Uncovering the Past and Planning for the Future: Washington, D.C.’s Underground & Piped Stream Mapping Project
April 30, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
PRESENTERS
- Josh Burch, Environmental Protection Specialist, D.C. Department of Energy & Environment
- Joe Arrowsmith, Director of Ecosystem Restoration, Straughan Environmental
ABSTRACT
Over the last 200 years the land area where Washington, D.C. is located has been transformed from a sparsely populated area filled with forests, streams, and farmlands to a thriving city-state with over 700,000 people living and working within its borders. While much is known about the farmlands and forest giving way to housing, buildings, and roadways, very little was known about what happened to the hundreds of miles of streams that meandered through the area. This presentation will cover the origins of the Underground & Piped Stream Mapping Project which created a database of historically mapped streams dating back to 1791, a history of lost streams in D.C., a priority list of streams for daylighting, and concept designs for potential daylighting projects. The Underground & Piped Stream Mapping project was not only a historical research project; rather it was also a planning project for what lies ahead and presenters will share stories about the project and lessons learned from it.
