Summer has been off to an undeniably sweaty start. If you’ve spent a few hours sprawled out like a squirrel, chugging water from your trusty reusable bottle and seeking comfort in familiar scorcher songs as heat index values soar over 100°F, well, we’re right there with you.

One of the best ways to deal with the heat is to get near the water, and as far as river activities go, kayaking on the Potomac is hard to top (only in recreation-safe temperatures, of course). Why deliberate between sightseeing and a good workout when you can “choose your own adventure” by packing tranquil paddles and brag-worthy whitewater challenges into a single day outing?

From Olympians to congressmen, people from all walks of life and across the ages have come to the Nation’s River for recreation, relaxation, and community. Whether you prefer a serene solo float or heading out with friends, there’s a kayak destination you’re bound to love along the Potomac!

If you’re ready to expand your paddling horizons, water you waiting for? Let’s row 🚣‍♀️

1) Paddle through history at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

Where it’s at: Navigate to 1440 Wilson Landing Rd, Nanjemoy, MD 20662 for parking and boat ramp access

Why you should go: If you’ve ever wanted to explore a ship graveyard and add a few new bird species to your life list, this Maryland marine sanctuary–the first and, for now, only in the Chesapeake Bay watershed–is a must!

What you’ll experience: A recognized National Treasure, it’s the site of “the largest, most diverse single collection of historic shipwrecks in the Western Hemisphere,” including the famed fleet of partially-sunken WWI-era steamships that now serve as manmade reefs for aquatic wildlife. Make sure you hop out of the kayak and explore the sanctuary’s trails to learn about the area’s significance to the Piscataway and other local Indigenous peoples.

How to paddle: There isn’t a rental facility within the sanctuary, so you may want to BYO. But if you’re okay with a longer, more scenic outing, plan to paddle out from Mattawoman Creek so you can rent a kayak from Atlantic Kayak Company, a woman-owned shop that offers tours of the ship graveyard, sunset and moonlight outings, and more.

2) Get your adrenaline pumping at the C&O’s Slalom Course

Where it’s at: Navigate to 6100 Clara Barton Pkwy, Bethesda, MD 20816 for parking, then follow the dirt trail near Lock #6 to access the course

Why you should go: If you’re an experienced kayaker looking for a challenge, the Potomac has plenty of thrills to offer. Where else can you cruise down a feeder canal favored by aspiring Olympic kayakers and keep an eye out for otters, ospreys, and opossums?

What you’ll experience: This whitewater training run sits at Class I-II difficulty under average conditions. The gates are managed by the Potomac Whitewater Racing Center (PWRC), a club that holds races and other events at and near the feeder canal.

Looking to cool down afterward with an easygoing float? There are plenty of flatwater spots around the C&O, too. 

How to paddle: BYO, or sign up for a class or tour with PWRC.

3) Take the scenic route at Harpers Ferry

Where it’s at: Navigate to Shenandoah St, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 for parking, a three-minute walk from the nearest river access point.

Why you should go: The confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers is an ideal spot for enjoying everything from serene flatwater to dramatic whitewater, including some of the most popular paddling spots in the region. And with hiking, biking, tubing, zip-lining, and camping opportunities just around the river bend, Harpers Ferry has something special for every kind of outdoor recreationist.

What you’ll experience: Seasoned paddlers recommend a 7-mile scenic stretch that includes memorable water features like the Shenandoah Staircase, Bull Falls, and Mad Dog rapids. Depending on location, conditions, and recent rainfall, you can anticipate encountering Class I-III rapids on your journey.

Make sure to budget some extra exploring time once you’re off the water to appreciate Harpers Ferry’s rich history and thriving culinary scene.

How to paddle: BYO or stop by a local shop or outfitter. Most offer tours or classes, which are a great option for new paddlers, folks who are still building their on-water confidence, or groups with mixed skill levels.

Once you see the Potomac River from a kayaker’s POV, it’s easy to understand why we fight so hard for clean water and robust streamside forests. The drinking water that replenishes you during your outdoor adventures shares its origin with the incredible whitewater you’re conquering or serene shallows that offer your favorite sunset views. 

