Potomac Named Most Endangered River
American Rivers named the Potomac River, known as ‘the nation’s river’ as it flows through the capital, the most endangered in the country. While the Potomac is cleaner than it used to be, the river is still threatened by urban and agricultural pollution– and it could get much worse if Congress rolls back critical clean water safeguards. Click here for more information.
Take Action:
- Be a Potomac Advocate. Keep up on important issues for the lands and waters of the Potomac.
- Write your member of Congress to Stop the Continued Attacks on Your Clean Water. Congress must stop the ongoing attempts to weaken the Clean Water Act or prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from restoring protections for small streams and wetlands under the Act. (Click here for a list of Congressional representatives. For a sample letter, click here).
Upcoming River Center Events
Come to the River Center at Lock 8 in May and June for volunteer opportunities, nature walks and live music! Click here for more details.
- Canal Stewards at Fletcher's Cove
Sunday, May 20, 10 am - 12 pm
4940 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC
- National Trails Day
Saturday, June 2, 9 am - 1:30 pm
River Center at Lock 8
- Canal Stewards at Fletcher's Cove
Sunday, June 17, 10 am- 12 pm
4940 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC
Read more about each event here, or contact Outreach Coordinator Hannah Larson for more information!
Become a River Center Guide!
Interested in becoming more involved with the River Center at Lock 8? Sign up now to become a volunteer River Center Guide! Potomac Conservancy seeks guides on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from May through October to welcome visitors to our restored lockhouse along the Potomac River. You’ll share information about Canal history and the Potomac watershed and show visitors around our interactive exhibits. You’ll also become a part of a dedicated core group of River Center volunteers.
For more information or to sign up, please contact Hannah Larson at larson@potomac.org or (301) 608-1188 x205. Sign up now to help educate your community about the Potomac River!
12,000 Acres Preserved!
Potomac Conservancy Closes Five Easements in 2011
Last year brought great success to Potomac Conservancy's land protection initiatives! We closed on five easements with a total area of 573 acres. These easements bring Potomac Conservancy's total land saved to over 12,000 acres! Read more here.
Potomac Health Weakens as Population, Development Increase
Potomac Conservancy released its fifth annual State of the Nation’s River report, scoring the rivers’ health at a barely passing “D” grade, a downgrade from our previous D+. The report points to reasons for the low grade: growing population and land use practices as the primary culprits for a polluted and degraded Potomac River.
This new Conservancy report compares the western, undeveloped, reaches of the Potomac River region to the more urbanized sections, east and south. Evidence points to population increases and poor development practices as primary sources of stress on the Potomac River, at a regional and local scale.
Conservancy forum talks about new pollutants
Potomac Conservancy hosted science, policy, and technology experts for an important discussion about how to protect the health of our rivers and streams in light of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and other emerging contaminants that are present in our waterways.
Here are links to media coverage of the event:
Reports available from Potomac Conservancy
See our "Voice of the River" Annual Report to learn about the many successes Potomac Conservancy achieved in 2010. Click here for a PDF version (1,487 KB).
The State of the Nation's River report provides an overview and assessment of the condition of the nation's river and offers solutions on how to meet the needs of our populace while maintaining vigorous and healthy lands and waters.
Other Releases:
- Passage Creek Aquatic Community Assessment: The Conservancy, and researchers from Virginia Tech's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife launched a comprehensive study of this North Fork Shendanoah River tributary in 2007. Our report is available here.
