View source for Washington Channel

{{Infobox river
| name              = Washington Channel
| image             = SW Waterfront, DC.jpg
| image_caption     = View of the Washington Channel from the [[Southwest Waterfront, Washington, D.C.|Southwest Waterfront]]
| source1_location  = [[Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)|Tidal Basin]]
| mouth_location    = [[Anacostia River]] at [[Hains Point]]
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| progression       =
| length            = {{convert|2|mi|km}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|m}}
| mouth_elevation   = {{convert|0|ft|m}}
| discharge1_avg    =
| basin_size        =
| river_system      = [[Potomac River]]
| tributaries_left  =
| tributaries_right =
}}
[[File:The Wharf 2019.jpg|thumb|The Wharf development on Washington Channel in 2019]]

The '''Washington Channel''' is a [[Channel (geography)|channel]] parallel to the [[Potomac River]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] It is located between the [[Southwest Waterfront, Washington, D.C.|Southwest Waterfront]] on the east side and [[East Potomac Park]] on the west side. The channel is {{convert|2|mi|spell=in}} long, receives outflow from the [[Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)|Tidal Basin]] at its north end, and empties into the [[Anacostia River]] at [[Hains Point]] at its south end. The channel's depth ranges from {{convert|8.8|ft|m}} to {{convert|23|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite gnis |id=529389 |name=Washington Channel |access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref><ref name="2010CoastPilot">{{cite book |title=United States Coast Pilot |url=http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot_w.php?book=3 |access-date=May 5, 2010 |edition=43rd |volume=3 |year=2010 |publisher=National Ocean Service |location=Washington, D.C. |page=318}}</ref>

The Washington Channel's east bank is lined with restaurants, inns, and marinas including Washington Marina, Gangplank Marina (the only [[liveaboard]] marina in the District of Columbia), and Capital Yacht Club. The [[Maine Avenue Fish Market]] is situated at the north end of the channel, south of the [[14th Street Bridge (Potomac River)|14th Street Bridge complex]]. The [[Titanic Memorial (Washington, D.C.)|''Titanic'' Memorial]], [[Fort Lesley J. McNair]], the [[National Defense University (Washington, D.C.)|National Defense University]], and James Creek Marina are located near the south end of the channel. As of August 2010, [[USS Sequoia (presidential yacht)|USS ''Sequoia'']]—a former [[:Category:Presidential yachts of the United States|United States presidential yacht]]—is docked at a pier in the Washington Channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sequoiayacht.com/directions.htm |title=U.S.S. Sequoia - Directions |publisher=Sequoia Presidential Yacht Group |access-date=August 10, 2010}}</ref>

==Transfer of responsibility==
[[File:EastPotomacParkAerial1935.jpg|thumb|Aerial view from the south of East Potomac Park and the Washington Channel, ca. 1935.]]
On June 16, 2010, District of Columbia [[Delegate (United States Congress)|Delegate]] [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]] introduced a bill (H.R. 5545) into the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] during the [[111th United States Congress]] that would have transferred responsibility for part of the Washington Channel from the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] to the District.<ref name=H.R.5545>Bill summary and status at [[THOMAS]]: {{USBill|111|HR|5545}}</ref> The House passed the bill on July 20, 2010.<ref name=H.R.5545/> The [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works]] received the bill on the following day.<ref name=H.R.5545/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2010/07/norton_to_lead_debate_on_washington_channel.html |first=Michael |last=Neibauer |title=Norton's SW Waterfront Bill Passes |work=WBJBizBeat |publisher=[[Washington Business Journal]] |date=July 20, 2010 |access-date=August 10, 2010}}</ref>

Norton's bill was part of a larger plan to redevelop the [[Southwest Waterfront, Washington, D.C.|Southwest Waterfront]], some goals of which are "to extend docks and increase maritime activity just a short eyeshot from the U.S. Capitol building."<ref name=H5743>{{USCongRec|2010|H5743|date=July 20, 2010}}.</ref> The [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], the [[United States Navy|Navy]], and the Army Corps of Engineers agreed that this transfer "will not affect navigation interests or adversely affect navigation safety."<ref name=H5743 /> The area under consideration extended from the north end of the Channel to just south of the police pier, totaling {{convert|17.84399|acre|ha}} of water Crossings<ref name=H5743 />  However, the Senate did not pass the legislation.<ref name=H.R.5545 />

Delegate Norton reintroduced the bill into the House of Representatives on February 15, 2011, during the [[112th United States Congress]].<ref>{{USBill|112|HR|723}}: To deauthorize a portion of the project for navigation, Potomac River, Washington Channel, District of Columbia, under the jurisdiction of the Corps of Engineers</ref> The 2011 bill (H.R. 723) was incorporated into H.R. 2297 (To promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes), which became [[Act of Congress#Public law, private law, designation|Public Law]] 112-143 (126 Stat. 990 - 126 Stat. 992) after [[Presidency of Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]] signed it on July 9, 2012.<ref>{{USStatute|112|143|126|990|2012|07|09|HR|2297}}</ref>

{{clear}}

== Crossings ==
* [[Tidal Basin]] Outlet Bridge carrying [[Ohio Drive (Washington, D.C.)|Ohio Drive]]
* Washington Channel Bridge carrying [[14th Street (Washington, D.C.)|14th Street]]/[[U.S. Route 1 in the District of Columbia|U.S. Route 1]]
* [[CSX Transportation]] [[RF&P Subdivision]] rail bridge
* [[Francis Case Memorial Bridge]] carrying [[Interstate 395 (District of Columbia–Virginia)|Interstate 395]]
* [[Washington Metro]] [[Yellow Line (Washington Metro)|Yellow Line]] tunnel

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/12289.shtml NOAA Nautical Chart 12289]
*[http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/geo.shtml?location=8594900 NOAA Tides and Currents – Washington Channel station]

{{Potomac River System}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38|52|16.9|N|77|1|14.9|W|display=title}}

[[Category:Anacostia River]]
[[Category:Chesapeake Bay watershed]]
[[Category:Potomac River watershed]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Channels of the United States]]
[[Category:Southwest (Washington, D.C.)]]