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ICPRB Published the December Water Supply Outlook

December 4, 2023

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 >>>

News from Around the Basin – November 30, 2023

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.

ICPRB Business Meeting will be on December 15, 2023

November 28, 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.

ICPRB Suspends Daily Drought Monitoring

November 22, 2023

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.

A Word of Thanks…

November 22, 2023

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

ICPRB Hiring for a Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager Position

November 20, 2023

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 >>>

News from Around the Basin – November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

Books to read, hikes to go on, plus sharks and beavers. We’ve got it all in today’s Potomac News Reservoir!

The River Report – A Harbinger of Drought?

Dry weather continues throughout the basin.

If you read last week’s newsletter, you saw that the current flow trends are similar to those found in previous drought years, which could signify more intense drought conditions to come. However, meteorologists are predicting a particularly snowy winter. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that is the case! It is predicted that most of the precipitation won’t be seen until the new year, so dry conditions might continue through the end of the year.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) maintains a “normal” drought stage as defined by the Metropolitan Washington Water Supply and Drought Awareness Response Plan.

The DC metro area is well protected during a drought due to decades of planning and preparation by ICPRB and our partners. However, it is always a good idea to practice wise water use by turning the faucet off when not in use and running your laundry/dishwasher only when full. Find more wise water use from Water Use It Wisely >>>

The Sum of its Parts: Calculating Stream Health

When it comes to watersheds, the whole can only be as great as the sum of its parts. Last week, ICPRB staff, Dr. Claire Buchanan and Rikke Jepsen, demonstrated a way to measure stream health using the Chessie BIBI — an index of biological health for streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Click here to explore the interactive map of the Chessie BIBI Stream Health Index.

The presentation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission included an overview of current monitoring efforts in the Chesapeake watershed and how streams have — or have not — improved. A PDF of their presentation is available.

One monitoring project discussed were the findings of the report about Potomac River Water Quality at Great Falls: 1940 – 2019 which included a heatmap showing the increasing chloride levels in the Potomac River over the past 80 years.

Increased chloride levels can pollute our drinking water, be dangerous for aquatic life, and be damaging to infrastructure.

Learn about the impacts of winter salt use and what you can do to make a difference >>>

News from Around the Basin – November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023

Drought conditions worsen in the watershed, partnerships for protecting the Potomac, EJ picking up steam, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>>

The River Report – Over 90% of the basin drought conditions

Adjusted Flow at Little Falls as of Nov. 8, 2023

Our rain deficit continues to grow as we get further into the fall season without precipitation. We are 7.8 inches below average for the past year.

The U.S. Drought Monitor released this morning shows over 90% of the basin in abnormally dry conditions or worse. Almost 8% of the basin is in Extreme Drought conditions.

The current flow is below the 10th percentile, as seen in the graph of the Adjusted Daily Flow at Little Falls. The trend is worrying. The graph includes data from previous pre-drought years as reference points, these being years that led to significant reservoir releases. This year’s adjusted flow closely aligns with the seasonal flows observed in those past years that eventually led to significant drought operations.

ICPRB’s CO-OP staff are closely monitoring the situation and keeping stakeholders informed. This includes a daily report as well as publishing a supplemental Water Supply Outlook. Traditionally, the monthly Water Supply Outlook is published from April to October. However, due to persistent dry conditions, staff published an additional November report.

Read the November Water Supply Outlook >>>

Partnerships Protecting the Potomac

ICPRB organized two important gatherings last week…

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The Comprehensive Plan is in the process of a 5-year review thanks to the advisory committee, which is a diverse group of stakeholders helping shape the vision for the future of the Potomac River and its related resources. Last week the group met to give their feedback on the current draft of the 5-year update, which should be finalized and published in the spring.

Click here to see the projects born from the Comprehensive Plan.

