Washington Channel
Encyclopedia
The Washington Channel is a channel
that parallels the Potomac River
in Washington, D.C.
It is located between the Southwest Waterfront on the east side and East Potomac Park
on the west side. The channel is two miles long, receives outflow from the Tidal Basin at its north end, and empties into the Anacostia River
at Hains Point
at its south end. The channel's depth ranges from 8.8 feet (2.7 m) to 23 feet (7 m).
The Washington Channel's east bank is lined with restaurants, inns, and marinas including Washington Marina, Gangplank Marina (the only liveaboard marina in the District of Columbia), and Capital Yacht Club. The Maine Avenue Fish Market
is situated at the north end of the channel, south of the 14th Street Bridge complex. The Women's Titanic Memorial
, Fort Lesley J. McNair
, the National Defense University
, and James Creek Marina
are located near the south end of the channel. As of August 2010, the USS Sequoia
—a former United States presidential yacht—is docked at a pier in the Washington Channel.
On June 16, 2010, District of Columbia Delegate
Eleanor Holmes Norton
introduced a bill in the House of Representatives
that would, if signed into law, transfer responsibility for part of the Washington Channel from the Army Corps of Engineers
to the District. The bill was passed by the House on July 20, 2010, and was received by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
the following day. Norton's bill is part of a larger plan to redevelop the Southwest Waterfront, some goals of which are "to extend docks and increase maritime activity just a short eyeshot from the U.S. Capitol building." The Coast Guard
, the Navy
, and the Army Corps of Engineers have agreed that this transfer "will not affect navigation interests or adversely affect navigation
safety." The area under consideration extends from the north end of the Channel to just south of the police pier, totaling 17.84399 acres (7.2 ha) of water surface.
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
that parallels 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...
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....
It is located between the Southwest Waterfront on the east side and East Potomac Park
East Potomac Park
East Potomac Park is a section of Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., located south of the Jefferson Memorial and the 14th Street Bridge. Located between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River, the park is home to the East Potomac Park Golf Course, a miniature golf course, a public swimming...
on the west side. The channel is two miles long, receives outflow from the Tidal Basin at its north end, and empties into 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...
at Hains Point
Hains Point
Hains Point is located at the southern tip of East Potomac Park between the main branch of the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in southwest Washington, D.C. The land on which the park is located is sometimes described as a peninsula but is actually an island: the Washington Channel...
at its south end. The channel's depth ranges from 8.8 feet (2.7 m) to 23 feet (7 m).
The Washington Channel's east bank is lined with restaurants, inns, and marinas including Washington Marina, Gangplank Marina (the only liveaboard marina in the District of Columbia), and Capital Yacht Club. The Maine Avenue Fish Market
Maine Avenue Fish Market
The Maine Avenue Fish Market of Washington, D.C., also known as "the Wharf" or "the Fish Wharf", is one of the few surviving open air seafood markets on the east coast. In operation since 1805, it is the oldest continuously operating fish market in the United States, 17 years older than New York...
is situated at the north end of the channel, south of the 14th Street Bridge complex. The Women's Titanic Memorial
Women's Titanic Memorial
The Titanic Memorial is a granite statue in southwest Washington, D.C., that honors the men who gave their lives so that women and children might be saved during the RMS Titanic disaster. The thirteen-foot-tall figure is of a partly clad male figure with arms outstretched...
, Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
, and James Creek Marina
James Creek Marina
James Creek Marina is located at the confluence of the Anacostia River, the Washington Channel, and the Potomac River. The marina is located directly east of Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. . It is situated between the National Defense University at Fort McNair and the headquarters of the United...
are located near the south end of the channel. As of August 2010, the USS Sequoia
USS Sequoia (presidential yacht)
USS Sequoia is a former United States presidential yacht used from Herbert Hoover to Jimmy Carter, who had it sold in 1977. The ship was decommissioned under Roosevelt and lost its "USS" status at that time, but by popular convention is still often used...
—a former United States presidential yacht—is docked at a pier in the Washington Channel.
Transfer of responsibility
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Eleanor Holmes Norton is a Delegate to Congress representing the District of Columbia. In her position she is able to serve on and vote with committees, as well as speak from the House floor...
introduced a bill in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
that would, if signed into law, transfer responsibility for part of the Washington Channel from the Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
to the District. The bill was passed by the House on July 20, 2010, and was received by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for dealing with matters related to the environment and infrastructure.-Members, 112th Congress:...
the following day. Norton's bill is part of a larger plan to redevelop the Southwest Waterfront, some goals of which are "to extend docks and increase maritime activity just a short eyeshot from the U.S. Capitol building." The Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and the Army Corps of Engineers have agreed that this transfer "will not affect navigation interests or adversely affect navigation
safety." The area under consideration extends from the north end of the Channel to just south of the police pier, totaling 17.84399 acres (7.2 ha) of water surface.