The Interstate Commission
on the Potomac River Basin
Why was the ICPRB created?
Congress established the ICPRB to help
the federal government and the states that make up the Potomac
Basin cooperatively address water quality and related resource
problems in the Potomac watershed. The compact signatories realized
that the Basin's severe pollution problems could only be addressed
through their cooperative effort. For further information on the
ICPRB's role in the Potomac basin, read the original language
of the ICPRB Compact.
What does the ICPRB do to protect and restore the health
of the Potomac's waters?
ICPRB works in many ways to enhance and protect the waters of
the Potomac Basin. The ICPRB is involved in activities and projects
related to water quality, living resources, water resources and
education and outreach. For more information on our many activities,
see the latest ICPRB Annual Report.
How old is the ICPRB?
The ICPRB was created in 1940. The Commission is among the oldest
of the interstate river basin commissions in the nation.
How are Commissioners chosen?
The ICPRB Commissioners represent the basin
jursidictions: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C.,
West Virginia, and the federal government. They are appointed
by their respective jurisdictions, which have set up their own
rules and regulations for appointment.
How many Commissioners are there?
Each Jurisdiction selects three Commissioners
and three Alternate Commissioners, except for the federal government. The individual Presidential appointees representing the United States are encouraged by ICPRB By-Laws and Rules of Procedures to appoint an alternate. The Alternate Commissioners serve
when one of the Commissioners is unable to serve. For a list of
the Commissioners, click here.
Does the ICPRB have regulatory power?
The short answer is no, it does not. The ICPRB was formed with
the belief that cooperation, rather than regulation is the appropriate
method of achieving its goals. In that spirit, the ICPRB has worked
for more than sixty years to build partnerships between governments,
businesses, non-profits and concerned citizens in order to increase
efficiency, reduce duplication of efforts, and leverage resources
to address Potomac water quality.
Does the ICPRB give grants?
No, at this time the ICPRB does not give grant monies. If you
are interested in grants that are currently available for environmental
efforts in the Potomac Basin, visit our grant
opportunities web page.
When do the Commissioners meet?
Commissioners meet four times a year. For
information on when and where the next meeting will occur, visit
our Calendar of Events
or contact us at 301-984-1908.
Are Commission meetings open to the public?
Yes, Commission meetings are open to the public, but seating
is often limited. If you are interested in attending a Commission
meeting, please call 301-984-1908 or send us an email.
Back to the top
The Water Quality of the Potomac River
Can I swim in the Potomac?
There is no simple answer to this question. People swim in many
areas of the Potomac and its tributaries without incident. Coliform
bacteria levels are used to gage water contact safety, but only
a few areas (designated bathing areas and oyster reefs) are monitored
frequently for these organisms. A good rule of thumb is that bacterial
levels tend to rise immediately after storms and usually fall
a few days afterward. Swimming is prohibited in the waters of
the District of Columbia.
What can I do to help protect and restore the Potomac?
There are many things that a resident of the Potomac Basin can
do to help the waters of the Potomac river. Visit our Get
Involved and What
You Can Do pages to find out more!
What is a TMDL?
TMDL stands for Total Maximum Daily Load, and refers to the maximum
amount of a pollutant that can enter a river, stream, lake, or
estuary and still allow it to meet the water quality standards
set for it by the state and federal government. The TMDL process
is a program of research and planning to restore a stream to meet
water quality standards. TMDLs are necessary when a water body
does not meet standards even after standard pollution control
technology has been installed on all regulated dischargers like
waste water treatment plants. To determine a TMDL, all current
sources of pollutants must be identified, including non-point
sources like storm water or agricultural runoff. Usually, a computer
simulation model is used to explain the link between current pollutant
loads and observed water quality, and to predict how much the
loads need to be reduced in order for the water body to meet water
quality standards.
Back to the top
The Status of Metropolitan Washington Area
Drinking Water Supply
What is the CO-OP?
The Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations of the Interstate
Commission on the Potomac River Basin (CO-OP) was created to coordinate
water supply operation of the three
independent water suppliers in the Washington D.C. Area during
times of drought.
Where does the Washington Metropolitan Area get its water?
The Potomac River is the main source of drinking water for the
Washington metropolitan area, providing about 75 percent of the
water supply to 3.6 million of the area residents. The remaining
25 percent is provided by withdrawals from Patuxent and Occoquan
Reservoirs. During times of drought, releases are made from Jennings
Randolph Reservoir in western Maryland, and Little Seneca Reservoir
in Montgomery County, MD, to ensure adequate Potomac River flows.
