Potomac River Basin One of First Studied in National Water-Quality Assessment

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

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Updated: March 27, 1991

The first long-term, comprehensive assessment of the water quality of the Potomac River basin is now being launched by the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.

The Potomac basin assessment is one of twenty studies being initiated this year across the nation as part of a National Water Quality Assessment by the USGS.

The overall objective of NAWQA is to describe the status and trends in the quality of a large representative part of the nation's surface- and ground-water resources and to provide a sound, scientific understanding of natural and human factors affecting these resources.

"One obvious goal of this assessment is to provide water managers and users with a more complete snapshot of current water-quality conditions and problems in the basin," said USGS hydrologist James Gerhart, Towson, Md., recently named project chief.

"But even more important is the need to go beyond the snapshot to define the long-term solutions to real problems," Gerhart said. "We will work first with state, local and federal agencies to take the pulse of the surface- and ground-water resources in the basin. Then, we will develop the exhaustive assessment program needed to build an understanding of the hydrologic health of the basin and to allow managers to more effectively plan for the future."

Gerhart set two immediate priorities for the Potomac basin assessment:

• The formation, now underway, of a liaison committee of representatives from water-resources agencies and universities from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and other federal agencies. The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River basin will also be represented and have a prominent role.
• A detailed review of the hydrologic and related biologic information already collected or being collected in the Potomac basin, as part of the first- year effort to develop a practical assessment

"More than 4 million people rely on the Potomac River and other rivers in the drainage basin for their water supply. Ensuring that we know all we can about the quality of that critical water supply is an important environmental issue, as is the discharge of sediment and nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay. This study is one of twenty similar ongoing assessments across the nation that will help us to learn more, design better and exchange more information as we tackle systematically tough issues here and nationwide," Gerhart said.

Water-quality issues of concern in the Potomac River basin proposed for discussion at the first liaison committee meeting include:

• Acid drainage from coal mines in the North Branch Potomac River.
• Bacteria, nutrients and heavy metals from sewage effluent in selected areas, particularly downstream from urban areas.
• Sediment, nutrients and pesticides from agricultural activities, particularly in streams in the Valley and Ridge and Piedmont areas.
• Heavy metals, organic chemicals, and high biochemical oxygen demand from industries and businesses, particularly in the North Branch Potomac River and in developed areas.
• Degradation of ground-water quality by nonpoint-source contaminants, such as fertilizers, manure, pesticides, septic effluent, and road salt, particularly in areas underlain by limestone.
• Acidification of streams by atmospheric deposition, especially where soils and underlying rocks have low acid-neutralizing capacity.

As the nation's largest water-science and water-information agency, the USGS routinely monitors the quantity and quality of surface- and ground-water resources at more than 45,000 sites across the country in cooperation with more than 1,000 state, local, and other federal agencies.

Building on this long history of water investigations and cooperative study, the USGS began the NAWQA effort in 1986 at seven pilot sites around the country to test its assessment methods. The full-scale national program began in fiscal year 1991 with the selection of 20 study sites. Each of these 20 projects will consist of a 5 to 6-year intensive phase of data collection and analysis. In fiscal year 1994, 20 more projects will be started, with the final 20 projects to begin in fiscal year 1997, a total of 60 projects covering a large part of the United States.

James Gerhart has worked as a hydrologist with the USGS for 14 years. He has a bachelor's degree in geology from Franklin an dMarshall College and a master's degree in geology from the Pennsylvania State University. His wife, Nancy, and children, Becky and Jamie, reside in Bel Air, Md.

Gerhart will manage the 5-year intensive study phase of the Potomac basin study and supervise the staff of scientists and technicians who will assist in the study.

** * USGS * * *

In-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home page at http://www.usgs.gov and http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/ for Chesapeake Bay activities.

