Hickey Run
Encyclopedia
Hickey Run is a tributary
stream of the Anacostia River
in Washington, D.C.
, USA. The historic headwaters of the stream originate in the
Langdon
area in Northeast Washington, however at present this portion of the stream and its tributaries are enclosed in underground pipes and culvert
s. The daylight portion of the stream can be seen south of New York Avenue
, in the National Arboretum
, and the stream continues southeast about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the Anacostia, which drains to the Potomac River
and the Chesapeake Bay
. The watershed
area of Hickey Run is about 2.08 mi² (5.4 km²).
area and its water quality
has been rated as poor by government agencies. The watershed has a large amount of impervious surface
s, which along with the piped tributaries, has led to large amounts of urban runoff
(stormwater
) pollution
in the stream, including oil and grease, and bacteria
. The D.C. Department of the Environment has ongoing monitoring and public education activities for Hickey Run, and has plans for stream restoration
projects. Other agencies assisting in Hickey Run improvements include the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, the National Arboretum and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
.
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....
, USA. The historic headwaters of the stream originate in the
Langdon
Langdon, Washington, D.C.
Langdon, or Langdon Park, is a neighborhood near the U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast Washington, D.C. Langdon is roughly bounded by New York Avenue NE to the south, Montana Avenue to the west, Bladensburg Road to the east, Rhode Island Avenue NE to the northwest, and South Dakota Avenue to the...
area in Northeast Washington, however at present this portion of the stream and its tributaries are enclosed in underground pipes and culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
s. The daylight portion of the stream can be seen south of New York Avenue
New York Avenue (Washington, D.C.)
New York Avenue is one of the diagonal avenues radiating from the White House in Washington, D.C. It is a major east-west route in the city's Northwest and Northeast quadrants and connects downtown with points east and north of the city via Cheverly, Maryland, the John Hanson Highway and the...
, in the National Arboretum
United States National Arboretum
The United States National Arboretum is an arboretum in Washington, D.C., operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service as a division of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center...
, and the stream continues southeast about 1 mile (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 Hickey Run is about 2.08 mi² (5.4 km²).
Water pollution
Hickey Run is in a highly urbanizedUrbanized
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 its water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
has been rated as poor by government agencies. The watershed has a large amount of impervious surface
Impervious surface
Impervious surfaces are mainly artificial structures--such as pavements that are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, and stone--and rooftops...
s, which along with the piped tributaries, has led to large amounts of 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....
in the stream, including oil and grease, and bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The D.C. Department of the Environment has ongoing monitoring and public education activities for Hickey Run, and has plans for 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. Other agencies assisting in Hickey Run improvements include the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership, the National Arboretum and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
.
External links
- Photographs of Hickey Run
- "The Fate of Hickey Run of the Anacostia Watershed" - Video/graphic presentation of development history in the watershed
- Anacostia Watershed Society
- Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership