Nibi Metrics
Real-time water levels, forecasts, and alerts for lakes and rivers across Canada and the US. Built on official government data.
Nibi Metrics turns raw gauge readings from official hydrometric networks into something a person standing on a dock can actually use: is the water high or low for today, which way is it moving, and how unusual is this? This page explains where every number on the platform comes from and what we do to it along the way.
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Hickey Run at National Arboretum at Washington Water Level
Live river level, flow, historical records and forecast for Hickey Run at National Arboretum at Washington in DC, United States, built from official government gauge data.
- Location DC, United States
- Watershed middle potomac anacostia occoquan
- Primary gauge 01651770 (USGS)
About Hickey Run at National Arboretum at Washington
Hickey Run - A vital stream in the heart of Washington, DC.
Hickey Run flows through the National Arboretum, nestled within the Middle Potomac-Anacostia-Occoquan watershed. This urban stream plays an essential role in the local landscape, providing critical hydrological data and serving as a natural feature within the park's diverse ecosystems.
The watershed context
The Hickey Run drains a catchment area of approximately one square mile, capturing rainfall and stormwater runoff before it continues its journey towards larger waterways like the Anacostia River. Given the Mid-Atlantic's hydrology, winters and springs typically bring rain floods that can significantly influence the flow rates in local rivers and streams. The unique interplay of urban development and natural features around Hickey Run highlights how local rainfall patterns directly affect this waterway's health and behavior.
Nearby water bodies include Accotink Creek and multiple segments of the Anacostia River, each influenced by the same seasonal rhythms that characterize this part of the Mid-Atlantic region. The creek also serves as a gathering point for other local streams and tributaries, taking in vital contributions and ensuring the watershed functions effectively.
Why the data matters here
Today’s reading from the USGS station at Hickey Run provides crucial insights for residents, researchers, and conservationists alike. Understanding the changes in water levels and flow rates can help navigate flood risks, monitor ecological health, and manage recreational opportunities within the Arboretum. Today's observation can be compared against the historical median for this day, which serves as a benchmark to gauge current conditions accurately. The median gives context that raw elevation data alone cannot provide, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of changes over time. With fourteen years of records available, the data offers a reliable view of Hickey Run's dynamics, ensuring all who interact with this waterway can appreciate its significance and respond accordingly.
How this page is built
Readings come from official government gauges and are rolled into daily records: the daily mean, high and low for every day on record. Each calendar day gets its own baseline from the full history, so the level you see is compared against what this specific date usually looks like rather than an annual average.
How Nibi Metrics works · Water stories
