BC
DC
Blue Current DC was developed in response to a competition calling for strategies to protect the tidal basin from flooding associated with climate change. The monuments and parks that make up the national mall are vulnerable to storm surge, sea level rise, and flooding from stormwater runoff, but these areas also contain also contains many of our Nation’s treasures. Blue Current DC is a holistic solution comprised of a series of linked strategies that combat climate change and improve the landscape. The design protects along the water’s edge, collects stormwater within the site, directs floodwater away from the system toward the natural waterbodies, and most importantly, connects people to their environment. A large-diameter stormwater pipe, within a flood protection berm, makes up its backbone, winding through the site as a highly visible piece of conveyance infrastructure, providing a base for a bike path along its top. Through its course, the Blue Current takes several forms to address location-specific flood threats, adapting to the existing landscape while bringing additional benefits to the city. The resilient path provides a new route and a new perspective for visitors to the tidal basin. Wetland plants and a naturalized edge provide filtration and enhance the water quality of the Potomac during wet and dry conditions.