News

Entry Thumbnail

News From Around the Basin – June 20, 2025

Drought Watch lifted for the D.C. Metro Area and other news in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – June 20, 2025 >>>

News Release: Drought Watch Lifted for the D.C. Metro Area

Very little rainfall and high temperatures during the summer of 2024 led officials to recommend residents use water wisely to reduce demand on the Potomac River. Today, acting in part due to a recommendation by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) Drought Coordination Committee lifted the Drought Watch declaration that had been in place since July 2024.

The COG regional drought plan triggers a Drought Watch when the entire Metropolitan Washington region is considered in moderate drought conditions – or worse – on the National Weather Service U.S. Drought Monitor map. Last year’s Drought Watch was the first enacted since 2010.

“The recommendation of ICPRB was based on several factors,” explains Michael Nardolilli, the executive director of ICPRB, “The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows zero signs of drought in the Potomac River watershed. The recent rains have nearly erased the basin’s cumulative precipitation deficits. While spring rains are generally ineffective for groundwater recharge, given the amount of rain the basin has received over the past couple months, staff at ICPRB are optimistic that there will be continued improvement in groundwater levels.”

According to Dr. Cherie Schultz, director of ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP), “Even if we end up in a similar situation as last summer, with very little rainfall and record-breaking temperatures, the Washington Metropolitan area is well-prepared to withstand a drought due to decades of careful planning and strong partnerships among water utilities and government agencies.”

As part of a unique cooperative water supply system, Washington Metropolitan water suppliers share and jointly fund upstream drinking water reservoirs – constructed several decades ago – that can supplement river flow, if needed. The upstream reservoirs are currently full.

In addition to the Washington Metropolitan Drought Watch declaration being lifted, the Virginia Department of the Environment lifted all drought advisories for the Commonwealth. As of June 15, 2025, central Maryland remains in Drought Warning status according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Nardolilli urges residents to still conserve water when possible by taking simple actions such as turning off the faucet when not actively using it, limiting time in the shower, and only watering plants and lawns when needed.

“The Potomac River is the drinking water source for more than 5 million people in the Washington Metropolitan area and should be treated as a precious resource,” says Nardolilli.

Entry Thumbnail

News Release: Drought Watch Lifted for the D.C. Metro Area

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 20, 2025

Spring rainstorms have brought relief to the Washington Metropolitan area after almost a year of dry conditions.

ROCKVILLE, MD (June 20, 2025) – Very little rainfall and high temperatures during the summer of 2024 led officials to recommend residents use water wisely to reduce demand on the Potomac River. Today, acting in part due to a recommendation by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) Drought Coordination Committee will be lifting the Drought Watch declaration that has been in place since July 2024.

The COG regional drought plan triggers a Drought Watch when the entire Metropolitan Washington region is considered in moderate drought conditions – or worse – on the National Weather Service U.S. Drought Monitor map. Last year’s Drought Watch was the first enacted since 2010.

“The recommendation of ICPRB was based on several factors,” explains Michael Nardolilli, the executive director of ICPRB, “The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows practically zero signs of drought in the Potomac River watershed. The recent rains have nearly erased the basin’s cumulative precipitation deficits. While spring rains are generally ineffective for groundwater recharge, given the amount of rain the basin has received over the past couple months, staff at ICPRB are optimistic that there will be continued improvement in groundwater levels.”

According to Dr. Cherie Schultz, director of ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP), “Even if we end up in a similar situation as last summer, with very little rainfall and record-breaking temperatures, the Washington Metropolitan area is well-prepared to withstand a drought due to decades of careful planning and strong partnerships among water utilities and government agencies.”

As part of a unique cooperative water supply system, Washington Metropolitan water suppliers share and jointly fund upstream drinking water reservoirs – constructed several decades ago – that can supplement river flow, if needed. The upstream reservoirs are currently full.

In addition to the Washington Metropolitan Drought Watch declaration being lifted, the Virginia Department of the Environment lifted all drought advisories for the Commonwealth. As of June 15, 2025, central Maryland remains in Drought Warning status according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Nardolilli urges residents to still conserve water when possible by taking simple actions such as turning off the faucet when not actively using it, limiting time in the shower, and only watering plants and lawns when needed.

