The storms that rolled through the area late on Monday, July 6th and early the next morning produced quite a light show. They also pummeled the region with rain. Trees fell, thousands lost power, roads flooded and Metro suspended service between Van Ness and Dupont Circle as water poured into the Cleveland Park and Woodley Park stations.
Soapstone Creek got an extended dose of the deluge.
The Soapstone stormwater sewershed.
Some of the runoff from the surrounding area flows directly into the Soapstone Valley. But most of the rain that lands on neighborhood roofs, driveways, sidewalks and streets is directed into gutters and then, storm sewer pipes. The water careens through this system and bursts through outfalls into Soapstone Creek. During this journey, the stormwater picks up pollutants and erodes the creek banks. The rush of stormwater also pushes tree branches against the culvert under Broad Branch Road, which causes the creek to jump its banks here and further erode the road.
Branches blocking the culvert where Soapstone Creek meets Broad Branch Stream.
Where Soapstone Creek jumped its banks.
The widely-used Soapstone Valley trail takes a regular beating. The Linnean storm sewer outfall has forged a new path to the stream and blasted away at the trail at this spot.
And the stepping stone crossing closest to Broad Branch Road has disappeared for the most part.
Picturesque, yes, but there’s supposed to be a crossing here.
When it gets under way in two years, the massive Soapstone Valley sewer rehabilitation project will mostly address problems with the separate – and century-old – sanitary sewers running through the park. But it will also address and repair the stormwater erosion.
But in the meantime, storms like these cost time, labor and money to repair. Mitch Baer and JoAnn Shaner, volunteer Soapstone trail supervisors for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, have their work cut out for them after summer storms.
DC Water is responsible for keeping the culverts clear. Clean River charges on our water bill pay for this work, which is part of maintaining our stormwater system. And DDOT, supported by our taxes, maintains the Broad Branch roadbed that is regularly degraded by such flooding.
Barbara Kraft says
Thanks so much for this! I like being reminded of what my Clean River charges pay for! Barbara on Upton.
PW says
Yes, great job in showing this info and pix – beautiful but sad damage and loss (i.e. stepping stones).
We’ll see what the rehab work does – how long it takes and what it’ll end up costing us…
Let’s hope they do a great job…
Green Eyeshades says
Marlene, thank you very much for the map of the “Soapstone Valley” watershed. You broke new ground with that. DDOT, DOEE and NPS need to address stormwater runoff in that entire watershed, not just in the valley floor where the creek flows. It is surprising how far west and north and south the watershed extends. It goes all the way west to Wisconsin, and there is even a section in the lower left corner that extends west beyond Wisconsin. It even runs off the map to the south in that corner.
This watershed must cover hundreds of acres. I don’t know of any significant “Green Infrastructure” in this watershed. The “daylighted” streams east of Fessenden and running along Broad Branch Road east of Linnean are NOT in the Soapstone Valley “subwatershed” so we don’t get “credit” for that Green Infrastructure. Both Wilson High School (entirely) and Murch Elementary (partially) are in the Soapstone watershed. Perhaps Murch has a rain garden or two that could qualify as Green Infrastructure, and there is that mystery patch south of the Wilson pool that might be GI, but most of the DCPS property in the Soapstone watershed appears to be making stormwater runoff worse.
Alex says
Agreed that much needs to be in the Soapstone Valley subwatershed. DOEE has invested quite a bit in GI on the UDC campus, and at least one of the multi-family buildings in the Van Ness complex has installed some GI. DDOT’s Green Alleys program is active too. NPS is the recipient of the stormwater, rather than the initiator. By the time the runoff gets to NPS property, it is too late.
The big shift must be on private lands- single family residential, apartments and condos, and commercial properties. That’s where the acreage is in this watershed. Marlene has written about the RiverSmart Homes program, and I hope more property owners will sign up for the free audit and install GI. It’s our best hope to reduce runoff.