| Targeted Watershed | |
| We work in several targeted watersheds in the region. Please click on links below or on the map to learn more about these areas.
Cacapon River & Lost River |
 Maps of the Potomac watershed are available here. |
| Cacapon River and Lost River |
 The Cacapon River watershed, located in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern West Virginia, contains portions of Hardy, Hampshire, and Morgan counties. It is rural and mostly forested, but housing development and land fragmentation have increased dramatically in the last decade. Still, the Cacapon River remains one of the state’s highest quality streams and is well-loved by paddlers and anglers. The Lost River, flowing mostly through Hardy County, is a unique start to the Cacapon River. Lost River sinks (or is lost) underground near Baker, WV and re-emerges a long stretch later as the Cacapon River near Wardensville, WV. Cacapon/Lost River Highlights:
What We Do:
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| Recent and Ongoing Projects: |
| Cacapon Legacy Project Corridor: The Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust developed the Legacy Project to maintain a habitat corridor connecting the George Washington National Forest with the Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Hampshire County, WV. To date, approximately 7,000 acres are under perpetual conservation easement in this broad corridor. |
| Cacapon Mountain Conservation Hub: The Cacapon Mountain Conservation Hub in Morgan County, WV is the latest priority area for the Trust and Potomac Conservancy. The planned hub of conserved lands will span from the Cacapon River to the 6,000-acre Cacapon State Park, and the project aims to protect water quality as well as important forest and wildlife resources. We’re pleased with the conservation interest in the region and are excited to help protect this significant landscape. |
| Monocacy River |
 The Monocacy River and watershed drains an area that includes parts of Pennsylvania and three counties in Maryland. The watershed covers most of Frederick County, Maryland, an area rich in agricultural and Civil War history. The Monocacy flows through mainly agricultural areas, with rapidly- growing communities springing up throughout the watershed, especially along the I-270 corridor northwest of Washington, DC. About 60% of the watershed is in agricultural use, while roughly 30% is forested, mainly in the Catoctin Mountains. The river itself is a lazy sort of affair that has been designated a Maryland Wild & Scenic River. This rapidly growing watershed is still framed by rolling farmland and wooded hillsides but growth from the Washington, D.C. area is quickly turning farm field and forest into parking lot and roadway. The watershed is the largest contributor of sediment to the Potomac River. As such, much work needs to be done to increase forest buffers along the many miles of streams that are currently not cloaked in forest. Not unlike other watersheds, the Monocacy is sorely lacking in "riparian" or forest buffers along its streams, and in some cases, livestock are allowed easy access into streams. This causes erosion of the streambanks (causing sediments to fall into the river) and also increases fecal coliform levels, making stretches of the river unsafe for prolonged human contact. |
| Recent and Ongoing Projects: |
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Aimee Weldon, Potomac Conservancy's Senior Director of Restoration and Lands, heads up our work in the Monocacy watershed, working with a multitude of partner organizations and government bodies. Our projects include:
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| Potomac Gorge |
 The Potomac Gorge lies at the "fall line" where the east coast meets the first Appalachian ridges. Here numerous rare and globally significant plant and animal species can be found. Yes, along the roaring Beltway is a diverse and remarkably wild landscape accessible from Cabin John Parkway, MacArthur Boulevard, Crest Lane, and Georgetown Pike. Whether it is bass and shad gliding past your boat or the shriek of the peregrine falcon, the fastest animal in the world, streaming overhead, the Potomac Gorge is much more than Great Falls and Class V rapids. It is hiking, birding, boating, home, a classroom, and most of all, a place that belongs to everyone. |
| Recent and Ongoing Projects: |
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Tree Buffer: Trees along the Potomac River and its tributary streams filter out pollutants from the land, stabilize banks to reduce erosion, provide great habitat and food for many animals, and shade water to keep it cool for popular fish. They also make paddling or hiking along the river a special experience by maintaining natural views. Thanks to the support of the community, Potomac Conservancy has helped maintain tree buffers. Within the Potomac Gorge and on many tributary streams, the Conservancy has helped landowners permanently protect their riverfront properties so those important buffer trees will never be disturbed. We hope the Potomac River will someday be completely protected with tree buffers that keep the water clean and create a cozy corridor for wildlife, paddlers, hikers, swimmers, and all those who enjoy clean water and natural landscapes. |
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Islands: The Conservancy owns several Potomac River islands near Washington, D.C. that are open to the public. These islands are refuges from the roar of the city and Potomac conservancy strives to keep them that way. Contact us if you’d like to visit one of our islands, and when visiting, please respect the plants, wildlife, and water resources there by following the “Leave no trace” principles. Management of our islands includes removing invasive plants and keeping up the trail and camping network we have set up. Please contact us at 301.608.1188 for more information. More... |