So if your next summer paddle gives you a newfound appreciation for the health of our waterways, wildlife, and communities, get involved - we’re always thrilled to welcome fellow kayaking enthusiasts to our cleanup events!

Want to help keep our paddling waters healthy? Save your spot at an upcoming community cleanup!

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Adapted from Aquil Abdullah’s website’s blog post

Finding My Connection to the Water

Take a moment and imagine your favorite spot on the Potomac River. Picture it vividly—the sounds, the smell, the feeling, the view. Now think about what that place means to you.

Each of us carries a different image of the Potomac River, but we all share in its gifts.

I was born right here in Washington DC. As a kid, I played just about every sport you can imagine—football, track, swimming, hockey, golf, basketball, baseball...and I was just about average in all of them except for football.

But in my senior year of high school, everything changed when I found rowing. A bunch of my friends rowed, and living in Georgetown at the time, I'd see high school and college rowing shells moving gracefully up and down the river. A group of my friends finally convinced me to give the sport a try, and I started out rowing just like every other sport I'd tried: poorly!

But something about the Potomac River called me back day after day. In the early spring of my senior year of high school, I was offered a scholarship to row at The George Washington University, which meant having to decide between football and rowing. Much to the chagrin of my father, who played football in his youth, I chose rowing.

From the Potomac to the Olympics

Freshman year of college can be daunting, and I had a pretty rocky transition, but rowing and the Potomac River provided a continuity that helped me get back on track and stay afloat. When the pressure of my studies began to feel overwhelming I could lose myself in the rhythmic swing of the boat as we raced down the Potomac, and return to shore with a sense of purpose. 

Not long into my college career, I began to believe that I might someday be able to compete in rowing at the international level, and it was long hot summers spent racing athletes from Harvard, Yale, Syracuse, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Brown and the Coast Guard Academy that provided the proving grounds for my aspirations. August on the Potomac River can be a grueling place to train, but on those long humid days as I rowed past the Kennedy Center, as I rowed under Memorial Bridge and as the sound airplanes rattled my teeth as I rowed past Reagan National Airport, I began to believe that there was something special about the river, but I also began to believe that there was something special about me.

In 1996, I became the first African-American to win the US National Championships in the single sculls. I also went on to win The Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta, and in 2004, I represented our country in the Double Sculls at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

But my path to the Olympics was filled with detours. In 2000, I lost the Olympic Trials by .33 hundredths of a second. Returning home and rowing on this river, I realized that my journey wasn't over.

This raises an interesting question: What if the Potomac River hadn't been there? Or what if it had been too polluted to row on? Would I have become a rower? Would I have gone to the Olympics?

The Water That Flows Through Us

Let me ask you a question: Where does your water come from?

It sounds simple, but how many of us can answer that? I only know because I looked it up—my drinking water comes directly from the Potomac River, via the Washington Aqueduct Treatment Plant.

The same river where I flipped my boat as a novice rower, the same river where I trained for the Olympics—that's the river that flows through my taps, and that's the water that flows through me. I am the Potomac River, and if you live in the D.C. region, you are the Potomac River.

How would we behave differently if we truly understood this connection? If we recognized that the river we boat on, fish in, and admire from scenic overlooks contains the water that sustains us?

Why Conservation Matters

This is why the work of the Potomac Conservancy is so vital. When they protect streamside forests in the headwaters, they're protecting the source of our drinking water.

When they advocate for water protection laws, they're fighting for the river that shaped my life and continues to shape our region.

When they mobilize volunteers to restore shorelines, they're ensuring that future generations can form the same meaningful connections to the river that I was fortunate enough to experience.

The Potomac River is the crucible where my rowing mettle was forged. Without that river, my story simply wouldn't exist. And I wonder how many future stories depend on our actions today

Your Relationship with the Potomac

What is your relationship with the Potomac? Is it just scenery on your commute? Is it recreation on the weekend? Or is it, as it was for me, a life-changing force?

Whatever your answer, remember that the river gives to all of us every day.

In closing, I would like to leave you with a Hawaiian phrase that has come to mean a lot to me:

Malama Aina. Malama Kai.
Care for the land. Care for the water.

