Watersheds from Anacostia River in Washington DC to Chesapeake Bay Essay Example for Free

catchment neighborhoods from Anacostia River in Washington DC to Chesapeake utter EssayAmong many turning points in Maryland regularize, the following argon the noted ones which flow from Anacostia river in Washington DC to the Chesapeake Bay Anacostia River catchment basin, Mattawoman Creek Watershed, Potomac River, Middle Lower Tide Watershed, Piscataway Creek Watershed, Nanjemay Creek Watershed, gigabyte sop Watershed, way Tobaco River Watershed, Zekiah Swamp Watershed, Wicomico River Watershed, Breton Bay Watershed, St. Marys River Watershed Anacostia River Watershed The Anacostia River watershed comprises of the Northease Branch, the Northwest Branch, and the Tidal River and is 176 lusty miles in playing field. Also it has 13 sub-watersheds in southeast Washington DC, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties. The tidal Anacostia River flows 8. 4 miles by Washington, DC to join the Potomac River at Hains Point. The Anacostia Watershed is household to over 800,000 residents of Maryland and Washington, DC. Anacostia River water suffers from Wetland loss, deforestation, and urbanization. About 23 percent of the watershed sphere is impervious. Urbanization is dense on the east and west banks of the tidal river in Washington, DC, where more than 70 percent of the land is covered by impervious surfaces.Anacostia Watershed Restoration delegation (AWRC) is responsible for the ecological and economic importance of the river. All water runs downhill. Charles County is located in eight diametrical watersheds including Nanjemoy Creek, sarin Run Swamp, Mattawoman Creek, Patuxent River, manner tobacco plant River, Potomac River, Wicomico River and Zekiah Swamp. Mattawoman Creek Watershed Mattawoman Creek Watershed is a shoal tributary of Lower Potomac located in Prince Georges and Charles Counties. The total non-water area of this watershed is 60,300 acres. The Mattawoman Creek watershed is defend by forested lands.It supports a world class fishing industry. Mattawoman watershed contributes to biodiversity. About 5,900 acres are protected land and park land. A portion of the watershed is listed as impair for nutrients and sediments. Piscataway Creek Watershed Piscataway Creek is a tidal tributary of the Middle Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 43, 579 acres. The drainage area is 39. 5 acres. Piscataway creek enters the Potomac river at Fort Washington. Piscataway Creek originates in the west and east of Andrews Air advertize Base (AFB) in the vicinity of Camp Springs, Clinton, and Woodyard.On the southwest side of Andrews AFB, two branches join to human body Tinkers Creek, a major tributary to Piscataway Creek. Surface water flows into Tinkers Creek, to Piscataway Creek, and eventually to the Potomac River. The watershed can be characterized as residential and forested. The density of population is high in the northern region. The source of effectiveness microbial gist is from failing septic sy stems. The southern region is much more forested and agricultural than the northern region, with attack of rural development. Nanjemay Creek WatershedThe Nanjemay Creek Watershed is a Tributary of Lower Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 46, 603 acres. The Nanjemoy Creek watershed is mostly of forest with 90% forested area inwardly speed of light meters of streams. About 10% of land in Charles County is cropland with approximately 2% harvested for corn or sorghum. The extent of potential atrazine exposure to riparian areas of Nanjemoy Creek is minimal. The types of riparian areas in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed are not clarified to atrazine exposure. Therefore, the potential effects to riparian areas and dwarf wedge mussels are insignificant.Gilbert Swamp Watershed The Gilbert Swamp Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 27551 acres. Port Tobacco River Watershed Port Tobacco River is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water area of this watershed is 28076 acres. The Port Tobacco River is approximately eight and a half miles long, originating from St. Charles City and joins the Potomac River. The river has navigable waters rich in fish and wildlife, and safe to visitors who come for swimming, water sports, hunting and fishing.The river is of historic importance because it provided access and residence to the archetypal Maryland settlers. Port Tobacco River Watershed is home to bald eagles, blue and gray herons, osprey, deer, etc and other