“The Potomac River is the drinking water source for more than 5 million people in the Washington Metropolitan area and should be treated as a precious resource,” says Nardolilli.

###

Click here for a PDF of News Release: Drought Watch Lifted for the D.C. Metro Area > > >

The ICPRB is an interstate compact commission established by Congress in 1940. Its mission is to protect and enhance the waters and related resources of the Potomac River basin through science, regional cooperation, and education. Represented by appointed commissioners, the ICPRB includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the federal government.

Renee Bourassa, Communications Director

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin | Rockville, MD

rbourassa@icprb.org | 301.417.4371 | website

Entry Thumbnail

News From Around the Basin – June 12, 2025

Dolphins spotted🐬, new access point 🚣, precipitation update 🌧️, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>>

River Report: From abnormally dry to abnormally high (flow)

The U.S. Drought Monitor map released today shows 9% of the Potomac watershed as abnormally dry. The remaining area is showing no signs of drought.

Precipitation is also catching up. According to the NWS MARFC precipitation tracker, the watershed above Little Falls is less than 10% below average, having received 38 inches of rain over the past year.

The flow at Point of Rocks USGS gage is 23,600 cubic feet per second (cfs). This is well above the median for this time of year, which is 5760 cfs.

As of May 31, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, western Maryland is in normal drought status but central Maryland regions are in Watch and Warning status.

Northern Virginia and Shenandoah regions are still under a Drought Watch as of June 8, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

ICPRB’s recent webinar on water quality impacts of development

It’s not too late to catch our recent webinar that explored the impact of construction development on water quality in the Potomac River and discussed mitigation strategies. A recording is available on ICPRB’s YouTube page.

Experts from various sectors, including private industry, municipal, and non-profit professionals shared best practices and innovative solutions.

Watch the webinar >>>

This event was hosted by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin as part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.

REMINDER: Call for abstracts for HABs conference

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is calling for speaker and poster abstracts for the 2025 Potomac River Conference: Integrating Science, Policy, and Communications to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms.

The conference will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at George Mason University’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center in Woodbridge, VA.

Abstracts are due by the end of the day on June 13.

Learn more about how to submit an abstract >>>

Entry Thumbnail

News From Around the Basin – June 5, 2025

Current drought status, salt crisis, data centers, and much more in the Potomac News Reservoir – June 5, 2025 >>>

River Report: Water supply outlook for June

Today’s U.S. Drought Monitor map of the Potomac watershed is a sight for dry eyes, with only 37% abnormally dry and 0% in all other categories.

Each month, ICPRB looks deeper into the data when staff at ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) publishes a report exploring the current conditions and the probability of water supply releases from upstream reservoirs, which is an indicator of regional drought. In this River Report, we’ll highlight excerpts of the recently published June Water Supply Outlook.

The probability of needing water supply releases from the Washington metropolitan area’s backup reservoirs during summer and fall 2025 is elevated.

As of early June, drought conditions in the Potomac River basin have shown modest short-term improvement following above-normal rainfall in May. Data from the National Weather Service’s Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) show that the Potomac basin upstream of Washington, D.C., received 6.2 inches of precipitation in May—2.9 inches above normal. As of May 30, the 12-month cumulative precipitation is 34.5 inches, which is 4.9 inches below normal.

While recent rain has boosted streamflows and improved groundwater levels in some areas, conditions remain mixed, and improvements may be tapering off…long-term deficits persist. Drought watches and warnings remain in effect across parts of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, including the ongoing MWCOG drought watch, expected to be reviewed in June or July.

According to recent U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data, groundwater conditions across the region are mixed. Some wells remain much lower than normal, indicating ongoing dry conditions…other wells show higher-than-average levels, likely due to recent rainfall.

The Climate Prediction Center’s May 31 outlook indicates likely drought improvement in the Potomac River basin by late August. However, in their discussion the Center warns that long-term precipitation deficits—especially in parts of Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania—may persist due to low streamflows and groundwater levels, and that even brief periods of hot, dry weather could trigger a quick return of drought conditions.

