Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin - ICPRB

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin - ICPRB Protecting and preserving the Potomac through science and cooperation. The federal government also is a member.

Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1940, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin is an advisory, non-regulatory interstate compact agency of the Potomac basin states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. ICPRB was formed in response to extreme pollution levels that required a regional, cooperative response by all the jurisdictions. In 1970, amendments to the compact empowered ICPRB to address not just pollution issues, but water resources and related land issues by two or more jurisdictions. The river’s water quality has in many ways vastly improved, but threats to the river (population increases, land use change and the growth of impervious surface, chemical contaminants, and nutrient and sediment enrichment) require regional attention. The regional efforts needed to address these challenges help to inform ICPRB’s Strategic Plan. Our mission is to protect and enhance the waters and related resources of the Potomac River basin through science, regional cooperation, and education. Considered the “Nation’s River,” for more than six million basin residents, the river plays an important role in the lives of all. Through regional cooperation and partnerships, ICPRB is protecting the river and improving the quality of life in the watershed. ICPRB jurisdictions are represented by appointed Commissioners. Commission staff includes professionals from various disciplines, including environmental engineers, aquatic ecologists, biologists, and professionals in communications. One staff member works directly with the Chesapeake Bay Program out of their Annapolis, Maryland, office.

09/24/2026

Another ICPRB Annual Business Meeting on the books. Thanks for hosting, AlexRenew!

The annual ICPRB business meeting was held earlier this week at AlexRenew in Alexandria, VA. In addition to an informati...
09/24/2026

The annual ICPRB business meeting was held earlier this week at AlexRenew in Alexandria, VA. In addition to an informative tour of the tunnel system of the RiverRenew project, which treats the combined wastewater and stormwater for the city of Alexandria, the meeting held a number of highlights:

Director of CO-OP Operations, Dr. Alimatou Seck provided an update on drought conditions in the region.

The group heard a presentation from Sarah Ahmed, the associate director of our newly established Spill Response section, on the work her department is doing to strengthen the region’s response capabilities after an emergency, which includes computer modeling they conducted after the Potomac Interceptor incident.

Delegate Kathy Tran (previous ICPRB Commissioner) presented Executive Director Nardolilli with VA House Resolution 371 which commends the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin with 85 years of protecting water resources.

New Commissioners were officially welcomed with an ICPRB pin. This includes Commissioner Delegate JJ Singh (replacing Del. Kathy Tran), and Alternate Commissioner Delegate Israel D. O’Quinn (replacing Del. Joshua Cole). Commissioner Jayne Brown (DC) and Commissioner Justin Carl (VA) have also joined the team.

Commissioner Lee Currey (MD) was confirmed as Chair for both ICPRB and CO-OP for 2027. We’d like to thank Commissioner Willem Brakel (DC) for his year of service as 2026 Chair.

We’d like to thank AlexRenew and Commissioner Justin Carl for hosting us!

SUSPENDING DAILY DROUGHT MONITORING🌊 Yesterday’s average daily flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of...
09/24/2026

SUSPENDING DAILY DROUGHT MONITORING

🌊 Yesterday’s average daily flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Point of Rocks gage was 2570 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is above the 2000 cfs drought monitoring threshold. Flow has continued to rise, with today’s flow estimated at 3600 cfs.

Therefore, we are suspending daily .

☔ Scattered rain fell across the Potomac basin during the past 24 hours, with amounts generally ranging from 0.1 to 0.25 inches with up 0.5 inches locally. Little rain is forecast across most of the basin over the next week. (MARFC)

👀 We will continue to watch river conditions and resume drought monitoring if needed.

We would like to thank the organizations and water suppliers for your continued support and cooperation.

As a reminder, the region remains in a Drought Watch as declared by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments earlier this summer. Everyone is asked to continue to use water wisely by taking simple actions like turning off the tap when its not in use, only doing full loads of laundry and dishes, and taking shorter showers.

In today's (9/23/26) update: 📈Yesterday’s average daily flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Col...
09/23/2026

In today's (9/23/26) update:
📈Yesterday’s average daily flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia gage at Point of Rocks was 1,640 cfs, below the 2,000 cfs threshold for CO-OP daily drought monitoring. Flows are increasing, however, due to recent rainfall, with instantaneous flows at Point of Rocks reaching 2,450 cfs this morning. The decision to discontinue daily drought monitoring will be considered if the average daily flow rises above the 2,000 cfs threshold.