POTOMAC RIVER BASIN DRINKING WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP (DWSPP): Last week’s annual meeting celebrated the work of this important coalition of water utilities and government agencies working together to protect our drinking water. Presentations included:

Conservation Assessment for Northern VA Watersheds: Developing NVCT’s Strategic Conservation Plan by Matt Gerhart of NVCT
Toxic Cyanobacteria: Benthic Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Communities in Shenandoah River: a collaboration with ICPRB and USGS by Dr. Chris Jones of GMU
Source Water Quality in a Changing Climate: The Case of Disinfection Byproduct Precursors by Dr. Kirin Furst of GMU

Click here to see a video of the presentations >>>

After the meeting, Dr. Jones led a tour of the labs at the Potomac Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center. GMU students discussed their work on PFAS, algae, and other important research projects to help protect the Potomac River and its tributaries.

A Dry Walk in the Woods

At our last Walk in the Woods of 2023, we explored the Frederick Municipal Forest. The forest is an important source of drinking water for the City of Frederick, Maryland. We have been doing a Walk in the Woods for many years in the region and typically we have several babbling brooks we carefully cross. Our drought conditions were on full display during last Saturday’s hike when we barely saw a trickle over the dry rocks. Regardless, the hike participants enjoyed a lovely day in the woods learning about forest management, trees, and the interesting history of the Frederick Municipal Forest.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for all of our Walk in the Woods in 2023! We look forward to planning more fun ways to get people out and about to enjoy all the Potomac River basin has to offer.

Dry conditions spur additional Water Supply Outlook

November 3, 2023

Staff at ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) has been in active drought monitoring status for almost a month now. In the past, the monthly Water Supply Outlook was only published from April to October. However, due to the persistent dry conditions, staff decided to publish an additional Water Supply Outlook for November. The report notes that rain in October was 1.6 inches below average. See the summary or read the full report >>>

News from Around the Basin – November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Protecting our river from spills 🦸‍♀️, drought continues ☀️, spooky species in the Potomac River basin 🕷️, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir 💧 Nov 2, 2023.

The River Report – Flows Continue to Drop

At only 8.1” of rain over the past 3 months, we are 1.9” below average with no relief in sight. Some cities in the basin, including Emmitsburg, MD, and Strasburg, VA, are implementing mandatory water restrictions due to low water levels.

ICPRB CO-OP staff continue to carefully monitor the situation. Daily reports are posted on Twitter/X using #droughtmonitoring.

You may notice the daily ups and downs on the river’s flow at Point of Rocks in the graph, including a recent jump and subsequent dip. These fluctuations are due to dam operations artificially adjusting the flow upstream.

Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst

ICPRB and our utility and government partners work hard to ensure a resilient and reliable water supply for the 5 million+ people who rely on the Potomac River and its tributaries for their drinking water. This week, we took a few days to practice our response to an oil spill in the river, including deploying a boom (see the video).

These exercises help us be prepared for possible spills or other threats to our drinking water. Participants included WSSC Water, Fairfax Water, DC Water, Town of Leesburg, Virginia, Loudoun Water, and government agencies from throughout the Potomac watershed. The event was planned and funded by US Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 with the assistance of ICPRB. See more photos on our Facebook post.

(A Snowy) Winter is Coming

Meteorologists predict up to 6” more snow than average this winter. This will help refill our depleted groundwater, but it will also bring salty runoff into our streams, rivers, and even into groundwater. Our rivers are getting saltier, which is dangerous for aquatic life, our drinking water, and our infrastructure. Recent research event looks at how the issue extends beyond our freshwater supplies.

Last Saturday, a group of people enjoyed a guided hike to learn more about the issue of the overuse of winter salt and what they can do to make a difference. We also founds some spooky species along the way.

More pictures can be found on our Facebook page.

We walked along the Muddy Branch Trail, a 10-mile trail which ends at the Potomac River. The trail begins on the grounds of the Izaak Walton League of America’s national headquarters and ground zero for the Salt Watch program which was born after residents noticed a large pile of winter salt on the road above the Muddy Branch creek.

What can you do to protect our drinking water?

❄️ Shovel before you salt

🧂 Use less salt

🧹 Sweep it up and reuse it next time!

🧪 Get your own Salt Watch kit to monitor a stream near you.

Thanks to the Izaak Walton League of America and the City of Gaithersburg for partnering with us on this hike! We have one final guided hike for 2023. Join us this Saturday at 2:00 pm for the Walk in the Woods: Frederick Municipal Forest.