News

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Application Deadline Extended For Data Manager Position

We have extended the deadline to apply for our Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager position.  Applications are due January 10, 2024.

We are seeking an organized and motivated individual with strong attention to detail to serve as the Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager alongside ICPRB’s Water Quality Data Manager. This position will be offsite at the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) offices in Annapolis, MD with occasional travel to ICPRB headquarters in Rockville, MD. The Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager is responsible for maintaining, designing, and building relational databases for the CBP, verifying and assuring data quality, and facilitating data analysis efforts of the CBP. Examples of datasets you will work with include plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and wildlife.

Get more information and see how to apply on our Jobs page >>>

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ICPRB are hiring for summer internship positions

ICPRB has openings for two interns for the spring and summer semesters of 2024. These are paid, part-time, temporary positions with flexible working hours. Applications are encouraged from any undergraduate juniors or seniors majoring in a relevant environmental science or engineering field and graduate students majoring in environmental science, environmental engineering, water resources or a related field. Applications are due by January 12, 2024.

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News from Around the Basin – December 14, 2023

ICPRB internships and webinars in 2024, building metaphorical bridges, fishing news from the District, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – December 14, 2023 >>>

The River Report – December rain is already above average, but is it enough?

Recent rain brought us 0.5 inches above our typical amount for this time in December. We are still a significant 7.2 inches below average for the past 12 months.

River levels are increasing. The flow is still below the 50th percentile. With fingers crossed it will stay above our drought monitoring threshold through the holidays.

On Monday, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality expanded the number of counties under drought watch advisory to 64, up from 55 a couple weeks earlier.

According to the recent U.S. Drought Monitor report, 89% of the basin is experiencing drought conditions. On the positive side, the area in “Severe Drought” has decreased since the previous report.

Some areas, but not all, are downgrading from mandatory to voluntary water restrictions. This jurisdiction-specific approach is sometimes due to the state of their water source or a planning document agreement.

WEBINAR: Agricultural Impacts on Water Quality and Funding Opportunities to Mitigate Those Impacts

Join ICPRB at noon on January 19 for our first webinar of 2024!

The webinar focuses on agricultural impacts on water quality in the Potomac basin and funding opportunities to mitigate these effects. Olivia Devereux, M.S. of Devereux Consulting will share water quality impacts from agriculture in the Potomac basin. Mark Masters and Annica McGuirk of the the National Association of Conservation Districts will share regional funding sources for agricultural practices. Pam Kenel of Loudoun Water will be moderating.

We are hiring for summer internship positions

ICPRB has openings for two interns for the spring and summer semesters of 2024. These are paid, part-time, temporary positions with flexible working hours. Applications are encouraged from any undergraduate juniors or seniors majoring in a relevant environmental science or engineering field and graduate students majoring in environmental science, environmental engineering, water resources or a related field. Applications are due by January 12, 2024.

Click here to learn more about the positions > > >

Do you fish in D.C. Waters?

The District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) will be publishing a weekly fishing report starting in the new year. They are on the look out for anglers who would like provide information about fishing conditions in the District. If interested, please contact Dillon Waters at DOEE. Additionally, you can submit fishing photos from the District to fishandwildlife.photos@dc.gov. A link to signup to receive the newsletter will be included in the Potomac News Reservoir as soon as it is available.

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News from Around the Basin – December 7, 2023

What the scientists are saying about climate change in the Potomac basin, a new Water Supply Outlook, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – Dec 7, 2023.

The River Report – December’s Water Supply Outlook

The river’s flow is, once again, flirting with our drought monitoring threshold of 2,000 cubic feet per second at the USGS gage at Point of Rocks.

ICPRB’s CO-OP staff have published a December Water Supply Outlook. The monthly report, typically only published April to October, has been continued due to the persistent dry conditions.

Here are some key passages…

💧 CO-OP suspended Daily #DroughtMonitoring on November 22 due to rising river levels.

💧 While recent rainfall has temporarily relieved dry conditions, it has not been enough to overcome the deficits observed in soil moisture, streamflow, and groundwater levels.

💧 Currently, the basin is grappling with a range of dry conditions, with 33% classified as abnormally dry, 28% as moderate drought, and 30% as severe drought.

💧 Over the past 12 months, there has been an approximate 8-inch rainfall deficit compared to average.

But it’s not all doom and gloom…

💧 Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center’ December outlook suggests “leaning above” normal temperatures and precipitation in the basin.

💧 The Palmer Drought Severity Index, depicts moderate to severe drought conditions in the Potomac basin, which is an improvement from the extreme drought conditions reported in last month’s Water Supply Outlook.

