Exploring Groundwater in the Chesapeake Bay
As the saying goes, “We can’t manage what we can’t measure.” ICPRB’s water resources scientist, Dr. Alimatou Seck, recently published a paper in Hydrogeology Journal that demonstrated the successful use of a large-scale integrated hydrologic model to evaluate groundwater storage dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Understanding groundwater dynamics is an important piece of the Bay restoration puzzle.
Potomac River Conditions
The USGS graph showing the current flow flush with the median flow at Point of Rocks is only telling part of the story. The northern half of Maryland has been placed under a Drought Watch due to low groundwater levels. The gap between current precipitation and the average precipitation is shrinking, but not very quickly. Much of the basin continues to be in moderate or severe drought status, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center.
Current flow: 3410 cfs
Median flow: 3410 cfs
90 day precipitation: -2.0 inches
Fishing is the new Pickleball
Maybe it is only a coincidence that a bass rod is 6 feet long, but in 2020, the 6-feet social distancing recommendations led many people to try their hand at fishing. That year found a record number of anglers on the water.
The trend continues. According to the recent Special Report on Fishing from the Outdoor Foundation and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, 54.5 million people cast a rod in 2022. Last year saw a record number of female anglers, especially new participants. Additionally, over the last decade, Hispanic participation has increased by 45%.
If you want your kids or grandkids to enjoy the sport, start them young. According to the report, 86% of current anglers started fishing before they were 12 years old.
So, maybe you’re ready to put down that pickleball paddle and pick up a fishing pole? Here are some options to learn the craft in the Potomac watershed:
- Friday Night Fishing at Diamond Teague Park with the Anacostia Riverkeeper (Friday nights, June 23 – August 5, Washington, DC)
- Beginner Fly Fishing Clinic with Friends of the Cacapon (July 22-23/Capon Bridge, WV)
- Women’s Intro to Fly Fishing Clinic (Sept 9/Frederick, MD)
- Some outdoor stores, such as Orvis, offer free fishing clinics throughout the summer.
If you are just looking for a new place to catch the “BIG FISH” 🐟, takemefishing.org offers a map of local places to fish and boat.
Don’t forget to check out our weekly Fishing News from Around the Basin at the bottom of the newsletter for the latest news and information about fishing in the Potomac River watershed.