Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan
A Plan at Work
Published by ICPRB in 2018, the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan provides a roadmap to achieving our shared vision that the Potomac River basin will serve as a national model for water resources management that fulfills human and ecological needs for current and future generations.
Where are we on the roadmap? 🗺️
The following projects and products are based on recommendations made in the Comprehensive Plan. They are grouped by broad categories, or “challenge areas”, as they are called in the plan.
The categories include the overarching recommendations, water use and supplies, water quality, land use, and ecological health. By nature, these areas are interconnected.
In addition, there are challenges to sustainable water resources management that span all of the categories, like floods and droughts, source water protection, climate change, and the water-energy nexus.
The work presented here is assigned to one category for the purpose of brevity, understanding there are myriad inherent connections.
Timeline
The stakeholder-driven plan tasked the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) with an evaluation of the progress for each five years of the 15-year plan.
2018
The Potomac River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan was published.
2023
Complete a review of accomplishments from the first five years and establish new milestones and measures of success for the next five years. The 2023 Updates were adopted by the ICPRB Commissioners at the quarterly business meeting in March, 2024.
2028
Complete a review of accomplishments from the first ten years and establish new milestones and measures of success for the remainder of the 15-year plan.
Overarching Recommendations
The plan includes a recommendation for action that is common to all the challenge areas listed below: develop an inventory of roles, responsibilities, and areas of authority and discuss how effectively current programs and activities are being carried out. Specifically, the plan notes that there are many organizations and individuals acting in support of the comprehensive plan’s overall vision, either explicitly or implicitly.
There are likely so many ongoing programs and activities that it is difficult to keep track of who is doing what. To this end, the overarching recommendations include:
- develop an inventory of roles, responsibilities, and authorities;
- define specific water criteria for which to compare progress related to current programs and activities; and
- define subsequent planning efforts to evaluate progress and gaps in activities.
The following projects are designed to address these overarching recommendations.
REPORT: An Inventory of Potomac Basin Entities with a Role in Sustainable Water Resources Management
This pamphlet is used in concert with a spreadsheet inventory to identify entities in the Potomac basin that either directly or indirectly affect the realization of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resource Plan ’s vision for the basin. It also summarizes the roles, responsibilities, and areas of authority of those entities to inform and integrate future comprehensive planning and implementation activities.
StoryMap: Tracking Environmental Progress
The StoryMap displays preliminary metrics for tracking environmental progress during the implementation of the comprehensive plan. This product is draft and designed to engage stakeholders and spark discussions.
EVENT: Partnering for the Potomac
On June 28, 2024, ICPRB hosted Partnering for the Potomac at the Reservoir Center for Water Solutions in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the event was to identify areas of common interest and opportunities for ICPRB to collaborate with federal partners on the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan.
Water Use and Supplies
Desired outcome of the Challenge Area: The diverse users of the basin's water resources have clean, reliable, and resilient water resources for current and future generations.
Recommendations:
- Report on basin-wide water uses, projected demands, and consumptive demands.
- Conduct additional studies on water uses falling below state water reporting thresholds.
- Pursue a range of complementary actions that contribute to a more sustainable, resilient water supply.
The following projects are designed to address these recommendations.
2023 Potomac River Conference: One River’s Perspective on a Changing Climate
Hosted by ICPRB, the 2nd annual Potomac River Conference highlighted trends in the Potomac basin, regional resilience, government innovations, on-the-ground implementation, as well as equity and environmental justice considerations for climate change in the Potomac River basin. The recordings and presentations are available on ICPRB's website.
PUBLICATION: Evaluation of reported and unreported water uses in various sectors of the Potomac basin for the year 2017
Water resource planners and managers in the Mid-Atlantic United States typically determine the sufficiency of water supplies to meet demand by comparing (1) water use as reported to the state by individual water users to (2) metrics of water availability calculated from observed water monitoring networks. This paper focuses on determining whether this means of measuring water use is sufficient for proactive and sustainable management of water resources. The report was published in the July 2024 edition of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA).
