River Report: Flow evening out soon
We’ll soon see the daily fluctuations flatten out at the USGS Point of Rocks gage. The ups and downs of the river’s flow are a result of upstream hydroelectric dam operations to protect American eels. The dams are turned off nightly from mid-September to mid-December during the annual American eel migration downstream. This keeps the eels from getting caught up in dam machinery as they make their way to sea to spawn. As a result, the flows downstream fluctuate in the daily pattern we’ve been seeing for the past few months.
Check out ICPRB’s recent webinar on the fascinating historical and ecological importance of American eels.
Today’s drought monitoring report:
🌊Flow at USGS Point of Rocks gage is 1930 cubic feet per second (cfs). The historical median for today is 5040 cfs.
☀️ According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, scattered trace amounts of precipitation fell in the western part of the basin over the past 24 hours.
🔮 Up to 0.25 inches of precipitation is expected in the basin over the next 3 days.
Other than a small percentage increase from abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor map is similar to last week.
ICYMI: New report exposes the vulnerabilities of the Washington metropolitan area’s water supply
According to research by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB), the region’s water supply could fail to meet the needs of the region as soon as 2030 in the event of an extreme drought.
While most people don’t think twice about where their water comes from — or if it will come at all — when they turn on the tap, new research notes that changing weather patterns and increased water demand are putting a strain on the region’s water supply. This may have dire consequences without strong investment in water infrastructure according to a new report by ICPRB, an organization tasked with producing a report every five years on the region’s water supply.
Read the full press release or watch the webinar >>>
ICPRB Hiring Interns for 2026
We are excited to announce ICPRB has openings for up to two water resources interns for the spring and summer semesters of 2026. The start and end dates are negotiable, approximately March to August, 2026. Pay is $20/hr. ICPRB is located in Rockville, Maryland.
The primary tasks of the internships are to support ICPRB’s water resources and CO-OP programs, assemble data needed for estimations of unreported water uses, and archive ICPRB photographs and reports.
Applications are due by January 9, 2026. Learn more about the position and how to apply on our Jobs page >>>
Webinar series
Join us for more fascinating webinars in the coming weeks:
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Dec. 18: Webinar: Reconsidering Connectivity: A North Branch Potomac Case Study (Gordon “Mike” Selckmann, Associate Director of Aquatic Biology, ICPRB) [Rescheduled from Dec. 2]
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January 21, 1 – 1:30 pm: Safe Sidewalks, Clean Water: Smart Salting for Residents
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January 23, 1 – 1:30 pm: Community Winter Salt Management in Action