☔ Forecast amounts over the next three days generally increase from north to south, from trace amounts in the northern basin to as much as an inch in some localized southern areas according to US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center.

🐟🏄‍♂️ Special conditions: Intra-daily flow fluctuations at Potomac River gages for eel passage continue. The final scheduled whitewater release from Savage River Dam for 2026 will occur on Saturday, September 26.

09/22/2026

The report for Sept. 22, 2026:

☔️ 0.1-2 inches of rain fell over the past 24 hours, with the greatest accumulations occurring in the northern portions of the basin.

🔮 The next 3 days can expect to see an additional 0.5 to 2 inches of rainfall according to US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center.

🌊 Flow at USGS Point of Rocks gage is 1700 cfs.

📣 Special Conditions -

The Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that the final scheduled whitewater release from Savage River Dam for 2026 will occur on Saturday, September 26.

Intra-daily flow fluctuations at Potomac River gages, including Point of Rocks, are occurring due to upstream dam operations associated with eel passage.

Note: While rain is in the forecast, the region remains in Drought Watch status per the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments declaration earlier this year. A drought status is an accumulation of many factors, including the amount of rain, length of the storm, temperature, and more.

09/22/2026

Snorkeling the shenandoah with Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin - ICPRB and the Shenandoah Riverkeeper. What will we find!?

The report for Monday, September 21: 🌊 Flow at the USGS streamgage at Point of Rocks: 1540 cubic feet per second☔️ 0.1...
09/21/2026

The report for Monday, September 21:

🌊 Flow at the USGS streamgage at Point of Rocks: 1540 cubic feet per second
☔️ 0.1 to 0.5 inches of rain fell in the basin over the past 24 hours, primarily in the western portion of the basin.
🔮 According to the US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, chances for rain will persist throughout the week, with widespread showers expected Tuesday. Forecast rainfall through Wednesday morning ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 inches, with amounts exceeding 1 inch expected across western and southern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
🚣🏄‍♂️🐟 Special conditions: whitewater release from Savage River dam scheduled for Sep 26. Intra-daily flow fluctuations at Potomac River gages, including Point of Rocks, are occurring due to upstream dam operations associated with eel passage.

Today’s report (Sept. 20, 2026):🌊 While rain is in the forecast, flows at Point of Rocks remain low at 1680 cfs, which...
09/20/2026

Today’s report (Sept. 20, 2026):

🌊 While rain is in the forecast, flows at Point of Rocks remain low at 1680 cfs, which is near the 25th percentile for this time of year.

🔮 1.5 to 2 inches of rain is expected over the next 3 days and 2 to 3 inches over the next 5 to 7 days, with higher amounts possible in portions of the watershed. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)

The River’s Ups and DownsWe just started seeing bigger daily fluctuations in the the river’s flow at the USGS Science in...
09/20/2026

The River’s Ups and Downs

We just started seeing bigger daily fluctuations in the the river’s flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Point of Rocks gage. This is due to upstream hydroelectric dam operations designed to protect American eels.

The dams are turned off nightly from mid-September to mid-December during the annual American eel migration downstream. This keeps the slippery fish from getting caught in dam machinery as they make their way to sea to spawn. As a result, the flows downstream show daily fluctuations. Water resources experts, like ICPRB, are aware of these predicable fluctuations and include them in their planning calculations.

Want to know more? Learn about ICPRB’s work with American eels >>> https://www.potomacriver.org/news/news-release-icprb-wins-419300-grant-to-increase-eel-habitat-in-the-potomac-river/

The report for Sept. 19, 2026:🌊 Flow at Point of Rocks gage is 1800 cfs.🔮 According to forecasts by US National Weathe...
09/19/2026

The report for Sept. 19, 2026:

🌊 Flow at Point of Rocks gage is 1800 cfs.

🔮 According to forecasts by US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, accumulated rainfall in the Potomac watershed will be approximately 0.5 inches over the next 3 days and 1 to 2 inches over the next 5 days.

🚣 Special Conditions: The last whitewater release from Savage River Dam for 2026 is scheduled for next Saturday, September 26th, 2026. You can find the 2026 water quality release schedule for Jennings Randolph and Savage reservoirs on the public website, https://water.usace.army.mil/office/nab/releases/north-branch.

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401 N. Washington Street, Ste 300
Rockville, MD
20850

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