Aquil Abdullah made history as the first African-American male to represent the United States in rowing at the Olympic Games. Born and raised in Washington D.C., his journey began on the Potomac River, which continues to inspire his advocacy for water conservation and environmental stewardship. This blog post is adapted from a speech delivered at the Take Me To The River Celebration hosted by the Potomac Conservancy.

Help us protect the Potomac River by taking action today in your local community! 🚣

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If you’ve taken a Sunday drive through Northern Virginia, you might have spotted large warehouses without windows along the highway. These are data centers. They contain computer servers that store, process, and manage large quantities of data, serving as the cornerstone of the digital world.  

Data centers aren’t new to the Potomac River region. In Virginia, they date back to the 1990s, but over the past decade, we have seen a boom in construction, especially in Loudoun County, Virginia. 

Virginia hosts the largest data center hub, with more than 35% (~150) of all known hyperscale data centers worldwide. As of December 2024, the Commonwealth hosts 10% of the world’s data storage capacity.  

Virginia isn’t the only Potomac River region state with data centers 

Throughout the region, other states are looking to build data centers too. In West Virginia, Governor Patrick Morrisey signed a bill encouraging data centers to be built in the state and generate their own power sources through microgrids. This bill will allow data centers that are built in the state to bypass local zoning ordinances and other regulations. The goal of the bill is to foster economic development, but it doesn’t take the environmental impacts into account. 

In Maryland, data centers were a hot topic at the local and state levels this year. There are already over 40 data centers in the state, with a high concentration in Frederick County. Senators Lewis Young and Justin Ready introduced legislation during the 2025 legislative session that would require various Maryland departments to conduct an analysis of the likely environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center development in the state. This bill passed in both chambers, but Potomac Conservancy and many advocates across the state were disappointed when Governor Wes Moore vetoed it. If Governor Moore had signed this legislation, it would have provided Maryland residents with more information on the environmental and economic impacts that data centers have in Maryland. 

3 reasons we’re concerned about the data center boom 

1. Water resources 

• Large data centers can use up to 1 million and 5 million gallons of water daily. That is equivalent to how much water a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people uses a day (for reference, that’s the entire town of Winchester, VA, which has ~30,000 people! 

• Much of the equipment in data centers must run 24 hours a day, or close to that, which generates a lot of heat. To combat the high temperatures, many pump water through tubing that surrounds the equipment, in addition to their air conditioning systems. 

• In the Potomac River region, our water sources are not unlimited. We experience extreme droughts, and residents in the area have been asked to conserve water during certain periods in recent years. Locals are concerned about their water supply because data centers are using more and more water to cool their facilities.

2. Land resources 

• Water isn’t the only resource data centers rely on. They also need a lot of space. Loudoun County alone has over 27 million square feet of data centers; that is about the size of Arlington National Cemetery.  

• Data centers are also encroaching on public lands' integrity. There have been 1,000 acres+ data centers that are proposed to be built adjacent to or near national and state parks like Manassas National Battlefield Park.

3. Lack of transparency 

• There is currently no public database where the public can learn how much energy or water a given data center uses. This makes it harder for people to fight against data center construction in their neighborhoods because they lack information about it. 

• Some data centers and companies claim green or sustainable practices, but due to the amount of secrecy in the industry and non-disclosure agreements, environmental organizations and citizens don’t have a way to fact-check. 

What we’re fighting for 

Short-sighted and irresponsible decisions at the county and local levels are paving the way for more data centers without necessary consideration for community and environmental impacts. Potomac River region residents need adequate state oversight of data center development to combat poor planning decisions that hurt our health. Data centers are getting pushed through local government, sometimes even without a public comment period. 

We’re proud to be a part of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition alongside dozens of organizations and HOAs dedicated to studying the effects of data centers and urging lawmakers to put common-sense protections in place. 

In Maryland, our policy team is closely monitoring any local and state legislation in Maryland and West Virginia related to data centers for their potential impact on the Potomac watershed.

Ready to take a stand for data center transparency with us? 

It takes everyone to make a difference

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Everyone can appreciate the feel of jumping into cold water on a hot day. People of all kinds should be able to enjoy swimming, but unfortunately, swimming has historically not been accessible throughout the Potomac River region, especially in DC. In the past, this was because of segregation; in the present, it is because the Potomac isn’t healthy enough yet.

