The Week’s River Report: New historical low
It appears we have reached a new historical low flow for this time of year. Current flow at the USGS Point of Rocks gage is 3460 cubic feet per second (cfs) while the lowest flow for today in the 131-year record was 3860 cfs.
Today’s U.S. Drought Monitor Map is bright orange, with 82% of the Potomac River watershed in Severe Drought conditions.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has declared a Drought Warning across almost the entire state. This advisory level is intended to spread awareness that the “onset of significant drought event is imminent”.
Western and central Maryland are in a Drought Watch status, while the eastern shore is under Drought Warning. Central Maryland drought status is subject to agreements with subject to agreements with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG).
🚜 Nine Maryland counties and 24 Virginia localities have received drought disaster declarations from the USDA. Farmers across the basin may be eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans due to the drought declarations.
🧯 Officials are warning of an increased wildfire risk due to the ongoing dry conditions.
💧We would like to remind everyone to please use water wisely as conditions across the basin are dry. Some examples:
- Take shorter showers
- Only run the laundry or dishwasher with a full load
- Turn the tap off when you aren’t actively using it
Data Centers: What About Water?
Last week, ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli joined our sister river commissions, the Delaware River Basin Commission and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, to host a webinar on water impact from data centers.
Two ICPRB fact sheets mentioned during the webinar:
- DC Region Water Supply Faces Impacts of Population Growth, Data Centers, and Climate Change
- Data Centers and Water Use in the Potomac River Basin
ICPRB in the Community
Spring is here and ICPRB staff are out and about! Join us at an upcoming event…
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April 23: Adams County Earth Extravaganza (Gettysburg, PA)
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April 26: Rockville Science Day (Rockville, MD)
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April 27: What Should We Know About Our Drinking Water and Challenges for Delivery Systems Infrastructure? (Alexandria, VA)
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May 2: RiverFest (Waynesboro, VA)
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May 9: Walk in the Woods: Frederick Municipal Forest (Frederick, MD)
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May 16: Anacostia River Festival (Washington, DC)
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June 7: Walk in the Woods: From Field to Stream (Jefferson, MD)