River Report: From abnormally dry to abnormally high (flow)
The U.S. Drought Monitor map released today shows 9% of the Potomac watershed as abnormally dry. The remaining area is showing no signs of drought.
Precipitation is also catching up. According to the NWS MARFC precipitation tracker, the watershed above Little Falls is less than 10% below average, having received 38 inches of rain over the past year.
The flow at Point of Rocks USGS gage is 23,600 cubic feet per second (cfs). This is well above the median for this time of year, which is 5760 cfs.
As of May 31, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, western Maryland is in normal drought status but central Maryland regions are in Watch and Warning status.
Northern Virginia and Shenandoah regions are still under a Drought Watch as of June 8, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
ICPRB’s recent webinar on water quality impacts of development
It’s not too late to catch our recent webinar that explored the impact of construction development on water quality in the Potomac River and discussed mitigation strategies. A recording is available on ICPRB’s YouTube page.
Experts from various sectors, including private industry, municipal, and non-profit professionals shared best practices and innovative solutions.
This event was hosted by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin as part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.
REMINDER: Call for abstracts for HABs conference
The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) is calling for speaker and poster abstracts for the 2025 Potomac River Conference: Integrating Science, Policy, and Communications to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms.
The conference will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at George Mason University’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center in Woodbridge, VA.
Abstracts are due by the end of the day on June 13.
Learn more about how to submit an abstract >>>