News

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News from Around the Basin – March 14, 2024

A new plan and funding to protect and preserve the Potomac, unique ways to view 🌸, funding to get blue catfish on the menu, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – March 14, 2024 > > >

A Fresh Path Forward for the Potomac River

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) recently published an update to a comprehensive planning document that it hopes will be used as a tool to protect water supplies, drinking water sources, water quality, and aquatic life.

At this week’s ICPRB Quarterly Business Meeting, the ICPRB Commissioners formally adopted the 2023 Updates to the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. The document is the result of a yearlong stakeholder process that evaluated progress during the first five years of implementation and developed the workplan for the next five years.

A section of the report includes how the public can get involved:

  • Encourage and participate in stewardship activities that improve watershed conditions, such as trash pickups, reducing winter salt use, and picking up pet waste.
  • Share the plan with local politicians, water suppliers, environmental organizations, and civic organizations.
  • Use ICPRB-created tools such as the flow alteration from impervious cover map, the land prioritization tool, and land use webinars to make land use decisions that support sustainable water resources management.

To learn more about the planning document, check out the video or read ICPRB’s news release > > >

Federal Funding to Protect and Preserve the Potomac River Watershed

ICPRB received $650,000 in the recent funding package passed by Congress.

In making the announcement, ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli stated, “We are glad to see the federal government acknowledge the important work of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River.”

ICPRB plans to use the funds to improve water modeling capabilities and implement the Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.

Learn more about the plans in ICPRB’s recent news release > > >

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News Release: A Fresh Path Forward for the Potomac River

ICPRB Commissioners approve updates to the Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.

Click here for a PDF of this announcement >>>

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) will use this as a tool to protect water supplies, drinking water sources, water quality, and aquatic life, and encourages other organizations to do the same.

Population changes in the Potomac River watershed (2010-2020).

Population changes in the Potomac River watershed (2010-2020).

“The Potomac River watershed is home to 6.9 million people. As the saying goes, we all live downstream. Practices and policies throughout the watershed impact our waterways. We expect this updated plan to continue to serve as a catalyst for sustainable water resources management throughout the watershed,” explains Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director of ICPRB.

The plan addresses water resources challenges to the watershed, including sustainable water uses and supplies, protecting and improving water quality, sustainably managing human land use, and protecting ecological health.

The Potomac River watershed includes parts of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, as well as the entire District of Columbia. According to Nardolilli, most of the residents in the watershed rely on the Potomac River or its tributaries for drinking water.

The planning document, titled Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan, was originally published in 2018. The 2023 updates were the result of a yearlong review process by an advisory committee composed of regional governments, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. It was officially adopted by the ICPRB Commissioners at the business meeting on March 12, 2024.

“The population in the Potomac River watershed has increased by 13% since 2010. With this immense growth, it is more important than ever that we practice smart and sustainable water resources planning. We think this Comprehensive Plan is the tool to achieve that vision,” says Nardolilli.

According to Nardolilli, milestones from the initial 2018 plan are mostly complete. New goals developed in the recent update are expected to begin in the spring of this year.

“It takes a watershed-wide effort to protect and preserve the Potomac River and its related resources. Through a diverse stakeholder group, the plan provides a voice for people and organizations throughout the basin. Further, the update highlights the need to reach the wonderfully varied communities of the basin, with particular focus on those disproportionately affected by water resources issues,” states Dr. Heidi Moltz, Director of Program Operations at ICPRB and an author of the plan.

Dr. Moltz shares some of the ways the public can get involved which are suggested in the new report:

  • Encourage and participate in stewardship activities that improve watershed conditions, such as trash pickups, reducing winter salt use, and picking up pet waste.
  • Share the plan with local politicians, water suppliers, environmental organizations, and civic organizations.
  • Use ICPRB-created tools such as the flow alteration from impervious cover map, the land prioritization tool, and land use webinars to make land use decisions that support sustainable water resources management.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 13, 2024

Renee Bourassa, Communications Director
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin | Rockville, MD
rbourassa@icprb.org | 301.417.4371 | ICPRB

The 2023 Updates to the Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Plan can be found on ICPRB’s website at: https://bit.ly/basin_plan

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. The ICPRB affirms the importance of fostering diversity equity, inclusion, and justice in all activities. The Potomac belongs to all.

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News Release: Federal Funding to Protect and Preserve the Potomac River Watershed

ICPRB received $650,000 in the recent funding package passed by Congress.  

Click here for a PDF of this announcement >>>

Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1940, the mission of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is to protect and enhance the waters and related resources of the Potomac River basin through science, regional cooperation, and education.

Map of the Potomac River watershed

When the Interstate Compact was approved in 1940, Congress stipulated that ICPRB shall be provided annual appropriations from the United States. According to the executive director, other than in 2009, ICPRB has not received federal appropriations since 1996.

In making the announcement, ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli stated, “We are glad to see the federal government acknowledge the important work of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River. We are very appreciative of the work done by Congressman Raskin and Senators Cardin, Casey, and Van Hollen and their Staffs.”

According to Nardolilli, ICPRB plans to use the funds to improve water modeling capabilities and implement the 2018 Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. The 2023 updates to this plan are being considered by the ICPRB Commissioners later this week.

Work plans include:

  • Enhance emergency spill modeling tools to help protect water supply intakes from spills into the river of oil and other chemical contaminants.
  • Investigate feasibility, collect data, and construct eelways on the Potomac River.
  • Collect bathymetric LiDAR data for the Potomac River North Branch to support 3D flow modeling.
  • Develop better modeling capabilities for drinking water reservoir management.
  • Host a series of webinars to promote sustainable water resources management.
  • Advance the use of ICPRB’s impervious cover tool to assist decision-makers in understanding the relative effects of proposed impervious cover sites on local hydrology.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 11, 2024

Renee Bourassa, Communications Director
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin | Rockville, MD
rbourassa@icprb.org | 301.417.4371 | ICPRB

More information about ICPRB can be found on their website at www.potomacriver.org.

