ICPRB’s report on economic consequences to water supply disruption, Fred Co proposes reigning in data centers, DC’s official amphibian, and more, in today’s Potomac News Reservoir – September 26, 2024 >>>

NEWS RELEASE: New Report Exposes Alarming Economic Impacts on DC Region if Faced with Water Supply Disruption

On Tuesday, ICPRB held a press conference to unveil a new report highlighting the significant and dire financial consequences facing the Washington, D.C., region in the event of a disruption to the area’s water supply.

ICPRB’s Executive Director Michael Nardolilli opened the press conference with a quote from Ben Franklin, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

In just one month, a significant disruption from threats like infrastructure failures or natural disasters in D.C.’s water supply could result in a loss of $15 billion in gross regional product and hundreds of millions in tax losses, according to the report, “The Economic and Fiscal Costs of Water Supply Disruption to the National Capital Region.”

During the press conference, ICPRB, along with officials from the Greater Washington Board of Trade, DC Water, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and the American Business Water Coalition, called for Congressional action to fund crucial infrastructure projects to ensure greater resiliency in the D.C. region’s water supply and safeguard the health and safety of both the public and the economy.

“The Potomac River is the single source of drinking water for D.C. and provides water for roughly five million people in the region,” said ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli. “It is integral to the functioning of the nation’s capital. This report clearly shows that any disruption to the water supply would have catastrophic economic consequences for the region, especially for the most vulnerable residents of our nation’s capital. Securing the resilience of our water infrastructure is not just a priority, it’s a necessity.”

Learn more and read the entire report >>>

River Report – ICPRB Discontinues Daily Drought Monitoring

ICPRB ceased daily Drought Monitoring last Saturday due to increased river flows and rain in the forecast.

Today’s U.S. Drought Monitor map sees a slight increase in Extreme Drought over last week but drought conditions improved in the southern part of the watershed.

NOAA’s National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) is predicting the remnants of Hurricane Helene will drop some rain across the western part of the basin which will increase river flows and bring some badly-needed moisture to the area.

When it rains, it pours. MARFC is calling for coastal flooding in the District and neighboring communities. Stay safe and avoid driving through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown.

Our thoughts are with those in the path of Hurricane Helene.

ICPRB initiates drought monitoring, plus data center zoning, big grants for cleanup, stream restoration, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir >>> 

River Report – ICPRB Initiates Drought Monitoring, Again

As of yesterday morning, ICPRB has started Drought Monitoring due to low flows in the Potomac River and no rain expected in the next week. The Potomac River supplies drinking water to 78% of people in the greater Washington metro region and 100% of residents in the District of Columbia and Arlington County, Virginia.

It has been about a month since Tropical Storm Debby blew through and increased the rivers flow enough to give us respite from the daily drought emails, but the river’s flow is now below the 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Potomac Rocks USGS gage, which is the threshold for drought monitoring.

During Drought Monitoring, staff at ICPRB’s Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) prepare a daily email for water suppliers and government agencies with flow, weather, and demand conditions. This important information can be used to inform water supply operations.

During periods of drought, the CO-OP helps manage the Washington metropolitan area water supply system by coordinating withdrawals from the Potomac River and off-river reservoirs and recommending releases from upstream reservoirs when forecasted flow in the river is not sufficient to meet expected needs.

Follow the conversation and see the daily emails using #droughtmonitoring on Facebook and Twitter/X.

The Washington metropolitan area remains in a Drought Watch declared by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on July 29. Authorities are asking folks to use water wisely.

Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows very little changes in the Potomac River watershed (gray line) from last week.

ICPRB Welcomes New Chair and Commissioners

Earlier this week, ICPRB commissioners and staff met in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the annual Commission meeting which was graciously hosted by the Adams County Conservation District.

Pennsylvania State Representative (and ICPRB Commissioner) Dan Moul offered welcoming remarks and Conservation District Manager Adam McClain highlighted the activities of the Adams County Conservation District. Ten percent of the Potomac River basin is in Pennsylvania, including Gettysburg.

Recently appointed commissioners were welcomed with an ICPRB pin. We would like to officially welcome Jessica Shirley (PA), Chris Ann Kemple (PA), Birthe Kjellerup (MD), Del. Kathy K.L. Tran (VA), Del. Joshua Cole (VA), and Steve Saari (DC) to the Commission.

