)
Crumbling manhole stack. I cannot help imagining infiltration from this stack at high flow events. The imagination connects to the pictures above (site #211113).

213104 Unusual condition
Turbid water. Can you believe that the depth of this stream is a few inches?

213113 Unusual condition
Again, illicit discharge from a stormwater pipe outfall. However, it disappeared when I checked this site next day. This happens often. When we call the County to report the discharge, it often subsides by the time County officials reach the site.

Discharge from a stormwater pipe outfall

On the way to ...
... to NW Branch.br>