The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) resumed daily drought monitoring on Monday, January 5, because Potomac River flow at the US Geological Survey’s gage at Point of Rocks, Maryland, had fallen below 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs), CO-OP’s daily monitoring threshold.  During Drought Monitoring, CO-OP sends out daily email reports to stakeholders summarizing flow, weather, and demand conditions. These monitoring updates are made available each morning on the CO-OP Data Portal. 

Because river flows in the winter tend to be higher than flows in summer, daily monitoring in January is somewhat unusual. Daily flows fell below 2000 cfs on at least one day of the month in January in just 10 percent of the years since the USGS’s collection of flow data at Point of Rocks began in February 1895.  

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor data, 100% of the Potomac River basin is facing drought conditions (D0 or worse).  

U.S. Drought Monitor Map for the Potomac basin (blue outline), released January 1, 2026

Since the establishment of our region’s cooperative water supply system in 1982, flows have fallen below 2000 cfs in January in three years: 1999, 2002, and 2018. CO-OP drought operations and releases from upstream reservoirs were required in the summers of both 1999 and 2002. On the other hand, 2018 turned out to be a near record high flow year, with the second highest annual average flow at Point of Rocks since 1895. 

The Potomac River continues to meet all regional demands without augmentation. While current water supplies remain adequate, continued dry conditions could increase the likelihood of reservoir operations later in the year. 

In June of 2025, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Drought Coordination Technical Committee lifted the Regional Drought Watch, which stretched over an entire year. ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli added that “such low flows in January give us pause that we may be in for another drought year (like 1999 and 2002) unless we get exceptional precipitation later in the year (like 2018).” 

The region’s residents are encouraged to use water wisely by taking simple actions such as reducing time in the shower, repairing leaks, and turning off the faucet when not actively using it.