News From Around the Basin – September 19, 2024

A rainy drought, fall foliage, data center water use, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – September 19, 2024 >>>

River Report – Drought continues, despite recent rain

Last month was earth’s hottest August on record. Hot days add additional complications to already dry weather. However, if you are a wine drinker, there is at least one up side to our recent dry conditions: better wine. Cheers to that!

Today’s updated U.S. Drought Monitor map has not changed much from last week’s map, except the Extreme Drought in the basin has increased from 0.1% to 2.5.%.

ICPRB continues to provide daily emails as part of their Drought Monitoring, due to the low flows in the Potomac River. You can see the highlights of those daily reports by following #droughtmonitoring on Facebook and Twitter/X.

NEWS RELEASE: ICPRB Wins $419,300 Grant to Increase Eel Habitat in the Potomac River

The Chesapeake WILD grant will support opening passageways in the North Branch Potomac to allow migration of the American eel, a species of environmental, cultural, and historical significance.

The American eel has historically been found throughout the Potomac River. In recent centuries, dams and other hindrances have decreased access to available habitat resulting in significantly reduced population numbers. The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) recently was awarded a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) grant to help restore the eels to their native range and make existing populations more resilient.

Click here to read the full News Release >>>