Failed due to the large amount of stormwater runoff in the wettest year of 2018 in the recorded history; however, all river users are witnessing that the water quality is improving steadily. Photo of suburban maryland by David Wilson. […] It leaches toxins as it breaks down, puts wildlife in danger, disturbs water flow in small streams, and costs local jurisdictions tens of thousands of dollars annually in removal efforts. The Potomac Conservancy, which released the 2020 Potomac River Report Card, said more polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas and fewer trees to slow and filter rainfall were among the factors causing the grade to slip. The Potomac River is now the cleanest it has been in years, according to a new report. The Potomac Conservancy, which released the 2020 Potomac River Report Card, said more polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas and fewer trees to slow and filter rainfall were among the factors causing the grade to slip. A 2017 study in the Potomac River around Washington, DC, found microplastics accumulating in underwater grasses. The cultural and historic lifeblood of our nation’s capital remains a living, pulsing force providing sus… (Not to mention, forests are one of our best defenses against the climate emergency.). SHENANDOAH RIVERKEEPER SPONSORED MID-ATLANTIC SMALLMOUTH BASS HEALTH ASSESSMENT Thursday, 8 August 2019 Mather Training Facility, Harpers Ferry, WV Executive Summary Anglers, fishing guides and fisheries biologists all have noticed a precipitous decline in the number of smallmouth bass inhabiting our Mid-Atlantic rivers over the past few years. Clean water solution: Trees are nature’s best Brita filters. You’ll receive our next monthly River Update with clean water news, wildlife stories, and fun - usually free - outdoor events. While plastic pollution falls in Washington, DC and Maryland, Virginia is seeing an increase in plastic litter found in its parks and local waterways. In the shadows of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River has long been known as D.C.’s forgotten river due to the effects of heavy pollution and neglect. As the region makes room for 2.3 million new residents, sprawl is creeping into rural areas and paving over agricultural and forested lands at a rapid pace. POTOMAC RIVERKEEPER NETWORK ISSUES SWIMMABLE POTOMAC REPORT Identifies Where and When The Potomac is Safe For Human Contact. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. Several state and federal programs fully cover the costs of installing these measures, called best management practices (BMPs). Learn how you can support our work and prevent agricultural pollution flowing downstream to your community at potomac.org/lands. Environmentalists say the coal plant is responsible for polluting the Potomac River. Polluted runoff from agricultural lands, including cow and chicken feces, remains the single largest contributor of pollution in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Though the fight against river pollution is gaining momentum, action still needs to be taken against some of the lesser known contaminants plaguing the Potomac. The District’s Department of Energy and Environment posted an “interim record of decision” on its website spelling out its intent to dredge or cap and treat contaminated river sediments in 11 “hot spots” along a 9-mile stretch of the lower Anacostia before it joins the Potomac River. Learn five ways* pollution is legally entering our waters and what you can do to right the course for the Potomac. The state has also launched legal actions against the mill. The paper mill closed in June 2019 and is the subject of a federal lawsuit, initiated by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the Environmental … Days (7) -- or -- Begin date End date . This past winter, they cut down even more and dumped the debris right in the river! Just 45 miles upstream from our nation’s capital, developers in Loudoun County, Virginia, can legally cut down trees along the Potomac River and local streams. Clean water solution: Tell your local decision-makers to say no to sprawl and yes to river friendly growth! Worse still, when cows are allowed access to creeks and streams, they spread disease, hormones, e-coli, and other bacteria through their feces. SHENANDOAH RIVERKEEPER SPONSORED MID-ATLANTIC SMALLMOUTH BASS HEALTH ASSESSMENT Thursday, 8 August 2019 Mather Training Facility, Harpers Ferry, WV Executive Summary Anglers, fishing guides and fisheries biologists all have noticed a precipitous decline in the number of smallmouth bass inhabiting our Mid-Atlantic rivers over the past few … This kind of pollution frequently affects the Anacostia River and Rock Creek, and can affect the adjacent segment of the Potomac. Potomac Conservancy works one-on-one with small family farms to provide landowners with the expertise and resources they need to install BMPs and keep pollution out of upstream waters. Clean water solution: This type of pollution is largely unregulated, which means voluntary, private efforts are the main way to