The ICPRB's mission is to enhance, protect, and conserve the water and associated land resources of the Potomac River and its tributaries through regional and interstate cooperation. Considered the "Nation's River," for more than five million basin residents, the river plays an important role in the lives of all. Through regional cooperation and partnerships, ICPRB is protecting the river and improving the quality of life in the watershed, as it has since 1940.

WHERE WE WORK

Groups Work on Shared Stormwater Outreach and Education for Anacostia

Representatives of the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) met this week to begin devising plans to reach out to the public about their role in reducing the impacts of stormwater on the Anancostia watershed. Audra Lew, ICPRB watershed coordinator attended the meeting.

Several members of local groups involved with public outreach outlined existing programs and jurisdiction representatives discussed government initiatives. The COG staff reviewed an analysis of programs highlighting common elements.

Public outreach is a component of federally mandated stormwater mitigation programs required of the jurisdictions.

Going forward, the group will continue its assessment of current resources, their effectiveness, and how they can be enhanced as part of the stormwater mitigation efforts, and how collaboration can bring greater efficiency and effectiveness to the jurisdiction’s outreach programs.

The ICPRB currently is assisting Montgomery County in a range of activities to help engage the public in reducing stormwater impacts.

Calling all photographers! The ICPRB will hold a one-day photography contest on Earth Day, April 22, 2012. First, second, and third place winners will receive prizes! Photos must be taken between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on April 22, 2012 to qualify. Contest rules and model releases are available. Entry forms will be available via the ICPRB website on April 21. For more information or if you have questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ICPRB hosted an informal gathering of local professionals from the District of Columbia Department of the Environment, the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, and Blue Water Baltimore.  These individuals currently assist homeowners with stormwater management on private property. The attendees discussed similarities, differences and future plans concerning their programs and agreed to collaborate on future endeavors where possible.  Perhaps such collaborations throughout the basin will lead to an increase in the decrease of stormwater runoff from private property. Reductions of stormwater on private property will be a significant part of Watershed Implementation Plans being developed by local governments to meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. For information on the programs offered, please visit the ICPRB website's program page.

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A Little Silver Lining About the Inter-County Connector

The status of the naturally reproducing brown trout population in headwaters tributaries to Paint Branch, the highest quality stream in the Anacostia system was one of the subjects at a recent meeting of the Anacostia Watershed Management Committee. The trout are the only self-sustaining population within the Capital Beltway. Read more...

Potomac Watershed Trash Summit Plans for Cleaner Potomac.

This is one of the ads developed by the Trash Free Potomac Initiative led by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. A major focus for the group (ICPRB is a member) is to change people's attitudes and behaviors about litter. The Initiative is ongoing, and hopes to become a much stronger presence in the region. For more information on the intitative and spring river cleanups, visit www.fergusonfoundation.org.

The ICPRB is a non-regulatory agency of the Potomac basin jurisdictions: the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the federal government. Learn More...

Rain barrel season is over for 2011. Please remember to disconnect your barrels and store them for the winter. If you're interested in purchasing a rain barrel and attending one of our free workshops in 2012, registration is available on our rain barrel page. You can also find frequently asked questions, workshop dates, and even information about rebates in different jurisdictions on the rain barrel page.

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