Washington, DC has a deep history of segregation in both its pools and on its shores. 

The fight for equal access to water

In 1949, it was announced that 6 of the 8 public pools in DC would be desegregated. However, the DC recreation board chose to uphold the existing segregation rule for the Anacostia pool. So, when Black children showed up to swim, they were booed, splashed, and harassed until they were chased out of the pool. This led to a violent race riot that lasted the next few days and caused the pool to shut down. A year later, the Anacostia Pool was desegregated and reopened. Because of this, most white people did not return to the pool. To this day, the Anacostia pool is still mostly visited by Black residents. 

Years before the Anacostia Pool riot, the Tidal Basin, built to connect both the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, was also a segregated body of water. It may be hard to imagine now, but the Tidal Basin was a popular swimming destination in the 1880s. Families would visit to enjoy a day at the beach and even sometimes participate in pie-eating contests and diving contests! However, in 1914, it officially became a white only beach with an area downstream where Black people could swim. 

Only a year later, a report was released discussing how the Tidal Basin was filled with wastewater and sewage. 8 years after this, the beach was shut down due to these concerns of pollution and remains closed to swimming to this day. Today, there is plenty of work to do to improve the health of our river due to some areas still being polluted by sewers.

This issue is only made worse by extreme weather like flooding, which can cause the sewers to overflow. However, the future of the Tidal Basin is very hopeful! Water quality indicators such as pH, turbidity, bacteria level, and temperature all indicate a much healthier basin. 

Restoring our connection to water

We talked to Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar, a historian and writer whose work focuses on environmental justice. When we asked her what the most shocking thing she learned when researching the Tidal Basin, she said: “When looking at [historical images of people swimming in the tidal basin], you see a kind of joy and exhilaration. You also see a kind of relationship to recreating on the river, whether that's swimming or fishing or diving, etc., that people don't have anymore in the city. What is shocking to me is the degree in which we don't remember what we have lost.” 

In order to regain this joyful relationship with the water, people need more access to it. With increased access to water, more people can learn to swim, to fish, and to paddle. We can make this possible by continuing to improve the water quality in the Potomac River and its tributaries, like the Anacostia River.

Reflection leading to a hopeful and healthier future

Swimming has been banned in DC for over 50 years, but today the water quality is regularly tested, and Potomac Conservancy holds monthly cleanups throughout the region. Removing trash from local waterways and the surrounding land helps prevent the river from becoming more polluted. The future of a healthy river for all is looking bright thanks to the continuing efforts of residents just like you.

We also measure the health of the entire river through our Potomac River Report Card, which uses 5 different health indicators to calculate a grade. Over the past decade, the Potomac River’s health grade improved from a D to a B! That is great news, and makes us optimistic for the future.

Join the fight to make the Potomac River swimmable for everyone!

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WATCH: Melody Starya Mobley, America’s first Black female forester, in conversation with Alexis Dickerson, Potomac Conservancy’s Senior Director of Community Conservation

In 1977, Melody Starya Mobley became the first Black female forester in the US Forest Service. She traveled throughout the United States and internationally, performing a wide range of forestry tasks. But her path as a trailblazer was filled with obstacles: During her time as a forester, Melody faced racism, sexism, assault, and harassment from her peers and superiors.

A varied career spent exploring and forging new pathways

“I started in 1977 with an intern program… it was wonderful. I did recreation; fire; silviculture, which is how you grow trees, essentially; logging; supertree seed collection, where I would climb up 150 or 200 feet on those old-growth trees to collect seeds from the cones… I was in the Cascade Mountains, and it was beautiful. Those are my favorite memories of being in the Forest Service, the views I got to put into my memory and carry with me forever.”