REPORT: Potomac Basin Trends in Water Use
This pamphlet summarizes projected reported water withdrawals and consumptive use in the Potomac basin.
REPORT: Potomac Basin Reported Water Use
Water withdrawals reported to the states in the Potomac basin equate to 4,100 million gallons per day (MGD). This pamphlet provides a report on basin-wide water uses and ultimately acts as a first step toward estimating projected demands and consumptive demands.
REPORT: Potomac Basin Unreported Water Use
Use of water for irrigation, industrial use, and drinking that does not fall under reporting requirements is small but significant, and is important in assessments of the amount of sustainable water available for use.
REPORT: 2020 Washington Metropolitan Area Water Supply Study
The study forecasts water demands for the Washington Metro area through 2050, forecasts water availability and evaluates the ability of current and planned system resources to meet the forecasted demands.
Drought Exercises
During a drought, ICPRB’s Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac ( CO-OP ) Section coordinates water supply operations for the three major water utilities in Washington, D.C., and the adjacent suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. Additionally, CO-OP conducts an Annual Drought Exercise in years in which no actual drought operations occur.
CO-OP's Basin Precipitation Map
Engage in Water Use and Supplies
Water Quality
Desired Outcome of the Challenge Area: The waters of the basin achieve or exceed water quality standards established by the states in accordance with the Clean Water Act. New and emerging threats are proactively addressed.
Recommendations
- Promote water quality information sharing.
- Educate citizens and professionals about water quality in the Potomac basin.
- Pursue a range of complementary actions that would contribute to protecting and improving water quality.
The following projects are designed to address these recommendations. Read more on the ICPRB's Water Quality site .
An Analysis of Pooled Monitoring Data in Maryland to Evaluate the Effects of Restoration on Stream Quality in Urbanized Watersheds
The project examined whether stormwater management practices implemented under MS4 permits can lead to measurable differences in stream conditions compared to similar watersheds with few or no stormwater practices and to highly forested reference watersheds.
REPORT: Considerations for Monitoring Microplastics in the Non-Tidal Potomac River
This white paper explores the feasibility of a microplastic monitoring program in the nontidal Potomac basin.
PFAS in the Potomac River Basin
This website was compiled by the Water Quality Workgroup for the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP). It provides background and current information for PFAS in the Potomac River basin, including a review of federal regulations and the regulatory status in each state in the basin—Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. An interactive map of monitoring locations was created with publicly available data.
REPORT: Potomac River Water Quality at Great Falls: 1940 - 2019
This report explores changes in temperature, hardness, pH, total solids, chloride, nitrate, and sulfates at Great Falls over the 80 years since the formation of ICPRB in 1940.
REPORT: Virginia Salt Management Strategy (SaMS)
SaMS provides recommendations for improving winter practices through efficient and effective salt use while maintaining the same levels of safety. The strategy also offers ways to raise awareness of these impacts, how individuals and organizations can participate, guidance for water quality monitoring and research to support action.
2022 Potomac Conference: A Conversation on PFAS
On September 22, 2022, the ICPRB held a virtual conference on the state of the science, policy, technology, and the future of PFAS in the Potomac River basin.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – are a class of ubiquitous chemicals known as “forever chemicals” that are used in everything from non-stick pans to takeout containers. The chemicals have been found in water, soil, and air. Scientific studies indicate that PFAS may be harmful to human health.
Videos and presentations from the conference are available on the ICPRB website.
The 2023 Potomac Conference: One River's Perspective on a Changing Climate will be held on September 21, 2023. See ICPRB's website for more information.
Explore the Data
ICPRB has an in-house Potomac Basin water quality data inventory. The EPA's data tools can be explored through the links below.
Potomac Basin Water Quality Data Inventory
Water quality managers, researchers, and decision-makers depend on available water quality data, but it can be a challenge to find the data collected for a specific waterway. ICPRB staff members produced an inventory of available water quality data sources in the Potomac River basin that includes information on watershed characteristics such as land use, zoning, elevation, and precipitation to help explain water quality patterns seen in the data.
