Pope Branch
Encyclopedia
Pope Branch is a tributary
stream of the Anacostia River
in Washington, D.C.
The headwaters of the stream originate near Fort Davis Drive, and the branch flows roughly
northwest for about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the Anacostia, which drains to the Potomac River
and the Chesapeake Bay
. The watershed
area of Pope Branch is about 0.4 square miles (1 km²).
Pope Branch is in a highly urbanized
area and the stream has suffered from urban runoff
(stormwater
) pollution
and leaking sewer
pipes. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
(WASA) has begun a repair project for the sewer line, and is projected to complete in 2011. Other stream restoration
projects are being planned by the Pope Branch Alliance, a partnership of the DC Department of the Environment
, WASA, the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the Pope Branch Citizens Alliance.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
stream of the Anacostia River
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is approximately long...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The headwaters of the stream originate near Fort Davis Drive, and the branch flows roughly
northwest for about 1 miles (1.6 km) to the Anacostia, which drains to the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. The watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
area of Pope Branch is about 0.4 square miles (1 km²).
Pope Branch is in a highly urbanized
Urbanized
Urbanized is a 2011 documentary film by Gary Hustwit released on 26 October 2011 and considered the third of a three-part series on design known as the Design Trilogy, the first being Helvetica about the typeface and the second being Objectified about industrial design.The documentary discusses...
area and the stream has suffered from urban runoff
Urban runoff
Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of water pollution in many parts of the United States and other urban communities worldwide.-Overview:...
(stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
) pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
and leaking sewer
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
pipes. The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority provides drinking water, sewage collection and wastewater treatment in Washington, D.C., USA. DC Water also provides wholesale wastewater treatment services to several adjoining municipalities in Maryland and Virginia...
(WASA) has begun a repair project for the sewer line, and is projected to complete in 2011. Other stream restoration
Stream restoration
Stream restoration or river restoration, sometimes called river reclamation in the UK, describes a set of activities that help improve the environmental health of a river or stream. Improved health may be indicated by expanded habitat for diverse species and reduced stream bank erosion...
projects are being planned by the Pope Branch Alliance, a partnership of the DC Department of the Environment
DC Department of the Environment
The District Department of the Environment serves as an agency within the Executive Branch of the District of Columbia government in the United States to consolidate the administration and oversight of environmental and energy programs, services, laws, and regulations...
, WASA, the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the Pope Branch Citizens Alliance.