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, ICPRB includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the federal government. ICPRB affirms the importance of fostering diversity equity, inclusion, and justice in all activities. The Potomac belongs to all.

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News from Around the Basin – March 7, 2024

Peak bloom predicted and how to see them, new ICPRB commissioner, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – March 7, 2024 >>>

ICPRB Welcomes New Commissioner

Dr. Birthe V. Kjellerup is the newest commissioner representing the state of Maryland for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). She is an associate professor at the University of Maryland at College Park at the A. James Clark School of Engineering where she also serves as the Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,

“We welcome Dr. Kjellerup to ICPRB and are happy to have her as a commissioner. I look forward to working with her to address pollution and water supply challenges of the Potomac River,” stated Michael Nardolilii, Executive Director of ICPRB. The ICPRB Commission is composed of three commissioners and three alternate commissioners from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Federal Government.

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ICPRB Welcomes New Commissioner

Dr. Birthe V. Kjellerup is the newest commissioner representing the state of Maryland for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). She is an associate professor at the University of Maryland at College Park at the A. James Clark School of Engineering where she also serves as the Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,

“We welcome Dr. Kjellerup to ICPRB and are happy to have her as a commissioner. I look forward to working with her to address pollution and water supply challenges of the Potomac River,” stated Michael Nardolilii, Executive Director of ICPRB. The ICPRB Commission is composed of three commissioners and three alternate commissioners from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Federal Government.

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Media from around the basin – February 29, 2024

Where to find ICPRB this year, VA out of drought, the stories of the first all-Black rowing team and the first Black yacht club, and more in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – Feb. 29, 2024 >>>

ICPRB in the Community

Our dance card is getting full for 2024! Check out several upcoming events where you’ll find ICPRB staff:

We’ll be adding more fun and informative events throughout the year. We also plan to bring our creek critter meet and greet to the Earth Day Celebration (April 20, Frederick, MD), Anacostia River Festival (May 4, DC), Festival del Rio Anacostia (September 21, DC), and many more! Stay tuned by checking out ICPRB Events on our website.

ICPRB Q2 Business Meeting will be on March 12, 2024

ICPRB will hold the second quarter business meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Commissioners will learn about computer models used to predict water quality endpoints and discuss the adoption of the 2023 updates to the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. The public is invited to view the virtual meeting. Please respond to this email for more information on how to attend.

Correction Notice

Editor’s Note: Last week’s newsletter included the news article Virginia Introduces Amended Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit to Protect Chesapeake Bay. We were subsequently informed that information found in the article is not accurate. We regret the error.

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ICPRB Q2 Business Meeting will be on March 12, 2024

The ICPRB will hold its second quarter business meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. The meeting will be held virtually on Teams. Commissioners will learn about computer models used to predict water quality endpoints and have a chance to adopt the 2023 Updates to the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. Find the draft agenda on our Business Meetings site.

The public is invited to view the virtual meeting. Please contact us for more information on how to attend.

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Media From Around the Basin – February 22, 2024

ICPRB on the Hill, #PotomacLove, a riverkeeper’s review, and more in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – Feb. 22, 2024 >>>

ICPRB on the Hill

Last Thursday, ICPRB staff briefed lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill about the issues facing the Potomac basin and the work we do to protect and preserve its waters. They joined the experts from our two sister Mid-Atlantic river basin commissions, the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. ICPRB’s aquatic biologist, Mike Selckmann, presented on his team’s research on harmful algal blooms.

ICPRB staff also met with elected leaders and their representatives to discuss federal funding for a study to make the DC Metro area water supply more resilient. In addition, ICPRB staff requested that the federal government carry out it’s statutory commitment to the organization.

ICPRB staff and commissioners shared their #PotomacLove

Last week, ICPRB staff, commissioners and our partners shared photos and sentiments about why they love the Potomac River. Check out the video of ICPRB posts or click on your preferred social media platform below to see all the #PotomacLove posts. We would love to hear why you love the Potomac River!

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Celebrating a Year of Protecting and Preserving the Potomac River

When entrusted with protecting and preserving the Potomac River and its resources, it is important to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. In our 2023 Annual Report, we do just that. We explore our mission, vision, values, and goals. We pay tribute to our colleague and friend, Curtis Dalpra, who unexpectedly passed early in the year. We celebrate the highlights and staff successes over the year. And finally, we set our sights on the goals and possibilities of 2024.

2023 Annual Report

ICPRBAnnualReport.2023 by Renee Bourassa

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News from around the basin – Feb. 8, 2024

Protecting our drinking water, the history of a Potomac island, funding for tree planting in underserved communities, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – Feb. 8, 2024 >>>

Protecting our Drinking Water

Cover page to the DWSPP Annual Report - 2023In water-sector jargon, source water protection means protecting or improving the quality of water before it reaches the water treatment plant. Better water quality going into the plant means better water quality at your tap.

One organization addressing source water protection in the region is the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP). Coordinated by ICPRB, this voluntary coalition of government agencies and water suppliers work together to address source water protection in the Potomac River watershed. Learn about their work addressing PFAS, conducting spill exercises, tracking permits, and addressing the winter salt issue in DWSPP’s recently published 2023 Annual Report.

Click here to read DWSPP’s 2023 Annual Report >>>