Archived News Releases 2000-Present

2006

• 01-06-2006 Water Resources Plentiful at End of December 2005; Chesapeake Bay Flow Normal in 2005

2005

• 07-06-2005 Water Levels Fall as Summer Arrives
• 04-06-2005 March 2005 Water Levels Near Normal
• 03-04-2005 Flow Below Normal in Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay
• 02-07-2005 January 2005 Water Levels Normal to Above Normal
• 01-07-2005 2004 Ends with Normal to Above Normal Water Levels

2004

• 12-04-2004 Water Levels Remain Generally Above Normal
• 11-04-2004 Dry October Causes Water Levels to Drop
• 10-06-2004 Highest September Flow to the Chesapeake Bay Since 1937
• 09-03-2004 August Hurricanes Raise Water Levels in Southern Maryland
• 08-06-2004 Localized Flooding in Northeastern Maryland and Delaware in July
• 07-07-2004 Water Levels Normal to Above Normal in June
• 06-04-2004 Streams Return to Normal Levels in Maryland and Delaware during May 2004
• 05-06-2004 Streams Rise to Above Normal Levels in Maryland
• 04-07-2004 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Fell in March 2004
• 03-04-2004 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Normal to Above Normal in February 2004
• 02-04-2004 Cold, Dry January Leads to Drop in Water Levels
• 01-06-2004 Wettest Year Leads to Record-High Water Levels Including Third Highest Flow to Chesapeake Bay in December and 2003

2003

• 12-04-2003 More Record-High Water Levels in November 2003
• 11-04-2003 Record High Groundwater Levels in October 2003
• 10-03-2003 Flow to Chesapeake Bay in Water Year 2003 Second Highest Since 1937
• 09-05-2003 Third Consecutive Month of High Flow into the Chesapeake Bay
• 08-06-2003 Flow into Chesapeake Bay near Record High Levels
• 07-07-2003 Record Breaking High Water Levels in Maryland and Delaware
• 06-06-2003 Streamflow and Groundwater Levels High in May
• 05-07-2003 April Water Levels Normal
• 04-05-2003 Water Levels High in March - Water Restrictions Lifted
• 03-05-2003 Exceptionally Wet February Leads to High Water Levels
• 02-06-2003 Maryland and Delaware Streamflow and Groundwater Levels Remain Normal in January 2003
• 01-07-2003 2002: A Record-Setting Year for Low Groundwater Levels - Water Levels Recover to Normal in December 2002

2002

• 12-01-2002 Hydrologic Drought Wanes as Water Levels Rise
• 11-01-2002 Water Levels Rise Across Maryland and Delaware,
  But Drought Persists in Some Areas
• 10-03-2002 Water Levels Remain at Record-Setting Lows
• 09-05-2002 Groundwater in Parts of Maryland Reaches Lowest Levels Since 1962, Despite Late August Rains
• 08-06-2002 Drought Conditions Lead to 10 Record Low Monthly Groundwater Levels in July
• 07-03-2002 Record Low Water Levels Show the Effects of Long-Term Hydrologic Drought
• 06-04-2002 Groundwater Levels Reflect Long-Term Effects of Drought
• 05-02-2002 April Showers Not Enough to Raise Groundwater Levels
• 04-05-2002 The Drought in Full Bloom: Low Water Levels Result in Water Restrictions

2001

• 12-03-2001 Record Low Water Levels Set in November
• 11-02-2001 Dry October Leads to Low Water Levels
• 10-05-2001 Water Levels Low in Northern Maryland
• 09-07-2001 Water Levels Stable in August
• 08-06-2001 High and Low Water Levels in July
• 07-06-2001 Water Levels Continued to Improve in June
• 06-06-2001 Needed Rain Helps Avert a Drought in May
• 05-08-2001 Water Levels Still Normal in April, but More Rain is Needed
• 04-05-2001 Spring Rains Help Water Levels
• 03-06-2001 Water Levels Improve, But Are Still Below Normal
• 02-06-2001 Streamflow Still Low in Maryland in January
• 01-05-2001 Streamflow to Chesapeake Bay in 2000 Reflects Dry Autumn

2000

• 12-05-2000 Streamflow in Maryland Beginning to Show the Effects of Lack of Rain
• 11-07-2000 Despite Lack of Rain October Water Conditions near Normal
• 10-06-2000 September Water Conditions Above Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 09-08-2000 August Water Conditions Above Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 08-07-2000 July Water Conditions Continue Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 07-07-2000 June Water Conditions Normal in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 06-06-2000 Water conditions begin to decline in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 05-05-2000 Water Conditions Continue to Improve in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 04-07-2000 Water Conditions Continue to Improve in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 03-07-2000 Water Conditions Improving in Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
• 02-08-2000 January Streamflow and Ground Water Levels Still Low
• 01-06-2000 1999 Flow Into Chesapeake Bay Lowest Since 1960s Drought