Once established at the Forest Service, Melody advocated for herself as she pursued more challenging and rewarding roles: “They knew that they were going to lose me if they didn’t give me something where I could use my brain, so then I got to do genetics and tree improvement. I laid out four progeny test sites, where you collect seeds that are from trees that are phenotypic, with characteristics that you can see… [then] I went to Southern California and I did forester information specialist work, where I would write news articles and work with the media as a public affairs forester. Then I went to Northern California as an assistant district ranger, doing all line officer work…

From there, I went to Florida… I was a timber management assistant, and I worked with wildlife, finally, and I really loved it there. But there was a promotion that [opened] here in DC… It’s a GS-13 position, which means you automatically get promoted to a GS-13, and I was selected.”

The dark side of Melody’s forestry career

CW: sexual assault

“I had spoken out a lot about the unfair treatment of women and people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and so much discrimination [in the US Forest Service]. So the Forest Service was starting to get uncomfortable with me, and I was being treated very badly by my colleagues and my supervisors. I started filing EEO complaints, Equal Employment Opportunity complaints. I’m only allowed to say they were successfully completed. But I was retired when I was only 46 years old; I’m not really allowed to say too much about that. That was part of the settlement agreement, I can say that. But at 46, I wasn’t ready to retire, so I was very upset. I developed clinical depression from working in a hostile work environment for so many years.” 

“I was assaulted physically more than 10 times in my career with the Forest Service. I was raped when I was only 20 years old. I was knocked into a partition so hard that it fractured a bone in my back. I was thrown into a lake at night with alligators around, the water was over my head, and I couldn’t swim, and I was finally rescued by my crew, but they never should have done that. My supervisor said it was just ‘boys being boys,’ simple hazing, but it was completely inappropriate. I was assaulted physically by a director of an entire agency under the USDA, putting his hands on my breasts. I had my uniform shirt ripped open more than once and I was continuously told Black women are good one for thing, and that’s sex. Completely demoralizing treatment.” 

Leading the way into a brighter future

“I’m so passionate about supporting young people, getting them outside and interested in careers in natural resource conservation. They need to see people who look like them to know that they can do it.

I just turned 67. Until my dying breath, I will be taking youth out in the woods, or out in the desert to see the vegetation there, or whatever it might be, and just to grow that love of nature within them.”

Despite the pain and turmoil of her time at the US Forest Service, Melody is a shining light in the environmental movement, speaking up for young people and BIPOC. She provides mentorship for many people in the environmental field and consistently volunteers with youth to share the joys of nature with them. 

Help protect the forests that Melody has been caring for throughout her life and career

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Tell winter to take a hike—and while you’re at it, why don’t you go on one, too?

Let’s take advantage of the warmer weather and get outside on one of the many amazing trails near the river!

Spending time outdoors has countless benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Did you know that just looking at a picture of a tree can give you a small mental boost? Just imagine what walking through a forested path can do!

Whether you’re looking for a nice, simple stroll in the outdoors or for something a bit more challenging, these hikes will be sure to please any outdoor adventurer.

Happy hiking!

A nice stroll: 1-3 mile trails

1. Little Bennett Creek (Hyattstown MD)

This short and easy loop runs adjacent to Little Bennett Creek, and its woodland atmosphere makes it the perfect place to get outside for a bit. Enjoy the fresh air and cool shade from the trees. At 2.7 miles, this trail is also ideal for a nice run or bike ride. If you finish this hike and find yourself wanting more, continue exploring the rest of the Little Bennett Regional Park, made up of 3,700 acres of woodland.

2. Lake Needwood (Derwood, MD)

If you love lakes, check out this trail around Lake Needwood in Derwood! It is part of Rock Creek Regional Park and this lake trail is just over 2.5 miles and has little elevation gain, making it a relatively easy hike. The path hugs the lake's edge, ensuring you get the best views. With the water nearby, this trail is also a popular spot for birdwatchers. Keep your eye out for any waterfowl or keep an ear out for song birds!

3. Klingle Valley Trail (Northwest DC)

Looking for a quick escape from city life? Head over to Klingle Valley Trail for a quick out-and-back, 1.3 mile, 30-minute stroll (albeit on an incline). Its fully paved path makes it easy to walk, run, or bike. If you live or work nearby in NW DC, its short length and accessibility via Metro (Cleveland Park or Woodley Park) makes it a great option to get outside and enjoy nature in the middle of the work day. 