EPA Data Tools
Land Use
Desired Outcome of the Challenge Area: Human land use in the basin supports sustainable water resource management.
Recommendations
- Research timely land use related information for decision-making.
- Effectively disseminate scientific data and information compiled by ongoing research.
- Complementary actions that contribute to managing human land use for sustainability.
The following projects are designed to address these recommendations.
PUBLICATION: Integrating Sustainable Water Resource Management and Land Use Decision-Making
Human uses of land and water are directly linked and must, therefore, be managed with each other in mind. This paper puts forward an approach for integrating sustainable water resource management into local land use decision-making in the Potomac basin.
PROJECT: Land Prioritization Map
The Land Prioritization Mapping Project aims to assist land conservation organizations in prioritizing specific parcels of land in the Potomac River basin to obtain the most drinking water quality benefits.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Will Runoff Alter your Streamflow – A look at flow alteration from impervious cover
The map assists in identifying sites for development with the least potential impacts to streamflow and increase awareness of the hydrologic impacts of development. The map's three layers help explore the impacts of impervious cover in the region.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Wandering the Watershed
The Potomac River Basin covers about 14,670 square miles through Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. This Story Map only covers a small fraction of the many historical, cultural, and recreational sites across the basin but it is a starting point to the infinite adventures available in the Potomac River Basin. From the headwaters to the mouth of the river, adventure awaits.
WEBINAR: Agricultural Impacts on Water Quality and Funding Opportunities to Mitigate those Impacts
In this webinar, speakers from Devereux Consulting and the National Association of Conservation Districts cover the impacts that agricultural land use has on water quality in the Potomac basin and funding opportunities available to mitigate these effects.
WEBINAR SERIES: Combating Climate Change through Sustainable Development
The webinar featured speakers from DC Water and Juno Residential. They shared information related to sustainable development at non-residential and multi-family residential properties including architectural aspects of sustainable development, practices to combat climate change, and LEED certifications.
WEBINAR SERIES: Spring Into Nutrient Management
Panelists shared information related to on-the-ground nutrient management for urban and landscaping practices, recommendations for homeowners, and innovations in agricultural nutrient management.
WEBINAR SERIES: Winter Salt Management Webinar
The January 21, 2022, Winter Salt Webinar featured a panel of speakers from Maryland SHA, City of Gaithersburg, Fairfax Water, and Izaak Walton League of America. Each panelists shared their organizations' on-the-ground salt management activities in the Potomac basin.
WEBINAR SERIES: Supporting Land Use Decision Makers in the Potomac River Basin
This webinar featured a demonstration of the Chesapeake Healthy Watershed Assessment. The readily available online, geospatial tool supports and informs management related to watershed health and vulnerability at the catchment scale.
Explore the Data
Watershed Resources Registry - This initiative creates a tool for environmental professionals that would allow them to identify potential sites for restoration and/or preservation.
Chesapeake Healthy Watersheds Assessment Web Application - A map with that characterizes multiple aspects of watershed health to help partners identify signals of change in healthy waters and watersheds that may be vulnerable or resilient.
Ecological Health
Desired Outcome of the Challenge Area: The propagation and growth of balanced, desirable populations of aquatic life are ensured.
Recommendations
- Share across jurisdictions data, analysis results, and information on successful restoration approaches.
- Coordinate across jurisdictions plans and programs that protect ecological value.
- Support and coordinate programs that identify, protect, conserve, restore, enhance, and connect natural areas, especially along waterways.
- Pursue a range of complementary actions that would contribute to protecting ecological health.
The following reports and publications are designed to address these recommendations. Read more on the ICPRB's Aquatic Life page .
PUBLICATION: Stream Biological Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CHESSIE BIBI)
The Chessie BIBI measures overall condition of stream macroinvertebrate communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It is used by scientists at the Chesapeake Bay Program as an indicator of stream health.
Below are links to the report and two interactive maps created as companion pieces.