Find the full report on ICPRB’s website >>>

Reminder: We are hiring!

ICPRB is seeking a Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager to work alongside ICPRB’s Water Quality Data Manager. This position will be offsite at the Chesapeake Bay Program offices in Annapolis, MD.

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ICPRB Published the December Water Supply Outlook

The Water Supply Outlook is a monthly report that looks at the overall drought conditions in the Potomac River basin. It is typically only published during the drier season between April and October. However, due to persistent dry conditions, staff in ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) have published additional reports in November and December. While recent rainfall has temporarily relieved dry conditions, it has not been enough to overcome the deficits observed in soil moisture, streamflow, and groundwater levels.

Find the full report here >>>

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News from Around the Basin – November 30, 2023

A Thanksgiving miracle (hint: it was rain), ICPRB is hiring, coal tar in the news, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>>

The River Report

It was a Thanksgiving miracle — a rainstorm that gave us a merciful break after weeks of daily drought monitoring. Many of us across the region breathed a big sigh of relief before diving into our turkey dinner.

The river’s flow soared after last week’s rainstorm, but the flow is quickly dropping again. Less than .25 inches of rain is expected over the next few days.

We are hiring!

ICPRB is seeking an organized and motivated individual with strong attention to detail to serve as the Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager alongside ICPRB’s Water Quality Data Manager. This position will be offsite at the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) offices in Annapolis, MD with occasional travel to ICPRB headquarters in Rockville, MD.

Get more information and see how to apply on our Jobs page >>>

The Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager is responsible for maintaining, designing, and building relational databases for the CBP, verifying and assuring data quality, and facilitating data analysis efforts of the CBP. Examples of datasets include plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and wildlife.

Applications are due by December 11, 2023.

ICPRB Business Meeting Announcement

The ICPRB will hold its first quarter business meeting on Friday, December 15, 2023. Commissioners will learn about ICPRB’s TMDL efforts as well as be updated on ICPRB’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Statement. Find the draft agenda on our Business Meetings site. The public is invited to view the virtual meeting. Please contact us for more information on how to attend.

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ICPRB Business Meeting will be on December 15, 2023

The ICPRB will hold its first quarter business meeting on Friday, December 15, 2023. The meeting will be held virtually on Teams. Commissioners will learn about ICPRB’s TMDL efforts as well as be updated on ICPRB’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Statement. Find the draft agenda on our Business Meetings site.

The public is invited to view the virtual meeting. Please contact us for more information on how to attend.

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ICPRB Suspends Daily Drought Monitoring

Staff with ICPRB’s Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) have suspended daily drought monitoring due to the recent rain.
The flow at the US Geological Survey’s gage at Point of Rocks, Maryland, has risen above the daily monitoring threshold of 2000 cubic feet per second (cfs) as the basin received an average of about 1.4 inches of rain yesterday. Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions indicate that flows are expected to remain above the daily monitoring threshold for at least the next 10 days.
According to the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center predictions, the next 24 hours may see 0.6 inches of rain. No additional rain is expected over the next week.
We will resume monitoring should flows fall below the 2000 cfs threshold. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
To stay informed about the Potomac River and future drought monitoring operations, sign up for our newsletter and follow #droughtmonitoring on X/Twitter or Facebook.
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A Word of Thanks…

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ICPRB!

As the old proverb goes, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Adapting that saying to the Potomac River basin, we could say that it takes an entire watershed to protect and enhance our Nation’s River!

As recommended by our Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resource Plan, we recently developed a list of entities with a role in water resources management in the Potomac River basin. We identified an impressive total of 733 entities in the Potomac watershed that are working toward our common goal. Our village includes volunteers, non-profit organizations, private entities, as well as local, state, and federal employees.

During this Thanksgiving Holiday, we at ICPRB want to thank all the stakeholders in the watershed who have put their strong stewardship ethic into practice to help preserve the many values of the Potomac River. Every entity has a significant role to play in conserving this precious resource for the benefit of this and future generations. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to make a positive difference in the Potomac River basin!

– Michael Nardolilli, Executive Director
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin

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ICPRB Hiring for a Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager Position

We are seeking an organized and motivated individual with strong attention to detail to serve as the Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager alongside ICPRB’s Water Quality Data Manager. This position will be offsite at the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) offices in Annapolis, MD with occasional travel to ICPRB headquarters in Rockville, MD. The Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager is responsible for maintaining, designing, and building relational databases for the CBP, verifying and assuring data quality, and facilitating data analysis efforts of the CBP. Examples of datasets you will work with include plankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and wildlife.

Get more information and see how to apply on our Jobs page >>>