Pohick Creek forms in the vicinity of Burke and flows southeast past the western edge of Fort Belvoir to empty into the tidal Pohick Bay, which itself empties, along with Accotink Bay, into Gunston Cove, an embayment of the tidal Potomac River. Pohick Creek is a popular stream for whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling, providing Class II and III rapids along a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) stretch between Hooes Road (Virginia Secondary Route 636) and the Richmond Highway (U.S. Route 1) at Lorton.
Several tributaries of the Pohick Creek are impounded by dams constructed under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to prevent soil erosion and flooding. Originally eight dams were planned, but from 1970 to 1985, only six were actually built.
Lake Braddock (Pohick #7) was the first dam built in 1970, and impounds the Pohick Creek in Burke.
Huntsman Lake (Pohick #8) was built in 1973, and impounds the Middle Run in Springfield.
Lake Royal (Pohick #4) was completed in 1977, and impounds the Rabbit Branch in Burke above its confluence with the Sideburn Branch, where it forms Pohick Creek.
Lake Barton (Pohick #2) completed in 1978, impounds a tributary of the Sideburn Branch in Burke.
Woodglen Lake (Pohick #3), which impounds the Sideburn Branch in Fairfax, was completed in 1981.
Lake Mercer (Pohick #1) became in 1985 the final dam completed, impounding the South Run in Springfield.
Pohick Creek drains 32.21 square miles (83.4 km2) of area, receives about 43.5 in/year of precipitation, has a topographic wetness index of 409.88 and is about 31.0% forested.[4]
Course of Pohick Creek (Potomac River tributary)Watershed of Pohick Creek (Potomac River tributary)Converted Liberty ship Sturgis with MH-1A nuclear power reactor, in Gunston Cove, 1967.
Referencesedit
^ ab"GNIS Detail - Pohick Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^ abc"Pohick Creek Topo Map, Fairfax County VA (Fort Belvoir Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^"ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^ abc"Watershed Report | Office of Water | US EPA". watersgeo.epa.gov. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed August 15, 2011
April 12, 2024
pohick, creek, mile, long, tributary, stream, potomac, river, fairfax, county, state, virginia, takes, name, from, pohick, native, american, tribe, once, prevalent, area, tributary, potomac, riverlocation, mouthshow, virginia, united, states, show, united, sta. Pohick Creek is a 14 0 mile long 22 5 km 5 tributary stream of the Potomac River in Fairfax County in the U S state of Virginia It takes its name from the Pohick Native American tribe once prevalent in the area Pohick CreekTributary to Potomac RiverLocation of Pohick Creek mouthShow map of VirginiaPohick Creek the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationCountryUnited StatesStateVirginiaCountyFairfaxPhysical characteristicsSourceconfluence of Rabbit Branch and Sideburn Branch locationFairfax Virginia coordinates38 47 52 N 077 17 04 W 38 79778 N 77 28444 W 38 79778 77 28444 1 elevation262 ft 80 m 2 MouthPotomac River Pohick Bay locationabout 0 5 miles north of Springfield Farms Virginia coordinates38 41 07 N 077 11 12 W 38 68528 N 77 18667 W 38 68528 77 18667 1 elevation0 ft 0 m 2 Length14 32 mi 23 05 km 3 Basin size32 21 square miles 83 4 km2 4 Discharge locationPotomac River Pohick Bay average41 20 cu ft s 1 167 m3 s at mouth with Potomac River 4 Basin featuresProgressionsoutheastRiver systemPotomac RiverTributaries leftRabbit Branch rightSideburn BranchMiddle RunSouth RunRocky BranchWaterbodiesLake RoyalBridgesCommonwealth Boulevard Guinea Road Burke Lake Road Old Keene Mill Road VA 286 Pohick Road I 95 Lorton Road US 1 Old Colchester RoadOne of many crossings of the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail over Pohick Creek in Newington VirginiaPohick Creek forms in the vicinity of Burke and flows southeast past the western edge of Fort Belvoir to empty into the tidal Pohick Bay which itself empties along with Accotink Bay into Gunston Cove an embayment of the tidal Potomac River Pohick Creek is a popular stream for whitewater kayaking rafting and paddling providing Class II and III rapids along a 5 5 mile 8 9 km stretch between Hooes Road Virginia Secondary Route 636 and the Richmond Highway U S Route 1 at Lorton Several tributaries of the Pohick Creek are impounded by dams constructed under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to prevent soil erosion and flooding Originally eight dams were planned but from 1970 to 1985 only six were actually built Lake Braddock Pohick 7 was the first dam built in 1970 and impounds the Pohick Creek in Burke Huntsman Lake Pohick 8 was built in 1973 and impounds the Middle Run in Springfield Lake Royal Pohick 4 was completed in 1977 and impounds the Rabbit Branch in Burke above its confluence with the Sideburn Branch where it forms Pohick Creek Lake Barton Pohick 2 completed in 1978 impounds a tributary of the Sideburn Branch in Burke Woodglen Lake Pohick 3 which impounds the Sideburn Branch in Fairfax was completed in 1981 Lake Mercer Pohick 1 became in 1985 the final dam completed impounding the South Run in Springfield Contents 1 Variant names 2 Course 3 Watershed 4 See also 5 Maps 6 ReferencesVariant names editThe following variant names have been listed on the Geographic Names Information System by the United States Geological Survey North West Branch Poehick Creeke Poheick Creek West BranchCourse editPohick Creek forms at the confluence of Rabbit Branch and Sideburn Branch in Burke Virginia Pohick Creek Creek then flows southeast forming the border between Burke and West Springfield After crossing the Fairfax County Parkway it enters Newington and descends into a gorge where the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail follows the creek crossing it eight times It then passes into Lorton and crosses Interstate 95 the CSX RF amp P Subdivision and U S Route 1 It then meets the Potomac River in Pohick Bay about 0 5 miles north of Springfield Farms 2 Watershed editPohick Creek drains 32 21 square miles 83 4 km2 of area receives about 43 5 in year of precipitation has a topographic wetness index of 409 88 and is about 31 0 forested 4 See also editAccotink Bay Wildlife Refuge List of rivers of Virginia Pohick Church Pohick Virginia SM 1 closed nuclear power plant on Fort Belvoir MH 1A floating nuclear power plantMaps edit nbsp Course of Pohick Creek Potomac River tributary nbsp Watershed of Pohick Creek Potomac River tributary nbsp Converted Liberty ship Sturgis with MH 1A nuclear power reactor in Gunston Cove 1967 References edit a b GNIS Detail Pohick Creek geonames usgs gov US Geological Survey Retrieved 11 March 2020 a b c Pohick Creek Topo Map Fairfax County VA Fort Belvoir Area TopoZone Locality LLC Retrieved 11 March 2020 ArcGIS Web Application epa maps arcgis com US EPA Retrieved 11 March 2020 a b c Watershed Report Office of Water US EPA watersgeo epa gov Retrieved 11 March 2020 U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map accessed August 15 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pohick Creek amp oldid 1213353220, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
