River Report: The State of Drought in MD and VA
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has expanded the drought watch advisory. The Maryland map looks similar.
The drought combined with high winds sparked wildfire concerns over the weekend.
We encourage residents to use water wisely and protect water supplies by minimizing water use whenever possible.
🗺️ The U.S. Drought Monitor Map released this morning shows a slight increase in severe drought conditions (dark orange) over last week.
☀️ No appreciable rain was recorded in the basin over the past 24 hours.
🌧️ The next 3 days may bring widespread rainfall of 0.25 to 0.75 inches. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)
🌊 Flow at USGS Point of Rocks gage is 1800 cfs (historical median is 2940 cfs).
A partnership to protect our drinking water
Coordinated by ICPRB, the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP) is a voluntary association of water suppliers and government agencies focused on protecting sources of drinking water in the Potomac River basin. The group recently met for their annual meeting at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C.
During the meeting, they enjoyed presentations on the recently released Land Prioritization Mapping to Protect Drinking Water Quality, the future consumptive use of data centers in the Potomac, discussed the group’s research needs, and more.
In addition to the presentations, the “gavel was passed” from the 2025 chairperson Jayne Brown of DOEE to the 2026 chairperson Katherine Foreman of WSSC Water (accepted by Aklile Tesfaye). We look forward to working with Foreman in the coming year and we would like to thank Brown for her dedication to DWSPP and source water protection over the past year.
After the meeting, the group enjoyed a walking tour led by Anacostia Riverkeeper, Trey Sherard. The group learned about the water quality infrastructure features of the area as well as the important work of the Anacostia Riverkeeper, such as trash traps.
Reminder: ICPRB is Hiring
We are hiring for the Director of Administration and Finance position at ICPRB. Applications are due by December 15 but will be considered as they are received. Early submission is strongly encouraged. Learn more about this position and how to apply >>>
Webinar series
Did you miss our webinar earlier this week exploring the “the last great unsolved question in zoology”? Our webinar about the fascinating cultural, culinary, and ecological history of the American eel is now available on ICPRB’s YouTube page.
Join us for more fascinating webinars in the coming weeks:
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Dec. 2: Webinar: Reconsidering Connectivity: A North Branch Potomac Case Study (Gordon “Mike” Selckmann, Associate Director of Aquatic Biology, ICPRB)
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Dec. 5: ICPRB Land Use Webinar: Land Prioritization Mapping to Protect Drinking Water Quality (Speakers: Renee Thompson, Water Resources Planner, ICPRB, and Megan McClaugherty, Ecological Technician and GIS Specialist, ICPRB)
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Dec. 9: Webinar: The Future of Water in the DC Metro Area (Speaker: Dr. Cherie Schultz, Director, CO-OP Operations of ICPRB)