If low-flow conditions develop, the region is protected by well-established drought contingency plans.

Best wishes in retirement

ICPRB staff would like to give a fond farewell to Andrea Nagel, our longtime Senior Environmental Scientist. Andrea retired last week after 24 years of service to ICPRB.

If you are familiar with ICPRB products, you have undoubtably admired her work. As a GIS expert, she was responsible for many of ICPRB’s informative maps highlighting features of the Potomac River watershed, as well as complex geospatial analyses required for ICPRB efforts like the land prioritization tool. She was the co-author of at least 22 ICPRB publications, many related to her technical work on TMDLs.

We all wish her the best of luck in her retirement!

ICPRB’s upcoming third quarter business meeting

The ICPRB Third Quarter Business Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The meeting will be held virtually on Teams. Commissioners will discuss progress made on the Low Flow Allocation Agreement and get an update on ICPRB’s Land Use Webinar Series. Find the draft agenda on our Business Meetings page.

The public is invited to view the virtual meeting or provide public comment. Please contact us by Friday, June 13, for more information on how to attend.

ICPRB in the community

Please join us at one of our upcoming events:

Entry Thumbnail

Webinar: Water Quality Impacts of Development and Mitigation Strategies

This webinar explores the impact of construction development on water quality in the Potomac River and discuss mitigation strategies. It brings together experts from various sectors, including private industry, municipal, and non-profit professionals to share best practices and innovative solutions.

This event was hosted by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin as part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.

Presentations:

  • Impacts of Construction Development on Water Quality – Steve Allison, Rodgers Consulting
  • Transforming IDDE: City of Rockville’s Approach to Managing Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination – Wendy Blackman, Environmental Program Manager at the City of Rockville
  • Training and Resources: Collaborative Efforts and Innovative Solutions – David Wood, Chesapeake Stormwater Network

 

 

Entry Thumbnail

ICPRB’s upcoming 3rd quarter business meeting on June 17

The ICPRB Third Quarter Business Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The meeting will be held virtually on Teams. Commissioners will discuss progress made on the Low Flow Allocation Agreement and get an update on ICPRB’s Land Use Webinar Series. Find the draft agenda on our Business Meetings site on our webpage.

The public is invited to view the virtual meeting or provide public comment. Please contact us by Friday, June 13, for more information on how to attend.

Entry Thumbnail

News From Around the Basin – May 29, 2025

Potomac News Reservoir – May 29, 2025 >>>

Creating connections across the basin

Last week, water utilities from small communities across western Maryland and beyond, joined representatives from the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and ICPRB, to discuss source water protection issues unique to small water systems. They received presentations on regulatory requirements and funding resources for PFAS, had a discussion on minimizing impacts when there is a spill in the river, and learned about resources during a drought. They also enjoyed a tour of the City of Hagerstown water treatment plant.

This was the third such event supported by the members of the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, a coalition of water suppliers and government agencies focused on protecting sources of drinking water in the Potomac River basin.

We would like to thank the speakers for sharing their knowledge, the attendees for joining us, EPA Region 3 for planning assistance, and the City of Hagerstown for hosting us at the water treatment plant. Click here to see more photos of the event >>>

Presentations from the event and more resources for water suppliers can be found on ICPRB’s website >>>

Entry Thumbnail

Roundup from the Maryland Small Systems Roundtable

On May 21, 2025, water utilities from small communities across western Maryland and beyond, joined representatives from the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and ICPRB, to discuss source water protection issues unique to small water systems. They received presentations on regulatory requirements and funding resources for PFAS, had a discussion on minimizing impacts when there is a spill in the river, and learned about resources during a drought. They also enjoyed a tour of the City of Hagerstown water treatment plant.

This was the third such event supported by the members of the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, a coalition of water suppliers and government agencies focused on protecting sources of drinking water in the Potomac River basin.

We would like to thank the speakers for sharing their knowledge, the attendees for joining us, and the City of Hagerstown for hosting us at the water treatment plant. Click here to see more photos of the event >>>

Presentations

Other Events and Resources

Email partnership@icprb.org with any questions or to learn more about any of the resources found here.

