During inclement weather, circumstances are even worse as the edge of the sidewalk is indistinguishable from the deeper waters in the basin. Twice each day at high tide, water floods the sidewalks surrounding the Tidal Basin, making them impassable for visitors, impacting infrastructure, and compromising the roots of the cherry trees. That system no longer works today as the gates are silted shut.ĭespite the gate system designed to protect it, the Tidal Basin is sinking due to the silt and water of the Potomac Flats. At low tide, the water exited into the Washington Channel, and the rush of water was designed to sweep the leftover sediment away. The Tidal Basin was originally designed as a solution to flooding in the late 19th Century.Īt high tide, the gates of the Tidal Basin were designed to open and fill the basin with water. To ensure the National Mall Tidal Basin can meet the demands of a changing landscape, the public, and modern safety and accessibility needs, we need a bold, creative, and integrated approach respectful of the symbolism and history of this significant place. This cherished and deeply symbolic place is at a pivotal moment, as subsidence, daily flooding, increasing visitation, and crumbling infrastructure threaten its long-term sustainability.

As part of “America’s front yard,” it is home to some of the most iconic landmarks and traditions in the nation’s capital, including memorials to Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the beloved cherry trees. The National Mall Tidal Basin is an extraordinary public space that plays an important role in crafting the collective memory and legacy of United States history. The Tidal Basin: An Endangered National Treasure

Tidal basin cherry trees