4. Turkey Run and Potomac Heritage Trail (West McLean, VA)

If you want a good view of the Potomac River and a moderately challenging trail, check out the Turkey Run Trail near West McLean, Virginia. While it’s just about 3 miles long, the sometimes uneven terrain and elevation gain makes this hike a bit more difficult. Be prepared to cross some shallow streams! It’s definitely worth it, though—about half of the loop borders the upper Potomac River, and the other half weaves through scenic wooded area.

A good adventure: 4-7 mile trails

5. Mason Neck State Park (Norton, VA)

This 5.3 mile loop is considered moderately challenging, with an average time of completion at just over one and a half hours. Popular among birdwatchers and mountain bikers, the trail winds through forested land, providing plenty of shade for those warmer days. Part of the loop takes you right along the Belmont Bay, so you can enjoy the lovely water views and look out for wildlife.

6. Brooks Hill Loop and Thomas Farm Loop (Monocacy Battlefield, Frederick, MD)

If you’re looking for a trail that’s a bit longer, try out Brook Hills Loop and Thomas Farm Loop at Monocacy Battlefield in Frederick. At nearly 8 miles long, this trail encompasses two loops, so you’re always welcome to just do one half if you’re short on time. If you want to walk the whole thing, expect to spend a few hours on the trail! The loop covers part of the battlefield where the Battle of Monocacy took place during the Civil War, so you can experience a bit of history during your hike too!

An all-day outing: 7+ miles

7. Old Rag Trail (Etlan, VA)

Want an even bigger challenge? Then this 9.4-mile loop is for you! With an elevation gain of 2,604 feet, you’ll be rising to see some excellent views on the overlooks throughout the trail. It takes about 5-6 hours to complete and has plenty of uphill trekking, so make sure you pack enough water and some snacks to get you through safely.

🌞 Hike safe, hike happy, and don’t forget to Leave No Trace! 🥾

Get your hands dirty with Potomac Conservancy!

Looking to give back while you're outdoors? Volunteer at an upcoming cleanup!

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If you missed all the fun of our March Wildness bracket last month, we’ve got exciting news to share: Hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts just voted in the Potomac River's new Critter of the Year, and 2025 is officially the Year of the Fisher! 

Our inaugural winner, Otto the Otter, helped us dive deeper into why a swimmable and fishable Potomac River is so important to critters and humans alike. But the critter who follows in his illustrious pawprints is poised to help us find our roots among the trees. By learning about the astounding array of animals and plants that flourish in our region, we can feel even prouder about the impacts of our efforts to keep our waters clean and lands pristine. 

Ready to meet your new Critter of the Year? Let’s scurry to it!

Four fascinating fisher facts (try saying that three times fast!) 

🐾 Is this Potomac mammal mysterious or just misunderstood?

Well, it’s a little bit of both. Contrary to the colloquial “fisher cat” name, the fisher (aka Pekania pennanti) isn’t feline, and it's no pescatarian, either. Fishers are part of the Mustelid family - related to martens, weasels, and otters - and they’re native only to North America. 

Another common fisher fallacy is that their vocalizations include blood-curdling shrieks heard at night near woodlands, but you can actually thank red foxes for any chills those creepy calls cause. (Click at your own risk!) 

🐾 Fishers are tree-huggers, just like us 

But while our appreciation of the Potomac’s plentiful pines and oaks tends to stay on solid ground, fishers can scale trees with remarkable athleticism. They spend most of their time on the forest floor, but you can see their climbing prowess if you catch one hunting or feeling threatened. 

The kinds of terrain that fishers call home are large, unbroken stretches of evergreen or mixed wood forests thick with foliage... perfect for sneaking up on prey or keeping a low profile.

🐾 Fishers are equal-opportunity snackers  

These omnivorous forest-dwellers aren’t picky eaters – they'll hunt and forage for small mammals, birds, frogs, nuts, fruits, mushrooms, and carrion. But despite their petite size, they’re surprisingly fierce: Fishers are one of the primary predators of porcupines and have even been documented taking down lynxes! 

🐾 They're elusive, but you can spot them in our region  

Fishers are crepuscular, or most active at dawn and dusk, which makes them a pretty rare critter to spot. Run-ins with this small but mighty hunter do occur in our region, though—most commonly in the western portions of the Potomac watershed.