Entry Thumbnail

News From Around the Basin – May 22, 2025

Drought to deluge 🌧️, ICPRB is hiring 📢, whale spotted in the river 🐋, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – May 22, 2025 >>>

River Report: Drought to deluge

This spike in rain has wreaked havoc up and down the Potomac River. Breakdowns in some wastewater systems has led to raw sewage in the river, especially in the western part of the basin. Officials are advising to avoid fishing, drinking, or coming into direct contact with the waters until further notice.

In addition to raw sewage, dangerous debris such as trees, lumber, and other detritus have made their way down the river and present hazards for river recreation.

At the Point of Rocks USGS gage, the river rose 20 feet in a day and half, peaking at almost 24 feet (154,000 cfs) — Moderate Flood stage — on the afternoon of May 15. As of this morning, it is back down to 4 feet (14,900 cfs). As seen in the graph, the adjusted flow at Little Falls jumped above the 90th percentile during that time.

According to NOAA, the Potomac River above Little Falls has received an average of 5.4 inches of rain since the beginning of the month, with some areas receiving 11 inches or more. This is 75% or more above average.

Not surprisingly, drought conditions in the Potomac Basin improved markedly over the past couple weeks, as seen in the map below. The area under Moderate Drought or worse dropped from 78% to 42%, with Severe Drought shrinking dramatically from 33% to just 0.5%.

Interestingly, this pattern of a dry winter followed by a deluge in the spring was also seen in 2002 (purple dotted line in the Little Falls graph). That summer ended in a severe drought. During that year, staff in ICPRB’s CO-OP worked with the Army Corps of Engineers as well as our water supply partners to release water from upstream reservoirs to alleviate conditions downstream. Only time will tell for 2025.

It takes a village to manage water resources in the basin

What does it take to sustainably manage the lands, waters, and ecological health of the Potomac basin?  A lot of work by a lot of organizations.

As part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan, ICPRB recently published an overview of the entities that act in support of the plan’s overall vision, either explicitly or implicitly.

The pamphlet, An Inventory of Potomac Basin Entities with a Role in Sustainable Water Resources Managementexplores the governmental agencies, water resources related sectors, private and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and individuals who have a role to play in the sustainable management of the Potomac basin’s water resources. Each entity fills a vital role — from regulatory agencies to scientists to community education and more.

“The information contained in the inventory, and summarized in the pamphlet, can be used by ICPRB and interested individuals to understand who is doing what, if any gaps exist, and how efforts might be leveraged or coordinated to improve efficiency,” states Dr. Heidi Moltz, author of the pamphlet and the director of program operations at ICPRB.

We’re hiring!

The ICPRB 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. If this sounds like something you are interested in doing, we are currently hiring for two positions:

Water Quality Data Manager: This position is responsible for maintaining, designing, and building relational databases for the Chesapeake Bay Program, verifying and assuring data quality, and facilitating data analysis efforts of the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Environmental Scientist or Engineer: This position will assist with interesting and challenging projects in this program area, an exciting opportunity to apply analytic and geospatial skills in a large river basin context.

Visit our Jobs page for more information on each position and how to apply >>>

Entry Thumbnail

New ICPRB report: An Inventory of Potomac Basin Entities with a Role in Sustainable Water Resources Management

What does it take to sustainably manage the lands, waters, and ecological health of the Potomac basin?  A lot of work by a lot of organizations.

As part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan, ICPRB recently published an overview of the entities that act in support of the plan’s overall vision, either explicitly or implicitly.

The pamphlet, An Inventory of Potomac Basin Entities with a Role in Sustainable Water Resources Managementexplores the governmental agencies, water resources related sectors, private and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and individuals who have a role to play in the sustainable management of the Potomac basin’s water resources. Each entity fills a vital role — from regulatory agencies to scientists to community education and more.

“The information contained in the inventory, and summarized in the pamphlet, can be used by ICPRB and interested individuals to understand who is doing what, if any gaps exist, and how efforts might be leveraged or coordinated to improve efficiency,” states Dr. Heidi Moltz, author of the pamphlet and the director of program operations at ICPRB.