Tidal Potomac River

Given that creating a blog and posting information on it was my first ever experience, what I have in mind for the end of the semester is to maintain this blog, which I believe that it stands on its own as a great thing as a reference tool for future situations where I am asked to present work samples or type of research I have done. Finding really amazing information about flooding was very impressive to me that made me willing to keep my blog going, through adding flooding data over time. I believe that it is a great idea to be able to share any interesting information that I might explore and learn with others on my personal blog. Specifically with knowing the fact that some of those recent floods were among the most significant in history, I would like to look more at interesting history behind Four Mile Run. Moreover, the other idea that I would like to consider is becoming an editor on Wikipedia which allows me to update the previously existing Wikipedia page once in a while...

USDA's Web Soil Survey Online : Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world. I defined an area boundary of Lubber Run watershed, as a part of bigger Four Mile Run watershed, as my area of interest on the map. The soil map section bellow includes the soil map for the defined area of interest, a list of soil map units on the map and extent of each map unit, and cartographic symbols displayed on the map. Also presented are various metadata about data used to produce the map, and a description of each soil map unit. By exploring the soil data tab, I found the map of flooding frequency which shows the temporary inundation of an area caused by overflowing streams, by runoff from adjacent slopes, or by tides. In this map frequency is expressed as none meaning that the...

Significant Trees in Four Mile Run Watershed-Virginia

English Ivy, Hedera helix L. Ginseng family (Araliaceae) Native Range: Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa   One of the most popular ground covers in North America, English Ivy, this non-native climbing vine was introduced by early European colonists. Its vigorous growth creates an “ivy desert” as it chokes out other plants on the ground, and it poses a threat to both buildings and trees as it grows up vertical surfaces. The plant is reported as invasive throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region, including Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, and also currently identified in the Four Mile Run stream corridor. Identification Tips Woody, evergreen, perennial vine, trailing or climbing Leaves on non-flowering stems (juvenile stage): dull green, lobed, with distinct light veins; stems produce roots at nodes; most common leaf type on plant Leaves on flowering stems (mature stage): glossy green, unlobed; stems produce umbrella-like clusters of greenish flowers, followed by da...

Water Quality Monitoring is defined by the ISO as "The programmed process of sampling, measurement and subsequent recording or signaling, or both, of various water characteristics, often with the aim of assessing conformity to specified objectives". These processes will usually fall into one or more of the following four categories: Identifying changes or trends in water quality over a period of time. Identifying specific water quality problems. Collecting data to aid with the design of pollution prevention systems. Determining whether water quality is in compliance with regulations and controls.

Threats to the Potomac Watershed Residential Oil Tanks Without proper care, old and rusted heating old tanks can cause costly leaks and spills. Underground tanks are especially problematic because they can leak for years without notice. Large toxic spills may get all the media-fueled attention, but these silent, slow leaks add up to one major environmental problem for the Potomac River basin and its residents. (ICPRB Website)

    Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) Website: https://www.potomacriver.org/

Location Four Mile Run flows through residential areas as well as urban corridors in south and western Arlington. Four Mile Run is the largest stream flowing through Arlington, draining approximately two-thirds of the County.

Flood Data Four Mile Run is a direct tributary of the Potomac River. The Potomac River Basin cradles the Four Mile Run watershed and ultimately drains it to the Chesapeake Bay. Four Mile Run rises in Fairfax County and flows downstream through the City of Falls Church and on to Arlington County. The final 2.3 miles of the run, before it opens to the Potomac River, are contained in a flood control channel designed in the early 1970s by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Although a USGS monitoring station within the Lubber Run and Doctor’s Branch watersheds could not be located, the USGS 1652500 gaging station on Four Mile Run located at the Shirlington Road Bridge has collected stream flow data since 1951.

This table is my initial list of trees and plants that I am going to study on my watersheds.  

Since my focus has been in landscape architecture and urban planning, it is interesting to me to study an urban watershed in a very well planned community, in terms of planning building of hundreds of years of history that they seem to do it well. Arlington County is one of those urban communities that I found out. Four Mile Run stream is a nine-mile long stream, a direct tributary of the Potomac river, located in a highly urbanized area in Northern Virginia with several tributaries.