wildlife. The Port Tobacco River has excessive nutrients and hang up sediments. The water is murky and sub aquatic vegetation is disappearing. Also the mollusk population is greatly reduced. The ecological problems are serious, however the biological condition of the River is considered much worse. Significant cyanoge engagementic algae blooms and fish kills were observed in 2002 and 2003.It was a potential public health hazard c ollectable to the water and sediments of the river and its watershed. Potomac River Middle Lower Tide Watershed The Potomac River estuary extends for 117 miles from its mouth. Lookout on the Maryland side and metalworker Point on the Virginia side, to its head-of-tide located approximately 0. 4 miles upstream of Chain Bridge in the District of Columbia. The surface area of all tidal waters, including Potomac River and the tidal Anacostia River, is about 434 mi2. The Lower Tidal watershed is impaired by nutrients, sediments, toxics, bacteria, and it impacts the biological communities.The Potomac River Middle Tidal watershed is impaired by nutrients, sediments, toxics, metals, Copper, and Lead, and it impacts the biological communities. Zekiah Swamp Watershed The Zekiah Swamp watershed is located in the central Maryland region of the Potomac River tidal estuary. The total non-water area of this watershed is 69,770 acres. The watershed drains south from southern Prince Georges County in Zekiah Swamp Run until it discharges into the Wicomico River at Allens Fresh. The Zekiah Swamp is non-tidal except for the southern-most portion of the watershed near the discharge to the tidal Wicomico River.Zekiah Swamp is impaired by nutrients, suspended sediments, copper, lead, selenium, zinc, and it impacts the biological communities. However, the waters of the Zekiah Swamp watershed has no signs of toxic impairments due to the nutrients. Wicomico River Watershed Wicomico River Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water land covered within this watershed is 69,770 acres. The Wicomico River watershed in Charles and St. Marys counties drains into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. The Wicomico enjoys good water quality and provides healthy finfish and oyster, and fishery for the local economy.The challenge lies in accommodating fruit and change while protecting the traditional lifestyles for the farmers and foresters dependent on the watershed s natural assets. The Wicomico watershed is also home to the Zekiah Swamp, 104 miles of hardwood wetland, viewed as one of the most important ecological areas on the East coast. Breton Bay Watershed Breton Bay watershed is located in Potomac River basin. It has a non-water total area of 34,933 acres. The Breton bay watershed has problems with fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients and sediment.So far no human health issues due to water quality have been reported. Breton Bay watershed is 60% forested, 25% agriculture and 14% developed land. Much of the Breton Bay watershed is covered with inviolable forest, providing habitat for many forest interior dwelling species. It has sub-watersheds Dirict Drainage Breton Bay, Lower MeIntosh River, Glebe Run, Headwaters McIntosh Brooks Run and Brunt poor boy Creek St. Marys River Watershed Wicomico River Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water land covered within this watershed is 45,198 acres.The river is an earth fill em bankment 38 feet high and 1670 feet long. The flood discharge facilities for the dam consist of the monger spillway comprised of a drop inlet spillway and two manually operated sluice gates, and a 300-feet large emergency spillway located adjacent to the right abutment of the dam. Conclusion Water from all the above watersheds uniform Zekiah Swamp, Mattawoman Creek, Port Tobacco River, Potomac River as well as many others eventually enters into Chesapeake Bay carrying with it whatever it picks up along the way.ReferencesAnacostia Watershed Society (1998).Watershed Info. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http//www. anacostiaws. org/About/watershedinfo. html Maryland Department of Natural Resources (2009). Watershed Profiles. Retrived April 5, 2009 from http//mddnr. chesapeakebay. net/wsprofiles/surf/prof/prof. html United States Environmental Protection Agency (2007, September 20). Decision rationale Total Maximum Daily Loads of Fecal Bacteria for the Non-Tidal Piscataway Creek Basin in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http//www. google. com/search? hl=enq=UNITED+STATES+ENVIRONMENTAL+PROTECTION+AGENCYbtnG=Search