Blog 6

Lily H - April 24, 2025 8:55 am

Hey guys!

This week, unfortunately, I spent less time working hands-on with the river and more time working with the data. Per last week’s goals, I was able to expand my original graph to an entire year’s worth of data and complete a few more at varying locations along the river. I was also able to normalize the data which made it easier to see the correlations.

I’ve narrowed down a couple of graphs that I want to use in my final product and presentation this week. Firstly, I’m hoping to show the varying turbidity levels at different locations along the Anacostia River. Due to the river’s history and other ecological factors, there are sections of the watershed that tend to be more polluted, or that can get polluted easier. The locations I’ve picked out are Hickey Run, Beaverdam Creek, Watts Branch, and Buzzards Point. Secondly, I’m hoping to directly show the effects of extreme flooding on the river. As I mentioned last week, water runoff is a main pollutant of the river. Extreme rain carries pollutants from yards and streets into the river. Furthermore, flooding is growing more common as storm severity increases due to climate change. By highlighting the effects of flooding on the river, I hope to show the effects of climate change on the Anacostia. By completing both of these models, I will be able to fully respond to my initial research question.

Next week, I’m looking forward to participating in the Anacostia Watershed Society’s earth day event which is this Saturday. I highly encourage everyone to attend one, there are a bunch all across the city and it’s going to be super fun! Also, I hope to finish my models, so I can begin working on my final product.

Enjoy below 2 pictures that I took this week. The first is of some pollutant on the river which gives it a sort of rainbow-look, and the second, is of a sunbathing turtle.

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