Dickerson Whitewater Course (and Dickerson Power Plant Discharge Channel)

From Mike High's The C&O Canal Companion:

A "screen-house" on the Potomac takes in 300,000 gallons of water a minute, most of which is used to cool the steam pipes. The heated water is returned to the Potomac through a 900-foot discharge channel...In 1991, PEPCO contributed to the U.S. Olympic effort by helping place 75 "obstacles," some weighing as much as 17 tons, to simulate whitewater river conditions.

From www.usoc.org:

Dickerson is one of the premier whitewater courses in America, and provides spectators with a great view of the paddling action all along the slalom race course. Paddlers themselves will be challenged by the continuous and challenging artificial whitewater from start to finish. One of the best features of Dickerson is its proximity to downtown Washington, DC, as it is a short drive for spectators and fans.

For decades, many of the United States' top paddlers and Olympic athletes call the Washington, DC area their home, and the Dickerson Whitewater Course is one of their favorite places to train. The Bethesda Center of Excellence, who is hosting the event, is a USA Canoe & Kayak Training Center, and should provide a great National Championships experience for all who attend!