Ecological Benefits

Expand living shoreline and restore floodplain

Continue to remove deteriorating concrete channel walls and riprap barriers; replace with 150 ft wide riparian buffer (approx. distance between Anacostia Drive and current coastline), consisting of softened slopes made of sand and rock, stabilized by native tidal-wetland planting.

Daylight streams and restore wetlands

Restore connection between the river and tributaries that were drained, relocated, or buried over time by daylighting streams and reintroducing native marsh vegetation to protect against erosion.

Elevate land out of floodplain

Elevate land to a level that removes any new riverside development from the 500-year or 0.2% chance projected flood hazard, also accounting for sea level rise – estimated to be between 7 to 16 ft above ground level. This strategy fits a dual purpose for site remediation where necessary to cap contaminated land with new soil.

Build new retention ponds

Install new larger-scale retention ponds at 3 key areas identified along the boulevard, where water seeks to flow into low-lying areas of vacant or publicly-owned land.

Retention boulevard

A retention system anchored around the boulevard will buffer riverine flooding and provide routine mitigation of stormwater runoff. The retention boulevard roadway slopes towards depressed green medians and/or swales at outer edges, where water drains down to stormwater pipes and cisterns located at intervals along the length of the boulevard.

Blue-Green crossings

To enhance connectivity from neighborhoods to the river edge use the paths of daylighted streams to trace new connections that cross the boulevard and traverse parkland. Expand or install new open culverts for streams to flow unobstructed under the boulevard, fill with native planting, and add educational signage to mark each bluegreen boulevard crossing, highlighting site ecology and water quality improvements.

Activate park with water-based recreation

Enhance visitor experience in the park and connectivity to the river by investing in water-based recreation facilities, including fishing, boat launches, and splash pads; and installing pedestrian pathways and/or floating boardwalks along daylighted streams and over restored wetland areas. Punctuate new installations with educational signage celebrating the natural ecology of the area and community stewardship efforts

Existing FEMA-BRIC study area

Coordinate with ongoing FEMA-funded community efforts to examine flood risk along the Watts Branch tributary, especially as regards potential buyout programs, land-swaps, or new mitigation strategies.

Floodplain management

In line with Climate Ready DC Resilient Design Guidelines, restrict development in flood-prone areas, and require any new developments triggered by the boulevard transformation to be built in a way that reduces the risk of flood damage.