make progress. The paper mill closed in June 2019 and is the subject of a federal lawsuit, initiated by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the Environmental Integrity Project, for leaking a toxic black waste liquid called “black liquor” into the river. The Potomac River is now the cleanest it has been in years, according to a new report. Stand up for clean water and urge your local leaders to protect tree buffers along our streams! But there's a reason why our children still cannot safely swim in the Potomac River and fishermen are cautioned against eating their catch: There are still plenty of ways to legally pollute our rivers. Maryland environmental regulators have filed a federal lawsuit against the owner of the closed Luke paper mill in Allegany County, accusing it of continuing to pollute the North Branch of the Potomac River with toxic contaminants. *We left out one egregious example: Hundreds of millions of gallons of raw diluted sewage enter the Potomac River every year through Combined Sewage Overflows (CSOs). Vernon and the Federal City bearing his name just upstream, the Potomac’s first calling is its service as the southern headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Despite this progress, pollution remains a major issue. The Bay TMDL is a "pollution diet" established by the quality in the Potomac River estuary, particularly the tidal fresh portion of the estuary from Chain Bridge to the area around Port Washington. GenOn Potomac is pleased to have resolved this legacy matter with the District. USGS 01646500 POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA. Bear with us, this is about to get a little strange. We’ll keep you updated on local river news, wildlife, and fun outdoor events. 7 local animals making a comeback thanks to clean water. Pollutants such as nutrients and sediment continue to decline, while native wildlife like … The Potomac Conservancy, which released the 2020 Potomac River Report Card, said more polluted runoff from urban and suburban areas and fewer trees to … This spells bad news for our waters. The region’s leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities. Based on data from 2018 and 2019, heavier-than-average rainfall likely played an outsized role in the outcome, too. Contact Staff; Potomac Riverkeeper Network > Events > RiverPalooza 2019. Sign up to receive our monthlyRiver Update email. With recent efforts to remediate the river, the Anacostia and its surrounding neighborhoods are a site of urban development and environmental gentrification. July 17, 2019 | 01:00 PM – 06:00 PM (Rain Date: August 15th, 2019) Join your Potomac Riverkeeper and REI for a guided and interpretive paddle to learn about the history of the Ghost Fleet on the Potomac. Without legal repercussions in the county, Trump National Golf Course was allowed to clear cut 1.5 miles of trees along the Potomac in 2010. Ask an Expert: Why is plastic pollution increasing in Virginia? Clean water advocates are planning to sue a West Virginia coal company for pollution in the Potomac River. While each occurs naturally, excess amounts of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment can harm aquatic life, degrade wildlife habitat, contribute to harmful algal blooms, and make local streams, rivers, and drinking water sources unsafe. During Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 2018 Potomac Watershed Cleanup Day, volunteers across the region removed over 346,000 pounds of trash. PRKN envisions a day when the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, and all their tributaries, are restored to healthy and safe resources for the people, plants, and animals that depend on them. Featured Events. Small pieces of trash add up quickly to an enormous source of pollution found in our local waters. Based on data from 2018 and 2019, heavier-than-average rainfall likely played an outsized role in the outcome, too. PRKN Event. Featured Events. Clean water solution: This type of pollution is largely unregulated, which means voluntary, private efforts are the main way to make progress. With recent efforts to remediate the river, the Anacostia and its surrounding neighborhoods are a site of urban development and environmental gentrification. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Environmental Integrity Project and Appalachian Mountains Advocate sent a joint letter of intent to sue to D&L Coal Company, Inc. on Thursday, claiming that the coal facility has been allowing stormwater runoff contaminated with […] Quiz: What's up with swimming in the Potomac River? Eels are nearly extinct in the Potomac River. Read more about river friendly growth. ... 2019-06-11: Output format Graph Graph w/ stats Graph w/o stats Graph w/ (up to 3) parms Table Tab-separated. Our collective voices are already making huge strides for local, 5 *completely legal* ways to pollute the Potomac, legally cut down trees along the Potomac River, Study finds the Potomac is getting saltier, threatening drinking water and wildlife. 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