Northeast Branch
The Northeast Branch, which is formed by the confluence of Paint Branch and Indian Creek, is one of two main free-flowing tributaries of the tidal Anacostia River. Its confluence with the Northwest Branch, immediately upstream of the town of Bladensburg, forms the tidal river. The Northwest Branch subwatershed is generally outlined by Greenbelt Road to the north, southern Hyattsville to the south, Annapolis Road to the southeast and east, and Adelphi Road to the west. The subwatershed is located completely in Prince George's County.
Land Uses:
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Residential |
51%
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|
Forest Cover
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26%
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Commercial
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10% |
In the 1950's, the Army Corps of Engineers built a floodplain and levee system along the Northeast and Northwest Branches in order to prevent local communities from flooding during a 100-year storm event. The communities were protected but the river suffered the consequences, being straightened and tree buffers taken away from it. Both the Northeast and Northwest branches suffer from similar problems; extreme shallowness due to an abundance of sediment flowing down from the upper reaches of the watershed, a lack of trees along the shores to provide shade and keep the waters cool, and the lack of sufficient riparian buffers needed to absorb runoff from surrounding communities.
AWS has undertaken a major reforestation effort over the past several years, planting trees and creating a riparian buffer along the Northeast and Northwest Branches. Along with the help of thousands of community members and volunteers, we have planted and maintained over 1,000 trees in the floodplain, thus providing habitat for local wildlife, shading the river, and creating a more natural riparian buffer.
Above & below are a few pictures of Northeast Branch tree planting's events that we have done. If you would like to find out more info on tree planting click here.
