ICPRB’s Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) has began active drought monitoring due to a low river flow.
When the Potomac River flow at Point of Rocks, Maryland, dips below 2,000 cubic feet per second, ICPRB initiates active drought monitoring. During this time, ICPRB staff sends daily reports to stakeholders and partners with data about flow, weather, and water-use.
The reports are available on the CO-OP Data Portal.
Learn more about ICPRB CO-OP’S Drought Monitoring and Operations>>>
Current flow at Potomac River at Point of Rocks, MD – 01638500:
Click here to view the Potomac River Reservoir in its entirety.
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 >>>
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 for an Outreach Program Manager position. The application period closes on June 30.
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. Please Contact Us for more information on how to attend.
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 >>>
Adjusted Daily Flow at Little Falls for 2023, 1999 and 2002, Daily Adjusted Flow Percentile for 1930-2021 Data, and Drought Year (2002) Demands plus Flow-by.
Click here to view the Potomac River Reservoir in its entirety.
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)
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
3.8 inches below average
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.
We are seeking a creative and motivated individual with a strong attention to detail to support the important work of the Communications Department in this small, collegial, non-regulatory agency. ICPRB focuses on water resources, drinking water, aquatic habitats, and environmental outreach and education. The Outreach Program Manager 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. An excellent candidate for this position has a positive attitude, is excited to learn new skills and ideas, and has a passion for the environment.
Click here to see the full Potomac News Reservoir – May 25, 2023
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.
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.
The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area (WMA) relies on the Potomac River for over three-quarters of its water supply. The area’s three major water suppliers (“CO-OP suppliers”), Fairfax Water, WSSC Water, and Washington Aqueduct participate in a cooperative system of water supply planning and management. This participation includes joint funding of water supply storage in reservoirs located upstream of the suppliers’ Potomac River intakes and coordinated operations during droughts.
During times of drought, the Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) plays a crucial role in coordinating water supply operations. By coordinating withdrawals from the Potomac River, Patuxent, and Occoquan reservoirs, the CO-OP staff help ensure that water resources are being utilized efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the system. When the forecasted flow in the river is not sufficient to meet expected demands, the CO-OP staff make requests for releases from upstream reservoirs. These demands include the water supply needs of the WMA and an environmental flow-by of 100 million gallons per day (MGD), or 155 cubic feet per second (cfs), on the Potomac River below the Little Falls Dam near Washington, D.C.
The ICPRB CO-OP section conducts an annual drought exercise to maintain readiness for drought conditions. These exercises serve as a platform for CO-OP staff to evaluate and discuss water management strategies with relevant stakeholders, prior to a real drought scenario. The activities aid in training CO-OP staff on regional agreements, tools, and decision-making processes. Moreover, they offer participants the chance to refine their communication processes and enhance organizational efficiency.
The recently published 2022 Washington Metropolitan Area Drought Exercise report describes activities conducted during the most recent exercise.
Stakeholders received twice-daily email reports on “actual” precipitation, river flow, water withdrawals, and “simulated” operations and reservoir storages. This included the following elements:
ICPRB’s recent lunchtime webinar on innovations in sustainable agriculture discussed everything from cutting edge technology to good ol’ fashioned boots-on-the-ground community building.
Highlights include:
We would like to thank Adam McClain of Pennsylvania’s Adams County Conservation District for moderating the discussion.
Click here to see the full Potomac News Reservoir – May 11, 2023
Water Supply Outlook
The monthly Water Supply Outlook explores the possibility of water supply releases from the area’s reservoirs based on long-term precipitation data, flows, and other information for the Potomac basin.
The Outlook for May reports that low groundwater levels and the recent lack of spring rain have increased the likelihood of water being released from backup reservoirs in the Washington metropolitan area during the dry seasons. Despite receiving some rainfall at the end of April, the cumulative precipitation in the basin over the last 12 months remains below normal.
Currently, the Potomac River flow is sufficient to meet water demands without upstream reservoir releases. However, a prolonged dry spell could lead to hydrological drought. In the case of a drought, the region has contingency plans in place to manage water supply shortages.
Learn more in the May Water Supply Outlook >>>
Funding and Assistance for Small Water Utilities
Earlier this week, small water systems from the western part of the Potomac basin joined us in Romney, W.V., to learn about funding options, updated regulations, emergency preparedness, and more tools to protect our sources of drinking water.
Speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Rural Water Association shared their resources with the group. The event was organized by the members of the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership, a coalition of government agencies and water utilities that work together on source water protection issues.
In Celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week
We know teachers inspire the next generation of scientists. To assist them in this important work, ICPRB provides a variety of resources for formal and non-formal educators, including bilingual lesson plans that address a variety of curriculum requirements and the Environmental Resource Directory which links to organizations that can provide field experiences, professional development, funding, and more.
Stay informed about the latest news, impactful projects, environmental challenges, and community initiatives in the Potomac River watershed—sign up today!