She has been passionately advocating for clean water, healthy lands, and safe communities for 15 years. Potomac Conservancy is the region's leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and vibrant communities. Why the river matters what's good for the potomac is good for us. Photo by Peggy McEwan By Peggy McEwan/Potomac Almanac. For the first time in a decade, the Potomac River’s health grade has declined – slipping from a B to a B-. INVEST in clean water and the environment as public health priorities, PROTECT healthy forests and the river’s cleanest tributaries, PLANT streamside trees to capture and filter polluted runoff, DEFEND AND STRENGTHEN laws that protect our waterways at the local, state, and federal levels, PLAN river-friendly communities that safeguard streams, forests, and drinking water sources. Our hometown river is in the middle of a comeback and is cleaner than in decades past, but it remains too polluted for safe swimming or fishing. But tidal water quality in the Potomac looked worse in 2018 and 2019 than in previous years, with less oxygen for aquatic creatures and conditions that were more favorable to … For the first time in a decade, the Potomac River’s health grade has declined – slipping from a B to a B- in Potomac Conservancy’s 2020 Potomac River Report Card.It’s a far cry from when the Conservancy graded the river an abysmal D just ten years ago, but stalled progress could signal a dangerous reversal in course for the river’s health if bold measures are not taken … Potomac Conservancy is the only independent nonprofit that focuses exclusively on the Potomac River. SHARE THE REPORT. For example, there was a notable short-term increase in nutrient and sediment pollution levels in 2018, the same year our region’s experienced record-setting rainfall. "Clean water is a fundamental human right. All rights reserved. The Center for Conservation Biology, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Progress, DC Department of Energy and Environment, US Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program, Hood College, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, James River Association, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Park Service, Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics consortium, National Park Service - National Capital Region, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Chesapeake Bay, Outdoor Industry Association, Potomac Environmental Research & Education Center, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies, US Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and West Virginia Parks. 2020 Events. There are some new “Eyes on the Bay” keeping watch over Mallows Bay on the Potomac River. These threats include, but are not limited to, harmful algal blooms, warming waters, endocrine disrupting compounds, PCBs, aquatic diseases, and others. The Potomac Conservancy, which released the 2020 Potomac River Report Card, ... Water quality in the Potomac’s non-tidal streams and creeks logged a slight improvement, with about half considered healthy. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES contact Melissa Diemand at diemand@potomac.org. Safe-guarding the Nation's River, which provides drinking water to approximately seven million people, is a serious responsibility. © 2021, Potomac Conservancy, Silver Spring, MD. Thank you! It’s a far cry from when the Conservancy graded the river an abysmal D just ten years ago, but stalled progress could signal a dangerous reversal in course for the river’s health if bold measures are not taken to address threats. We thank Richard Batiuk for offering his expertise, outside review, and assessment of our findings. The Potomac Conservancy, which released the 2020 Potomac River Report Card, said more polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas and fewer trees to slow and filter rainfall were among the factors causing the grade to slip. You will receive our next monthly River Update e-newsletter. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Maryland Department of Natural Resources launched a new water quality-monitoring buoy last week, and it’s now offering real-time data to the public and to scientists online. Included are the details about where your water … And our climate crisis is only making rains and storms more intense and harder to manage. Urban polluted runoff continues to increase and is the fastest growing source of pollution in the river, Deluges eroded stream banks and increased sediment pollution, Lower tidal water clarity harmed underwater habitat, Juvenile fish rates for smallmouth bass plummeted, Invasive and predatory blue catfish are quickly invading local waters, threatening native fish, States within the watershed are failing to plant sufficient trees along vulnerable streams and creeks. That’s according to the latest letter grade — a B-minus this year compared with a straight August 27, 2020 DC Water has submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Practicability Assessment for the Potomac River Green Infrastructure (GI) project as required under the terms of the 2016 Amended Consent Decree. Based on data from 2018 and 2019, heavier-than-average rainfall likely played an outsized role in the outcome, too. You’ll receive our next monthly edition of River Update in your email inbox with local clean water news, wildlife stories, and fun - usually free - outdoor events. More details here. The river’s popularity is reaching new highs with greater access points and more people turning to the outdoors for physical and mental well-being during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The construction of the Anacostia River tunnel was completed in 2016 to prevent 96 percent of CSOs in the area from occurring. Thank you! In March 2019, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network launched a laboratory boat dubbed the "Sea Dog", which will be monitoring water quality in the Potomac and providing reports to the public on a weekly basis; in that same month, the catching near Fletcher's Boat House of a Striped Bass estimated to weigh 35 lbs was seen as a further indicator of the continuing improvement in the health of the river. Polluted stormwater runoff from urban and