State of the Nation's River -
Potomac Watershed 2007

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In November 2007, the Potomac Conservancy released its first State of the Nation's River report detailing the current condition and stressors of the Potomac River. According to the report, the river and its watershed receive a D+.

The report states that the health of the river had reached a plateau as continuing development and runoff from upstream agricultural land continues and in many cases expands. Stressors such as combined sewer overflow (CSO), runoff from chicken farms, and increased development are leading to problems such as the increasing rate of intersex fish, excessive sediment limiting the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAVs), and increased water temperatures, to name a few.

The report identifies steps that can be taken to improve the health of the river and its watershed. These steps include the increased use of low impact development (LID) techniques, the protection of existing forest land, increased implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs), and plans to replant forest buffers removed for development.

Click here to read the report in its entirety.