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As someone who lives in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, I have grown up witnessing floods and the damages they have caused. I want the city to be able to construct flood remediation without severely harming the environment and while also considering how the process and result of the remediation will affect Alexandria citizens.

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Old Town Waterfront Flood (September 2018)

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Old Town Waterfront Flood (September 2018)

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Because of Alexandria's location on the Potomac River, combined with its moderately high, rising total precipitation rate, the city has had a history of excessive flooding. Despite previous experience with these floods, Alexandria city council has recently underestimated the amount of annual rainfall and, therefore, the amount of flooding preparation required to prevent damage to the city. When colonists first settled in the area that is now Alexandria City, there was a bluff preventing citizens from utilizing the river for resources and transportation. In the mid 1800s, excavation occurred to allow easier access to the river. But now, as a result of housing and that part of the city being situated lower, flooding is a higher risk.

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Flooding further away from the Waterfront (July 2019)

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Flooding further away from the Waterfront (July 2019)

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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View from inside of the raised floodgates

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View from inside of the raised floodgates

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Overview of Georgetown Raised Floodgates

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Overview of Georgetown Raised Floodgates

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My main idea for a solution, which I think would fit well into Old Town Alexandria's environment, is inspired by the city of Georgetown just up the Potomac River. Maneuverable floodgates were installed to protect Georgetown from flooding in the late 1980s and have been used successfully many times since. Although the installation of these floodgates to Alexandria would not be an easy, cheap, or timely project, I believe it could accomplished in sections in order to reduce the amount of disruption from the construction. Additionally, the new design of the Old Town Waterfront and Georgetown's Washington Harbour are built very similarly. Floodgates can be put down to allow enjoyment of the river for a majority of the time, and can be slid up prior to heavy rain and storms. This could easily prevent the cost of damages caused by the multiple floods per year.

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Flooding, like many other issues in the world, is something that will always need to be considered and will always require new solutions and technology. Flooding relies on rain, and over time weather patterns change. My prediction is that overtime flooding will continue to get worse, but for now, the use of floodgates should contain flood water for at least the next couple of decades. Solving environmental problems is ongoing and never ending because anything related to the environment is not going to be constant. Despite this challenge, it is important to continue to strive for the best possible ways to keep these issues under control and create the best possible environment for people to live and thrive in.

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City of Alexandria Virginia. www.alexandriava.gov/historic/archaeology/default.aspx?id=107554. Accessed 16 June 2021.

Historic District. historicdc.com/2011/04/22/floodgate/. Accessed 16 June 2021.

Moore, Susannah. "Flooding in Alexandria: A Scramble to Avoid Becoming the Next Ellicott City." Alexandria Living, alexandrialivingmagazine.com/news/flooding-in-alexandria-development-maintenance-stormwater-2020/#:~:text=Flooding%20in%20Alexandria%20in%20July%202019.&text=This%20year%2C%20a%20storm%20on,storms%20are%20still%20in%20progress. Accessed 15 June 2021.

"What Are the Consequences of Floods?" Queensland Government, 12 June 2018, www.chiefscientist.qld.gov.au/publications/understanding-floods/flood-consequences. Accessed 15 June 2021.

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Consequences of flooding depend entirely on the location and severity of the floods. Alexandria floods typically do no result in injury or harm to people, however, they do negatively impact many other aspects of the city. Including...
- damages to historic buildings, local businesses, and residencies
- negative affects to public transportation
- disruptions to normal life caused by closed roads, businesses etc.
All of these consequences ultimately lead to an enormous amount of costs required to repair all of the damages. While the city prepares for some of these, floods in Alexandria come quite often and many buildings, especially historic ones dating back to the Colonial Era, cannot withstand the frequency and severity of these floods.