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C&O Canal: Additionally, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, locally known as the C&O or "the Canal" follows the length of the river in the Gorge and provides great access to hiking and boat put-ins. We continue to work with the National Park Service to improve the services and preservation of the recreational and natural history elements that make this, "our backyard National Park", such a great asset. Toward this end, through our policy initiatives, we support increased funding for this Park (it receives thirty cents of every dollar it needs) and highlight threats to the scenic and biological integrity of the Park. More... |
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River Center at Lock 8:The River Center is a great weekend visit along the Canal and in the Gorge. Step in during the spring or summer and learn about the Canal and the Potomac Watershed. More... |
| Shenandoah Valley, including Cedar and Passage Creeks |
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The Shenandoah Valley spans much of Virginia’s western boundary and stretches into Jefferson County, WV, where the Shenandoah River meets the Potomac at Harpers Ferry, WV. The Valley has been home to Native Americans, a corridor for pioneer movement, and host to many significant Civil War battles. This heritage, a strong agricultural industry, excellent boating and fishing, and numerous parks and famous hiking trails, support those who live here and draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The Shenandoah River is:
Potomac Conservancy:
 Cedar Creek runs more than 36 miles from its headwaters in the George Washington National Forest to its confluence with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River near Strasburg. Cedar Creek's watershed is one of the largest and most heavily forested areas of the northern Shenandoah Valley. 51% of the Upper Cedar Creek watershed and 31% of the Lower Cedar Creek watershed is forested. Click here for our Cedar Creek report.
Passage Creek flows through a beautiful, narrow valley called Fort Valley before joining up with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Fort Valley is a geographically-isolated, high elevation valley within two spine-like ridges of Massanutten Mountain. The privately-owned lowlands along Passage Creek are completely surrounded by National Forest land on the ridges. Passage Creek is a Virginia "Heritage Trout Stream" and is a popular spring whitewater destination as well.
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| Recent and Ongoing Projects: |
| Presence in the Valley: Through Potomac Conservancy's Shenandoah Resource Center in Winchester, VA, the Conservancy has reached out to hundreds of farmers, foresters, and suburban landowners to encourage conservation of the Potomac River's fragile headwaters. |
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Strategic Planning: With geographic information systems (GIS), the Conservancy evaluates and prioritizes sub-watersheds within the Potomac watershed, and then lands within sub-watersheds with a variety of factors. This includes ecological value and presence of other conservation organizations. This strategic planning allows us to spend our time and resources where they can do the most good. We also partner with other area groups like Trout Unlimited and County Conservation Easement Authorities to dovetail our efforts, wherever possible. |
| General Outreach: The Conservancy regularly publishes articles in nearby Virginia and West Virginia newspapers to inform the general public about conservation practices, upcoming workshops, and financial incentives to help cover the costs of conservation projects. |
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Landowner Outreach: Potomac Conservancy staff present at community meetings and regularly contact landowners in priority Cedar Creek and Passage Creek watersheds to share information about restoration and land protection options. |
| South Branch of Potomac River |
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The area is characterized by its scenic views, working farm and forest landscapes, and ample recreational opportunities. Here, Potomac Conservancy in collaboration with local partners such as the Hampshire County Farmland Protection Board, are breaking new ground in landowner outreach and education to facilitate restoration and permanent protection of these remarkable riverside lands. By working with individual landowners, we are able to offer tailored conservation solutions for the working farm or forest. Then, by agreeing to a voluntary agreement with the Conservancy, landowners can be assured that their favorite hunting location or beloved farm will forever remain protected.
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From the high mountains of West Virginia, the South Branch of the Potomac River embarks on a windy path through forestland, farmland, and small towns to Greenspring, WV where it joins the North Branch to form the main stem Potomac River. The lower South Branch Valley is tightly squeezed in Hardy and Hampshire counties in “the Trough” by Mill Creek Mountain and Sawmill Ridge and then bounds free into a wide floodplain, uncommon in West Virginia. These fertile grounds support many farms and communities, while the mountains provide a forest backdrop and important forest resources.