Cacapon and Lost River Studies

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin

A photo of a river with the river bottom covered in filamentous algae.

Rim Rock filamentous algae bloom, 2014

ICPRB is working with state and federal agencies to identify the watershed sources of excess nutrients that presently fuel the recurring blooms of plant and algae growth (primary production) in Cacapon River.

Since 2012, WV Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and ICPRB have observed one section of the Cacapon River in West Virginia (“Rim Rock”) that predictably develops an extensive bloom of filamentous algae and/or submerged aquatic vegetation each summer. Large, potentially harmful daily swings in pH and dissolved oxygen inside the bloom have been documented with continuous monitoring probes.

A photo of a river with the river bottom covered in submerged aquatic vegetation.

Rim Rock submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
bloom, 2015

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