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Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms during peak bloom in mid-March, 2024.
Paul Leoni
April 04, 2024
Rising tides: Protecting D.C.’s cherry blossoms from sea level rise
On any given walk along D.C.’s Tidal Basin or West Potomac Park, a high tide can overtake pedestrian pathways and inundate cherry trees. Here, the city’s iconic cherry blossoms face novel threats from sea level rise, land subsidence, and crumbling sea walls. As part of a $113 million project, the National Park Service will remove 158 cherry trees to rebuild sea walls along the Tidal Basin and Potomac River. While doing so will strengthen flood infrastructure for the next century, cherry trees remain threatened by accelerating sea level rise. This photo essay, a collection of original photographs taken during peak bloom, describes the fate of D.C.’s cherry blossoms along the rising tide.
