The water quality of the Potomac River received a “B” from the nonprofit Potomac Conservancy, the same grade it received in 2023.
More improvement is needed before the nation’s waterway is deemed fishable and swimmable.
According to the report, outdoor recreation in the Potomac River region rose 10% since 2020 thanks to infrastructure improvements and urban pollution reductions.
Forest loss, polluted runoff from area sprawl and heavy rainstorms are keeping the river from getting a higher grade, according to the report issued Wednesday. The report presents and assesses data on six health indicators, including pollution, fish, habitat, land, people and climate.
“That’s remarkable progress from a dismal ‘D’ in 2011,” said Conservancy President Hedrick Belin. “Bald eagles soar, more wildlife habitat is protected, and people flock to picnic, paddle, hike, and connect to their hometown river.”
However, he added, “But it’s undeniable that the river’s comeback has hit a plateau. In the last decade, the Potomac’s overall health has stopped improving. The hard truth is that the river that supplies drinking water to five million people still isn’t reliably safe for swimming or eating its fish.”
According to the report, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment are steadily declining, in part because of all the area cleanup work. Also, more than 245,000 acres of newly protected land was added to the Potomac’s forest and farmland during the past two years.
Still, polluted runoff is rising, and native fish are struggling, including smallmouth bass, striped bass and white perch.
“Local action is more critical than ever and that’s where Potomac Conservancy leads,” said Belin. “We combat polluted runoff and climate impacts by strengthening the region’s natural defenses. Over 35,000 people take an action each year on behalf of the Potomac River. That protects and expands streamside forests in particular — since trees are nature’s best solution to water pollution and climate extremes.”
Potomac Conservancy has set a goal of raising $8 million for its unprecedented Clean Water, Healthy Communities Campaign to dramatically increase the pace and scale of local forest conservation to protect the water. That campaign ends Dec. 31.
According to Mike Nardolilli, executive director of Interstate Commission on the Potomac River, “The Potomac River watershed is about the size of Switzerland. It goes from Staunton in the south to Gettysburg in the north, Point Lookout in the east, and Fairfax stone in the West, and it provides about 25% of the fresh water that flows into the Chesapeake Bay.”
