Enchanting Washington cherry blossoms are at peak, but...
Associated Press
The 107-acre man-made reservoir borders the Jefferson Memorial and is home to the highest concentration of cherry blossom trees. (Photo | AP)Decades of wear and tear from foot traffic, combined with rising sea levels and a deteriorating sea wall, have created a chronic flooding problem in the Tidal Basin. (Photo | AP)The National Park Service, along with the Trust for the National Mall and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is undertaking a campaign to save the Tidal Basin. (Photo | AP)In addition to rebuilding the battered sea wall and addressing the flooding problem, the groups want to improve walkways and update security systems. (Photo | AP)The higher silt concentration of the floodwaters is shortening the life span of the hundreds of cherry blossom trees that ring the basin. (Photo | AP)Early estimates are that the rehabilitation project would require as much as $500 million, with organizers seeking a combination of government money and private donations.(Photo | AP)Even without the worsening flooding problem, Kenneally said the entire network of sidewalks and pathways needs to be expanded to accommodate the modern visitor numbers.(Photo | AP)
