Click here to see the full Potomac News Reservoir.

ICPRB Begins Daily Drought Monitoring

On Monday the low river flow activated daily drought monitoring by ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply on the Potomac (CO-OP). This happens when the gage at Point of Rocks, MD, dips below 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). During active drought monitoring, CO-OP staff provide a daily update to partners about the flow, weather, and water withdrawals within the basin.

The graph shows Potomac River’s adjusted flows at Little Falls (black line) dropping into the lowest we’ve seen in recorded history.

In the case of really low flows in the Potomac, CO-OP staff will work with partners to coordinate releases from upstream reservoirs (Little Seneca and Jennings Randolph) to supplement the flow and provide sufficient water to downstream water suppliers.

Learn more about ICPRB CO-OP’S Drought Monitoring and Operations > > >

Check out our recent Facebook post to see the graph with data about how common it is for the river flow to reach the drought monitoring threshold.

At this point, we do not predict a call for voluntary water restrictions for folks in the Potomac watershed. However, it is always a good idea to conserve water, especially during the dryer summer months. Small changes in daily habits can lead to big changes in water use.

Simple actions you can do to conserve water:

🚽 Fix leaky pipes.
🚿 Take shorter showers.
🌱 Choose native plants for your landscaping.
🥕 Capture and reuse water from activities like washing vegetables or waiting for the water to warm up. This water can be used to water plants or to clean.
🚰 Brushing teeth? Washing hands? Doing dishes? Turn the faucet off when you are not actively using the water during these daily activities.

Current Potomac River Conditions

The river flow is slightly above the level that triggers drought monitoring. However, CO-OP staff will continue daily monitoring as the level is relatively low for this time of year. Monitoring will continue until a significant increase in flow occurs.

Only 0.25 inches of rain is forecasted for the basin over the next few days according to the NWS Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC). It is expected the precipitation deficit will continue to increase over coming weeks. (Graph: USGS gage at Point of Rocks.)
Current flow: 2090 cfs

Median flow: 5540 cfs

90 Day Precipitation: 4.7 inches below average

Upcoming ICPRB Business Meeting

The ICPRB will virtually hold its third quarter business meeting on June 21, 2023. Commissioners will be updated on ICPRB’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Statement, the successful Comprehensive Plan 5-year review process, and discuss the process for revising the Strategic Plan. The public is invited to view the virtual meeting. You can reply to this email for more information on how to attend.

ICPRB in the Community

Join us this Saturday for a meet and greet with creek critters at the Frederick Master Gardener’s Earth Awareness Day in Frederick, MD.

We are hiring!

We are hiring for an Outreach Program Manager position. The application period closes on June 30. Learn more on our Jobs page > > >

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out our Events Calendar for fun activities!

Click here to view the Potomac River Reservoir in its entirety.

June’s Water Supply Outlook

During the summer and fall of 2023, the Washington metropolitan area faces an increased probability of releasing water from backup reservoirs. This increased likelihood is due to a combination of factors: a current dry spell, a 6.5-inch precipitation deficit over the past 12 months, and low groundwater levels, resulting in unusually low flows in the region.

The ICPRB staff will actively monitor the changing water supply conditions in the basin, focusing on the USGS Gage stream flows at Point of Rocks, Maryland, the location of the daily water supply monitoring threshold. If drought conditions develop, the local drinking water reservoirs at Jennings Randolph and Little Seneca, which are currently full, will prevent water supply shortages if low-flow conditions persist.

In the case of a drought, the region has contingency plans in place to manage water supply shortages. Learn more in the June Water Supply Outlook >>> 

Current Potomac River Conditions

The river flow continues to dip further down at 59% of the median for this time of year. Rainfall for the basin is well below average. Unfortunately, the NWS Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) forecasts little-to-no rain in the Potomac watershed over the next few days and beyond.

Current flow: 3610 cfs

Median flow: 6160 cfs

90 Day Precipitation: 4.7 inches below average

We are hiring!

We are hiring for an Outreach Program Manager position. The application period closes on June 30.

Learn more on our Jobs page >>>

Click here to view the Potomac River Reservoir in its entirety.

We are hiring!

ICPRB is looking for an Outreach Program Manager. This person will play a key role in communicating the important scientific work of ICPRB, promoting public stewardship of the Potomac River, and coordinating with organizations working towards a similar mission.

The application period closes on June 30, so get your application in soon! (Photo: Anacostia River Festival/11th Street Bridge Project)

Learn more on our Jobs page…

Current Potomac River Conditions

The river is running low. At 3010 cubic feet per second (cfs), the level is 43% of the median (7080 cfs) for this time of year. Some regions of the basin have received up to 75% below average rain for the past 30 days. MARFC forecasts very little rain over the next few days. (Graph: USGS gage at Point of Rocks)

Current discharge:

3010 cfs

Average discharge:

9610 cfs

90 Day Precipitation:

3.8 inches below average

Interested in Source Water Protection?

Did you know we prepare a similar newsletter focused on source water protection in the Potomac River basin? It includes news, information, and events about protecting sources of drinking water in the Potomac River basin.

The newsletter is produced as part of our coordination of the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, a collaboration of government agencies and water suppliers working to protect the drinking water of the millions of people who call the basin home.

Sign up for the newsletter > > >

Click here to see the full Potomac News Reservoir – May 25, 2023

Creek Critter Meet & Greet

Festival season for some ICPRB staff means getting out the nets and catching a variety of creek critters for a meet and greet with the public.

Kids of all ages enjoy exploring our plastic tub “creek” to see what interesting creatures they can find while learning about what the creatures can tell us about the health of a creek.

Children looking into a plastic bin with leaves and benthic macroinvertebrates. An adult helps them find the bugs.

Aquatic biologists can learn a lot about the health of a creek based on what lives there. Some species, such as the hellgrammite (shown below), need cool waters, lots of oxygen, and are sensitive to pollution. If you find them in a creek, it’s a good sign of a healthy stream.

See more fun pictures of the recent Anacostia River Festival and the MAEOE Green Schools Youth Summit on our Facebook page. To join the next Creek Critter Meet & Greet, join us at the Frederick Co. Master Gardener’s Earth Awareness Day on June 17 in Frederick, MD.

Drought Preparation in the Basin

Each year the ICPRB staff of the Section for the Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) spend a lot of time thinking about what they will do during a drought.

During times of drought, this important section of ICPRB works closely with a collaborative of water suppliers to coordinate water supply operations. In years when there is no drought, like in 2022, CO-OP conducts a drought exercise to maintain readiness and improve operations and communication processes.

The activities, detailed in the recently released 2022 Washington Metropolitan Area Drought Exercise Report, included a call to discuss potential water use restrictions associated with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments “Warning” stage, communication with Washington Aqueduct on the Low Flow Allocation Agreement thresholds, and data collection and operational forecasts through CO-OP’s Data Portal and daily flow forecast tool, which are important communication outlets deployed during a drought.

Currently, the rain in the Potomac River basin above Little Falls is 26-50% below average for the past 90 days. If drought does occur this year, it is practices like these drought exercises that ensure the Washington Metro area is well protected from water supply shortages.