When it rains, it pours. Last Saturday’s torrential rain left clear evidence of flooding and erosion in our local streams, and the storms that have followed since have done still more damage.
Today I again went walking through Soapstone Creek, and the crossings are now unrecognizable. This photo is of a sewer cover unmoored by the water.
And where the creek meets Broad Branch Road, a tree trunk is stuck in the culvert and there are more signs the creek jumped its bank and flooded the roadway, though the debris has been cleared.
I have not seen such impact since Superstorm Sandy, and even Sandy did not move such large rocks.
I will be contacting DC Water about the sewer cover and the tree in the culvert.
More photos of the more recent storm damage:
I give Broad Branch Rd another 2 big storms before it's washed out, Klingle-style. And decades before it's redone (for cars or bikes). pic.twitter.com/2vYBxpePzU
— Martin Austermuhle (@maustermuhle) August 15, 2017
And by the way, the Washington Post says all this rain is definitely not normal.
Mary Beth Ray says
Marlene, thanks for this important coverage. This damage really highlights our need to pursue Low Impact Development (LID) changes along our Conn. Ave. corridor, as outlined in the Office of Planning’s study Shades of Green. Curious to hear how many others had flooded basements or other water damage yesterday.
Marlene Berlin says
Yes, with Low Impact Development, we will be able to capture much more of the water run off that now goes into Soap Stone Creek. due to the tremendous amount of impervious surfaces on Connecticut Avenue .Time to dust off this plan and move forward toward implementation..