The District of Columbia has three major rivers, the Potomac River, the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown.

The Potomac River, flowing through Washington, D.C., has been called one of the wildest urban rivers in the Nation It is often referred to as the "Nation's River," because it flows through the nation's capital, where the magnificent monuments of the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln memorials are reflected in its waters. It is one of the most beautiful and bountiful rivers on the East Coast and is known for its historic, scenic and recreational significance.

The Anacostia River flows from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC to its mouth at the Potomac River near downtown Washington. Its watershed encompasses 176 square miles and contains 13 sub watersheds in southeast Washington, DC and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.

Rock Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via Chesapeake Bay. The creek rises from a spring near Laytonsville in Montgomery County, Maryland, and joins Georgetown and the Watergate in Washington, D.C.

Rivers of District of Columbia

Potomac River

Anacostia River

Rock Creek