Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin - ICPRB

08/09/2026

🎉 ICPRB is suspending 🎉

🌊 Flows at the Point of Rocks gage has stayed above 2,000 cubic feet per second, the drought monitoring threshold, and are predicted to remain so through at least the beginning of this week. (USGS)

🔮 The next 3 days are forecasted to see between 0.1 and 0.5 inches of rain. (MARFC)

Thank you to all of the organizations and water suppliers for your continued support and cooperation.

08/08/2026

Today’s report (Aug. 8, 2026):

🌊 Flows continue to hover around 2,000 cfs, the CO-OP threshold for daily drought monitoring. (USGS)

🌦️ Over the past 24 hours, most portions of the basin have received trace amounts to 0.5 inches of rain.

🔮 Little rain is expected over the next 3 days. The 10-day outlook expects a total of about one inch of rain in the basin. (MARFC)

08/07/2026

We are excited to offer a new way to pay for our mapsets! You can now buy them using credit card (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) for $8.00 (which includes S&H).

The five colorful strip maps cover the area from Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to Potomac Park, Maryland. A valuable resource for canoeists, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts, this map set is printed on waterproof, tear-proof paper. The maps include information on boating, public access sites, support facilities, camping and fishing sites, and picnic and parking areas. The maps are filled with cultural and historical information, safety tips, and contact information.

The Lower Potomac Map Sets (from Washington, D.C. to Opequon Creek, Md.) are currently unavailable in print but can be downloaded and printed from our website (link in the comments).

This handsome guide to the river and canal was produced by ICPRB, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Maps of the Upper Potomac River The companion to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin’s popular “Potomac River and C&O Canal” map set is now available, covering the upper half of the area from Shepherdstown, W.Va., to just upstream of Cumberland, Md. A valuable resource for can...

08/07/2026

Today's report (August 7, 2026):

🌊 Potomac River flow at the Point of Rocks gage has climbed slightly above 2000 cfs, CO-OP’s threshold for daily drought monitoring. (USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia)

🔮There is a greater than 50% probability that flows remain above this level over the next 10 days. If it becomes clearer that higher flows will be sustained for a reasonable amount of time, ICPRB's daily drought monitoring will be discontinued. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)

🌦️MARFC predicts 0.3 to 0.4 inches of accumulated precipitation above Point of Rocks over the next 3 days. The 10-day outlook expects a total of approximately one inch of rain in the basin.

08/06/2026

The Report for August 6, 2026:

🌊 Rainfall over the past few days has not raised Potomac River flows significantly. Flow at USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Point of Rocks gage is 1780 cubic feet per second.

🔮 0.1 to 1.0 inches of rain is predicted over the next 3 days. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)

08/05/2026

Today's report (August 5, 2026):

🌊 Flow at Point of Rocks: 1960 cubic feet per second, close to the 25th percentile for this time of year. (USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia)

🔮 The next 24 hours may see 0.01 to 0.25 inches of rain in the basin with up to an 1 inch over the next 3 days and 1.25 inches over the next week. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)

🗺 NOAA's 7-day total precipitation forecast.

08/05/2026

Despite the recent rain in the D.C. region, the flow of the Potomac River is so low that local water suppliers are beginning to monitor for a drought.

08/04/2026

The report for August 4, 2026:

🌊 River flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Point of Rocks gage remains fairly steady at around 1750 cfs.

🌦️ The past 24 hours saw trace amounts of rainfall, mostly in the southern portions of the basin.

🔮 0.1 - 0.5 inches of rain is expected over the next 3 days. The week-long outlook expects 0.5 - 1.0 inches of rain. (US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center)

08/03/2026

Fairfax Water customers: please note that our region is currently under a Drought Watch. While no mandatory restrictions are in place and our reservoir levels remain adequate, your voluntary conservation makes a real difference. Thank you for using water wisely and helping protect our community’s water supply!

To learn more, visit: https://www.fairfaxwater.org/news/fairfax-water-encourages-wise-water-use-officials-declare-regional-drought-watch

City of Fairfax Government City of Falls Church Government Fairfax County Government Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin - ICPRB Only Rain Nova

08/03/2026

🗣️Today, ICPRB has initiated daily Drought Monitoring due to low flows in the Potomac River.

ICPRB's Section for Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) begins daily Drought Monitoring when flow at the USGS Science in Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia stream gage at Point of Rocks, Maryland, falls below 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

🌊Currently, the flow is 1,740 cfs.

During Drought Monitoring, CO-OP staff send out daily email reports to stakeholders, including water suppliers and government agencies, summarizing the river's flow, weather predictions, and how much water the region is using on a daily basis.

📱A summary of the daily report will also be posted on ICPRB's socials using .

Established in the 1970s, 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.

At present, there is sufficient flow in the Potomac River to meet Washington metropolitan area’s water demands without releases from upstream reservoirs. If low‐flow conditions worsen, the metro area is well‐protected from a water supply shortage through well-established contingency plans, which includes CO-OPs drought monitoring and operations protocols.