This Week’s River Report: Water Supply Outlook released
The U.S. Drought Monitor Map released this morning shows the area in severe drought status creeping up (31%) with the remainder of the region in moderate drought.
The river’s flow at Little Falls is close to the lowest historical flow for this time of year.
The first Water Supply Outlook of 2026 was released earlier this week by ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP). The monthly report provides an update on the possibility of low flow conditions in the Potomac basin.
Here are few key excerpts:
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There is an above-normal probability of releases from the Washington metropolitan area’s back-up water supply reservoirs for the 2026 summer and fall seasons.
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As of April 1, the 12-month cumulative precipitation is 37.6 inches, or 2.2 inches below normal.
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Streamflow and groundwater levels remain below normal.
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Precipitation is expected to be near normal over the next couple of weeks. At the same time, higher-than-normal temperatures are expected to increase evaporative demand.
Drought status across the region
As of March 31, the Central and Western drought regions in Maryland are under a drought watch while the Eastern drought region is under drought warning. In Virginia, five regions are currently under a drought warning, including Shenandoah and Northern Virginia, while several are under a drought watch. In Pennsylvania, portions of the Potomac River basin, primarily Franklin, Fulton, and Bedford Counties are under a drought warning. The metropolitan regional drought stage, under the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Water Supply and Drought Response Awareness Plan, is normal.
We’re number one!
We’re number one! We’re number one! Not on a list anyone wants to find themselves, though.
American Rivers just named the Potomac River as America’s Most Endangered River of 2026. Citing the proliferation of data center development and the recent massive sewage spill, American Rivers brings attention to the issues faced by “the economic lifeline and cultural heart of our nation’s capital”, the Potomac.
“ICPRB appreciates the fact that American Rivers has chosen to highlight the vulnerability of the Potomac River and the need to invest in upgrading both our water supply system and our wastewater pipes,” says Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director of ICPRB. “The Nation’s Capital is vulnerable to both severe droughts and contamination events and ICPRB continues to work to make our region more resilient to these and other threats.”
Farewell to Laurel Glenn, and welcome to Ernest Parker
As Ms. Laurel Glenn steps into a well‑earned retirement, ICPRB extends its sincere gratitude for her outstanding service as Director of Administration. No kidding, Laurel truly earned her April-Fools “Mitigator of Madness” title in everything she did, from organizing ICPRB’s payroll and yearly audits with ease, to making our office space safe and sound (in not one but two buildings), to hiring a half dozen new team members and guiding them through orientation, to organizing every last logistical detail of our quarterly meetings of the Commission.
Reflecting on Laurel’s impact, Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director of ICPRB, shared: “I would like to thank Laurel for doing such a great job for ICPRB as our Director of Administration. Among her many other achievements during her tenure, she oversaw ICPRB’s move to our new headquarters as well as spearheading the revision of ICPRB’s Manual of Operations. Laurel will be missed.”
Laurel’s dedication, professionalism, and tireless work made ICPRB’s systems efficient and smooth. We wish her all the best in retirement. Happy trails, Laurel— we appreciate you!
As we say goodbye to Laurel, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Ernest Parker as ICPRB’s new director of finance and administration. Mr. Nardolilli remarks, “I look forward to working with Ernest Parker in his new position at ICPRB. As a CPA who teaches an upper-level accounting course at Montgomery College, Ernest will bring a new skill set to ICPRB’s leadership team.”
Ernest is a seasoned financial management professional with more than 30 years of experience in public accounting, government contracting, and international auditing. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), adjunct professor of accounting and management, and holder of a doctorate in strategic leadership, he has led audit, assurance, and financial operations across diverse sectors.
Originally from Liberia, Ernest has lived with his family in the Washington, DC–Maryland area for over 25 years. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active through hiking, running, skiing, and racquetball.
We extend a warm welcome to Ernest and look forward to the expertise and leadership he brings to ICPRB.
News release: ICPRB receives $650,000 from federal government
Since 1940, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) has played a major part in the improvement of water quality in the Potomac River. It was recently announced that ICPRB will receive $650,000 in federal funding under the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Act recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.
Read the full news release >>>