The commissioners confirmed Scott Morris (VA) as ICPRB’s chair and Robert Sussman (Fed) as CO-OP chair for 2025. Mindy Neil (WV) and Scott Morris (VA) will be vice chairs, respectively. ICPRB Executive Director Michael Nardolilli thanked outgoing chair, Susan Weaver (PA), for her leadership in shepherding the adoption of a new three-year Strategic Plan for ICPRB as well as completing the first five-year review of the long-term ICPRB Comprehensive Plan.

The meeting was followed by a tour of Knouse Foods applesauce and juice processing facility in Orrtanna, PA. Commissioners and staff donned hair nets and ear plugs while they learned about the water conservation measures implemented by the facility, including equipment replacement, use monitoring, as well as adjusting processes to conserve water during a drought.

See more pictures on our Facebook post >>>

New NOAA rapid onset drought prediction 🌊 tool, urban swimming 🏊‍♀️trend, 💩-powered buses, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir – June 20, 2024 >>>

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin Newsletter — June 20, 2024

River Report – New NOAA Rapid Onset Drought Prediction Tool

You might have noticed it’s hot outside. According to the new NOAA Climate Prediction Center, which just became live last month, the excessive heat may lead to a regional rapid onset drought. Also known as a flash drought, these events are tied to extreme temperatures and other variables that quickly soak up available moisture.

The river’s flow at the USGS gage at Point of Rocks is hovering around 2,600 cubic feet per second (cfs), and dropping. If the flow goes below 2,000 cfs, ICPRB’s CO-OP team will initiate daily drought monitoring. In the case of a drought, the DC Metro area is well protected due to decades of planning and preparation.

It’s always a good idea to be mindful of our water use. Here are a few tips to be water wise:

🛠️ Fix leaky pipes.

🚿 Take shorter showers.

🌿 Choose native plants for your landscaping.

🥤 Capture and reuse water from activities like washing vegetables or waiting for the water to warm up. This water can be used to water plants or to clean.

🚰 Brushing teeth? Washing hands? Doing dishes? Turn the faucet off when you are not actively using the water during these daily activities.

What to celebrate this week: West Virginia Day (June 20)

With 3,490 square miles of land in the Potomac watershed, West Virginia makes up almost 25% of the total watershed. However, West Virginians make up a only small fraction (0.04%) of the overall population.* Happy West Virginia Day! (*2020 census)

ICPRB in the Community

Join ICPRB at one of our upcoming events:

• June 29 – Walk in the Woods: Mussel Power with Anacostia Watershed Society (DC)
• July 12 – Riverpalooza: Shenandoah Snorkel, Mussel, & Paddle Trip (Bentonville, VA)
• August 24 – Oxon Run Day (DC)

Find even more fun activities on our Events Calendar > > >

Finding a Lost River, reviving a forgotten river, and more, in this week’s Potomac News Reservoir > > >

Are you seeing green?

Does the warm weather, birds singing, and flowers blooming have you seeing green all around? What about in the water?

On the evening of April 30th, ICPRB staff, in coordination with our West Virginia partners, deployed a bright green dye into the lower Lost River. Although we’re a little late for St. Patrick’s Day, the dye will help scientists understand how water travels underground in a complex geological environment.

During dry weather, the Lost River disappears underground and reappears as the Cacapon River. The geological connection between the two rivers is not fully understood.

As the food grade dye sinks into the cracks and fissures in the Lost River, ICPRB scientists will monitor and map the color as it reemerges at springs throughout the Cacapon watershed. To help us track the dye, staff installed passive carbon pack collectors (essentially fish tank carbon filters) throughout the watershed.

The safe dye will degrade and wash away in only a few days, leaving the Cacapon as it was before (if a bit less festive).

If you are familiar with the geology in the region, you can help our scientists by identifying springs and ground water sinks in the Lost River Valley, Rio Valley, or Upper Cacapon.

Watershed moments — What to celebrate this week: Drinking Water Week

What do your coffee maker, a brewery, and you have in common? They all need clean drinking water to function properly. Drinking Water Week is a time to celebrate our most vital resource and those who work to protect it.

Ways to celebrate Drinking Water Week (May 5-11):

• Learn where your drinking water comes from
• Discover new ways to be more water efficient
• Participate in a local river clean up

Thank you to all the water resource professionals who work hard to make sure our taps work when we need them (and our coffee maker, too!). Join the conversation using #drinkingwaterweek on your favorite social media platforms.