ICPRB is hiring, Drought Warning in Virginia, Winter Salt Week events next week, and more in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>>

River report: DEQ declares Drought Warning

In a recent press release, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a drought warning advisory for 22 counties and 13 cities, including the entirety of Northern Virginia and Shenandoah regions. According to the press release, a drought warning advisory is intended to increase awareness that the onset of a significant drought event is imminent. All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.

VA DEQ Drought Advisory map (updated Jan. 13, 2026)

In a similar vein, the U.S. Drought Monitor Map released today shows the entirety of the Potomac basin in Severe (88.8%) or Moderate (11.2%) Drought conditions.

🌊 Flow at the USGS Point of Rocks gage was most recently estimated at 3770 cubic feet per second—higher than last week, but still much below normal for this time of year.

🔮The next 3 days may see up to 0.1 inches of rain across the basin, according to the National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center’s forecast.

U.S. Drought Monitor map with data as of Jan. 13, 2026.

ICPRB is Hiring: Director of Administration and Finance

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) seeks an enthusiastic, detail-oriented and collaborative individual to lead the Administrative and Finance team.

The Director of Administration and Finance is a senior management position of ICPRB. The position directs daily administrative, financial and information technology activities of the organization. A CPA certification is required. Applications are due by January 23, 2026.

Learn more about the job and how to apply >>>

From sidewalks to streams: Winter Salt Week raises awareness on winter salt pollution

Our waterways are becoming saltier. Join ICPRB and our partners for a series of events in celebration of Winter Salt Week to raise awareness around salt pollution and reduction solutions. There are also nationwide events for Winter Salt Week, which runs from January 26-30, with livestreams from experts across the country each day.

Webinar: Safe Sidewalks, Clean Water for Residents

January 21 | 1 – 1:30 pm

This webinar explains how winter salt impacts our environment, why it’s a growing regional concern, and the simple steps you can take at home—before, during, and after storms—to apply just the right amount of salt to maintain safety in the winter. Audience: general public

Webinar: Community Winter Salt Management

January 23 | 1 – 1:30 pm

Gain best practices and resources for efficient winter salt use, contractor coordination, and strategies to reduce environmental damage while maintaining profitability and setting winter maintenance expectations. Audience: HOAs, property managers, community associations, maintenance teams, etc.

Movie Night: Pollution in the Potomac

January 22 | 5 – 8 pm | Frederick, MD

What’s the current state of water quality in the Potomac River? What are PFAS chemicals and how do they impact our water? How does road salt fit into the pollution story, and what can we all do to make a difference? Learn about these topics and more, catch a screening of the World’s Most Scenic River Journeys episode on the Potomac River, and mingle with ICPRB, the Potomac Riverkeepers and the City of Frederick Sustainability Department.

In-Person event: DMV Winter Salt Week Open House

January 31 | 10am-1pm | Gaithersburg, MD

Learn how salt affects our health and freshwater ecosystems, what’s being done, and how we can support local efforts to reduce road salt use. During the event we will hear from regional expert speakers, monitor the local waterways in Gaithersburg, Maryland for road salt pollution, and learn how much salt is needed to keep us safe during the winter while keeping environmental health in mind. Audience: general public, watershed organizations, and media.

Bone-dry and bone-chilling: The Halloween River Report

Due to current conditions, we are reviving the weekly River Report. Each week we’ll provide a summary of drought conditions across the region.

The DC metro region has not had rain in 29 days. The region’s record dry streak (from 2007) is 34 days.  At this time, no appreciable rainfall is expected over the next 7 days. The extended dry conditions have increased the area of Moderate Drought Conditions (D1) in the Potomac River watershed by almost 30% since last week.

ICPRB staff is monitoring the river’s flow and keeping in contact with the region’s stakeholders. Due to low flow conditions, it is expected that ICPRB will begin Drought Monitoring any day now. During active Drought Monitoring, staff in ICPRB’s CO-OP Section provide daily emails with river flow, weather forecasts, and water withdrawal information to downstream water utilities and government agencies. This information helps water utilities in their daily operations planning. If we do initiative Drought Monitoring, you can follow the conversation on social media using #droughtmonitoring.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Drought Coordination Technical Committee will be meeting tomorrow (Nov. 1) to review current water supply and drought conditions and discuss the possibility of lifting the current Drought Watch declared this summer.

On a positive note, the upstream drinking water reservoirs are nearly full. These reservoirs would be used to supplement downstream flow in the case of a severe drought. The region is well protected from water supply shortages due to years of planning and preparation.

National influence with a local perspective

Congratulations to Dr. Heidi Moltz, ICPRB’s director of program operations, on wrapping up her tenure as 2024 chair of the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP). This is a national organization that provides a voice for regional, state, and local water resources agencies and entities regarding diverse water policy issues that affect real-world decisions. Dr. Moltz used her time on the board bolstering the next generation of water resource professionals through the ICWP internship program, elevating the discussions on water resources at a DC Roundtable and the Annual Meeting, updating ICWP’s principle statements on drought planning and resilience, and more.

Learn more about ICWP’s 2024 accomplishments >>>

Through involvement with ICWP and similar organizations, ICPRB staff are leading discussions on water resources and policy in the Potomac basin and beyond.