suburban areas continues to climb and is the fastest growing source of pollution to the Potomac River. In this 2015 study, a long-term (43-year) trend analyses were performed on water quality data from 26 stations in West Virginia’s Ambient Water Quality Monitoring (AWQM) Network. The Potomac River Tunnel is part of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project. We all rely on the river for the water we drink, the food that’s grown on its lands, the well-being and peace provided by its natural spaces, and the joys of exploring our region’s plants, … Drinking Water Drinking water source for five million local residents, Trails & Scenery Treasured playground for families, hikers, paddlers, and nature lovers, Diverse wilderness Home to over 1,400 native plants and animals, and 200 globally rare species, Connects Communities Flows 380+ miles through forests, farms, cities, and onto the Chesapeake Bay. Using an established baseline and set of benchmarks, the Conservancy measures restoration progress and assigns the Potomac River a grade. Laurel, MD, November 17, 2020 - WSSC Water is participating in a regional drought exercise coordinated by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. As part of the exercise, water will be released from the Little Seneca drinking water reservoir in Montgomery County over the next few days. Datum of gage is 37.20 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988. All Rights Reserved. Using an established baseline and set of benchmarks, the Conservancy measures restoration progress and assigns the Potomac River a grade. Nutrient pollution from industrial and agricultural sources continue their long-term decline, American shad, bald eagles, and other native wildlife are returning to local waters, More forest and farmland (over 3.5 million acres of total land) is being protected in the region. After a decade of steady improvement, the Potomac River’s progress seems to be plateauing. Testing sites on the Anacostia passed water quality standards 41% of the time in 2020, up from 34% in 2019, while sites on Rock Creek passed 4% of the time in 2020, up from.08%. Potomac Conservancy is the region’s leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities. Our region’s record-setting rainfall in 2018 sent pollution levels soaring with disastrous short-term consequences for the Potomac’s health. A slight increase in … The COVID-19 public health crisis has shed further light on the importance of protecting natural spaces as people across the region flocked to the outdoors this spring and summer to unplug, relax, and recreate. WATER WEDNESDAY: […] Significant challenges, such as highly turbid water and severe weather conditions, prevented a complete mapping of underwater grasses in 2018. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the NPS Acting Director, Region 1 - National Capital Area on March 30, 2020, selecting the construction of the Potomac River Tunnel as the preferred alternative and concluding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Potomac Conservancy’s Potomac River Report Card presents and assesses data on five significant river health indicators: pollution, fish, habitat, land, and people. The overall grade has been weighted to account for non-quantifiable, inaccessible, or outdated data on water quality threats. Based on data from 2018 and 2019, heavier-than-average rainfall likely played an outsized role in the outcome, too. Agricultural pollution remains the single largest source of pollution to the Potomac, but improvements in agricultural land practices have supported its steady decline. Date: April 14, 2020 Contact: Katie Liming, 703-399-4547 The National Park Service (NPS) has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) and approved DC Water’s proposal to move forward with construction of the Potomac River Tunnel project. --Water-stage recorder, crest-stage gage, and concrete control. We’ll keep you updated on local river news, wildlife, and fun outdoor events. Higher-than-average precipitation is making stormwater more difficult to manage. Beginning in summer 2020, a new partnership between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network will create a citizen science monitoring program at Mallows Bay. Chris Lowden: Web Development Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s AWQM sampling stations. While many do not give it a second thought, others wonder about the safety and cleanliness of the water in the Potomac River and its tributaries. Thanks to decades of hard work following the Clean Water Act of 1972, many indicators of the Potomac’s health are trending in the right direction. ). In this critical moment, we must prevent threats from destroying progress by passing stronger water protection laws and investing in natural defenses that will make our communities better prepared for our changing climate. We give a special thanks to Dick and Nancy Raines, The Oak Hill Fund, and our members for their generous charitable support that made this report possible. The region’s leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities. COVID-19 Information. During the summer months, staff at ICPRB field frequent calls from people wanting to know if a favorite spot on their local river or stream is “safe.” With few exceptions, we are unable to … Data are any kind of systematic measurements or information. One of the requirements of the agreement is that every five years a study be conducted to evaluate whether … We all rely on the river for the water we drink, the food that’s grown on its lands, the restaurants and businesses along its shores, and the joys of exploring its streams, trails, and parks. Tidal grass abundance is variable. REMARKS.--Diversions since June 1959. We have had to make adjustments for our water quality monitoring program due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but only so that the important bacteria monitoring we do can safely get done. Corey Tiani, pointpixl llc. Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership. Rapid deforestation and sprawl are stripping the land’s ability to absorb rainwater as streets, parking lots, and rooftops replace natural ground cover. 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