Pope Branch facts for kids

Pope Branch is a small stream that flows into the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. It's like a small arm of the river. This stream starts near Fort Davis Drive. It then flows for about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) towards the Anacostia River. The Anacostia River eventually flows into the Potomac River. From there, the water reaches the Chesapeake Bay. The area of land that drains water into Pope Branch is about 1 square kilometer (0.4 square miles).

Keeping Pope Branch Clean

Pope Branch flows through a busy city area. Because of this, the stream has faced some challenges. It has been affected by pollution from two main sources. One source is urban runoff. This is rainwater that flows over streets and picks up dirt, trash, and chemicals. The other source is leaking sewer pipes. These pipes carry wastewater from homes.

Helping the Stream Recover

The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment has worked hard to make Pope Branch healthier. They have done special projects in Pope Branch Park. One important project involved installing "regenerative stormwater conveyances." These are special systems that help clean the water. They catch runoff from nearby streets. This helps to reduce erosion, which is when soil washes away. It also stops pollutants from entering the stream.

Sewer Pipe Repairs

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) also played a big part. They fixed the leaking sewer pipes in 2014. This stopped dirty water from getting into the stream. After the repairs, they started restoring the stream itself. This work began in January 2016 and was finished by October 2016. All these efforts help to keep Pope Branch clean and healthy for everyone.