MDE asking for public input on North Branch Use Class

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is holding a hearing on December 2, 2024, for public input on the proposed changes to the Existing Use determinations for roughly 11 miles of the the mainstem North Branch Potomac River between Westernport, MD to Rawlings, MD. The proposed changes, if approved, will provide regulatory protections by changing the reach from a Warm Water use (Class I) to a Cold Water Use Class III or IV.

Review the MDE notice for more information on use class details, how to attend the meeting, and how to provide comment >>>

ICPRB’s report on economic consequences to water supply disruption, Fred Co proposes reigning in data centers, DC’s official amphibian, and more, in today’s Potomac News Reservoir – September 26, 2024 >>>

NEWS RELEASE: New Report Exposes Alarming Economic Impacts on DC Region if Faced with Water Supply Disruption

On Tuesday, ICPRB held a press conference to unveil a new report highlighting the significant and dire financial consequences facing the Washington, D.C., region in the event of a disruption to the area’s water supply.

ICPRB’s Executive Director Michael Nardolilli opened the press conference with a quote from Ben Franklin, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

In just one month, a significant disruption from threats like infrastructure failures or natural disasters in D.C.’s water supply could result in a loss of $15 billion in gross regional product and hundreds of millions in tax losses, according to the report, “The Economic and Fiscal Costs of Water Supply Disruption to the National Capital Region.”

During the press conference, ICPRB, along with officials from the Greater Washington Board of Trade, DC Water, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the American Business Water Coalition, called for Congressional action to fund crucial infrastructure projects to ensure greater resiliency in the D.C. region’s water supply and safeguard the health and safety of both the public and the economy.

“The Potomac River is the single source of drinking water for D.C. and provides water for roughly five million people in the region,” said ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli. “It is integral to the functioning of the nation’s capital. This report clearly shows that any disruption to the water supply would have catastrophic economic consequences for the region, especially for the most vulnerable residents of our nation’s capital. Securing the resilience of our water infrastructure is not just a priority, it’s a necessity.”

Learn more and read the entire report >>>

River Report – ICPRB Discontinues Daily Drought Monitoring

ICPRB ceased daily Drought Monitoring last Saturday due to increased river flows and rain in the forecast.

Today’s U.S. Drought Monitor map sees a slight increase in Extreme Drought over last week but drought conditions improved in the southern part of the watershed.

NOAA’s National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) is predicting the remnants of Hurricane Helene will drop some rain across the western part of the basin which will increase river flows and bring some badly-needed moisture to the area.

When it rains, it pours. MARFC is calling for coastal flooding in the District and neighboring communities. Stay safe and avoid driving through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown.

Our thoughts are with those in the path of Hurricane Helene.

ICPRB initiates drought monitoring, plus data center zoning, big grants for cleanup, stream restoration, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>> 

River Report – ICPRB Initiates Drought Monitoring, Again

As of yesterday morning, ICPRB has started Drought Monitoring due to low flows in the Potomac River and no rain expected in the next week. The Potomac River supplies drinking water to 78% of people in the greater Washington metro region and 100% of residents in the District of Columbia and Arlington County, Virginia.

It has been about a month since Tropical Storm Debby blew through and increased the rivers flow enough to give us respite from the daily drought emails, but the river’s flow is now below the 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Potomac Rocks USGS gage, which is the threshold for drought monitoring.

During Drought Monitoring, staff at ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) prepare a daily email for water suppliers and government agencies with flow, weather, and demand conditions. This important information can be used to inform water supply operations.

During periods of drought, the CO-OP helps manage the Washington metropolitan area water supply system by coordinating withdrawals from the Potomac River and off-river reservoirs and recommending releases from upstream reservoirs when forecasted flow in the river is not sufficient to meet expected needs.

Follow the conversation and see the daily emails using #droughtmonitoring on Facebook and Twitter/X.

The Washington metropolitan area remains in a Drought Watch declared by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on July 29. Authorities are asking folks to use water wisely.

Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows very little changes in the Potomac River watershed (gray line) from last week.

ICPRB Welcomes New Chair and Commissioners

Earlier this week, ICPRB commissioners and staff met in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the annual Commission meeting which was graciously hosted by the Adams County Conservation District.

Pennsylvania State Representative (and ICPRB Commissioner) Dan Moul offered welcoming remarks and Conservation District Manager Adam McClain highlighted the activities of the Adams County Conservation District. Ten percent of the Potomac River basin is in Pennsylvania, including Gettysburg.

Recently appointed commissioners were welcomed with an ICPRB pin. We would like to officially welcome Jessica Shirley (PA), Chris Ann Kemple (PA), Birthe Kjellerup (MD), Del. Kathy K.L. Tran (VA), Del. Joshua Cole (VA), and Steve Saari (DC) to the Commission.

The commissioners confirmed Scott Morris (VA) as ICPRB’s chair and Robert Sussman (Fed) as CO-OP chair for 2025. Mindy Neil (WV) and Scott Morris (VA) will be vice chairs, respectively. ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli thanked outgoing chair, Susan Weaver (PA), for her leadership in shepherding the adoption of a new three-year Strategic Plan for ICPRB as well as completing the first five-year review of the long-term ICPRB Comprehensive Plan.

The meeting was followed by a tour of Knouse Foods applesauce and juice processing facility in Orrtanna, PA. Commissioners and staff donned hair nets and ear plugs while they learned about the water conservation measures implemented by the facility, including equipment replacement, use monitoring, as well as adjusting processes to conserve water during a drought.

See more pictures on our Facebook post >>>