The larger Jennings Randolph Reservoir, operated in tandem with
the Savage Reservoir, serves as the metropolitan area's main water
bank. The Jennings Randolph Reservoir is more than 200 miles from
metropolitan area water intakes, and releases take more than a
week to travel downstream during times of low flow. Little Seneca
Reservoir is much smaller and closer to the area's water supply
intakes and can be used to provide more-immediate augmentation
to the river, allowing for more-efficient operation of Jennings
Randolph Reservoir. Water supply storage in both is owned by the
major metropolitan-area water suppliers.
What is the role of the ICPRB during droughts?
The ICPRB works with the area water suppliers (the CO-OP) to
make releases from regional reservoirs to ensure that minimum
environmental flow requirements and water supply withdrawals can
be met. In non drought years, CO-OP works closely with member
utilities to conduct annual drought
preparedness exercises to keep operations crisp.
Are we in a drought?
That is a difficult question to answer because there are different
definitions for "drought" including meteorological (defined
based on the deficit of precipitation), agricultural (defined
based on soil moisture deficit), and hydrological (defined based
on low streamflow), all with different impacts for different groups.
The ICPRB regularly issues a report on the status
of the Potomac water supply and the Washington Council of
Governments also has a drought
related webpage that shows the regional status (watch, warning,
etc.) for the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Is Washington prepared for a serious drought?
The Washington area water suppliers, as a result of significant
investment and planning conducted over 20 years ago, have developed
a robust water supply system. The Washington metropolitan area
could meet water supply demands under a repeat of the most serious
drought of the hydrological streamflow record (1930) with reserve
capacity in the Potomac-supply reservoirs.
What can I do to conserve water?
Water conservation reflects a wise and prudent use of our natural
resources. While there is an adequate water supply, using water
wisely is always a good idea. There are many actions that the
average citizen can take to save water and there are almost as
many webpages dedicated to informing the public about them. The
Washington Council of Governments has a list
of water saving tips as well as links
to other water conservation websites.
Back to the top
The Living Resources of the Potomac River
What fish are found in the Potomac River?
There are more than one hundred sixty species of fish that call the
Potomac Basin home for at least part of their life cycle. Some
are permanent residents, while others migrate seasonally. For
more information on the living resources of the Potomac Basin,
click here.
Where do I go to get a fishing license?
Each state has its own rules on fishing licenses and its own
locations for their purchase. Some states have agreements with
neighboring states and honor out-of-state licenses. For specific
information click on the links below:
 Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West
Virginia
Can I eat the fish that I catch in the Potomac?
That depends where you are and what type of fish you catch. Black
bass, trout, and striped bass are targeted by anglers, along with
catfish, sunfish, and carp. Several areas of the basin are under
fish consumption advisories issued by the Jurisdictions for toxins
found in the tissues of some species:
North
Branch Potomac from Luke, Maryland to the mouth of the North Branch,
and the Potomac River from the mouth of the South Branch to the
mouth of the Cacapon River: Do not eat non-game fish because
of dioxin.
North
and South Forks as well as the main branch of the Shenandoah River:
Avoid eating fish because of PCBs.
Shenandoah
River, West Virginia: Do not eat carp, channel fish or suckers
because of dioxin.
South
Fork of the Shenandoah and South River, Virginia: Consume
no more than eight ounces of any species a week because of mercury.
Pennsylvania
Streams and Rivers: One meal per week of any fish caught in
Pennsylvania state waterways due to mercury.
The
Potomac, Anacostia, Rock Creek and their tributaries in the District
of Columbia: Do not eat carp or catfish. Eat no more than
eight ounces per month of large-mouth bass or eight ounces per
week of sunfish or other fish species because of PCBs and metals.
The
Potomac from DC south to Smith Point, Md., and Chopawamsic and
Powells Creeks, and the Potomac's Quantico Embayment: Consume
no more than one meal per month of American eel, channel catfish
and striped bass, for white catfish eat no more than two meals
per month. Small and largemouth bass should be eaten no more than
eight meals a month for women and children. Avoid consumption
of carp. These advisories are due to PCBs.
What does the ICPRB do to protect and restore the Potomac's
fish populations?
The ICPRB Living Resources staff works tirelessly to protect
and restore the Potomac's wildlife. Field biologists monitor and
assess stream habitat and biota and work to integrate the monitoring
efforts of the various Potomac Basin Jurisdictions. Furthermore,
our biologists have worked in cooperation with other agencies
to eliminate blockages to fish passage and to restore American
shad and river herring populations to previously inaccessible
stream habitat. For more information on the activities of the
ICPRBs Living Resources Section, click
here.
Back to the top
|