Why we’re so excited about our new Critter of the Year

Fishers aren’t just cute – their presence in the Potomac River region is an indicator of successful conservation efforts. They were nearly driven to extinction between the late 19th and mid-20th century, overhunted for their dense winter pelts and suffering from extensive habitat loss across the United States.

Thanks to decades of concerted work to manage their populations and protect the old-growth forests and riparian buffers they rely upon, fishers are on the upswing! But they’re not “out of the woods” quite yet. Deforestation, wildfires, and range fragmentation continue to present looming threats to the Potomac’s fishers.

From the hollow trees where they make their dens to the mast seeds they eat, our local fisher population needs healthy, protected woodlands to thrive. Our Tomorrow’s Trees program invites Potomac River communities to pitch in for future forests, one acorn at a time. So, if you happen to encounter a fisher on an evening walk this spring, remember: Give it plenty of space when you say hello and take an extra moment to appreciate our amazing woodlands!

Ready to meet our official fisher ambassador? Following us on Instagram and Facebook – she'll make her debut soon!

🐾 Fortify our forests for fishers and other critters – all paws on deck! 🐾

Become an acorn collection volunteer this fall

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The bluebells and spring beauties are popping up, the temperature is slowly warming, and folks are spending more time savoring the outdoors. If you ask us, one of the sweetest signs of spring is the return of morning birdsongs.

Gaining familiarity with common calls heard along the Potomac’s shores can deepen your appreciation for our region’s astounding biodiversity, adding a dimension of sonic splendor to your next camping trip, bike ride, or stroll in the park! 

Potomac Conservancy’s Director of Institutional Giving, Zach Slavin, also doubles as our resident bird expert — as the former President of the DC Bird Alliance, he has a wealth of knowledge about what species to keep an ear out for in our area!

We asked Zach to share some tips on common spring singers and how to identify them.

Put your ears to the test!

Click the play button to hear a sample song from each featured bird, then tap the arrow over the preview image to reveal its singer.

• Click here to reveal the answer!

  It’s the Veery!

  Fun fact: This petite, tawny thrush might not be the flashiest resident of the Potomac River region, but many have considered its song enchanting... including writer, conservationist, and Silver Spring resident Rachel Carson!

Where to find them: The Potomac River region contains both breeding and migratory terrain for this tawny, petite thrush. Veeries are fond of forested terrain and are most active in the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. Birders spot them around the DC metro area fairly regularly, though their neutral-toned feathers can make them a challenge to observe in more heavily-wooded terrain further out in the Potomac watershed.  
 
How to spot them: When walking in your local forest this spring, keep an ear out for rustling in the leaf litter, as veeries forage for insects and berries on the ground. If you hear their melodious song or short call, scan the tops of trees and work your way downward, looking out for their light-colored belly feathers.

• Click here to reveal the answer!

  It’s the Red-tailed hawk!

  Fun fact: When you think of ‘the sound of nature,’ you might believe what you’re conjuring is an eagle’s raspy cry. But you might be surprised to learn the real source of that iconic call. According to Zach, "Red-tailed hawks have a distinctive call that’s often used for bald eaglecalls in movies, so you’ve almost certainly heard them before even if you haven’t seen them.” 

Where to find them: If you’ve spotted any bird of prey in our area, there’s a decent chance it was this large, ruddy species: They’re one of the most ubiquitous hawks in North America, and a year-round resident of the Potomac region. “These are incredible birds that can survive in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes,” Zach told us. “You can catch them soaring just about anywhere, or perched in trees that overlook open areas, deep in the forest, and even peering down from the tops of buildings and streetlights along highways.” 
 
How to spot them: Whether you see or hear them, red-tailed hawks are hard to miss: “Visually, they’re relatively large, stocky, broad-chested hawks with relatively short tails. Adults sport a distinctive rusty red tail, but it takes three years for hawks to reach maturity and you need the right light to see it. The most useful field mark after the tail is their belly band, a series of dark markings that wraps around their abdomen like a belt and contrasts with their white chest and lower belly.”  

And if you hear that iconic cry? “Keep your eyes up. You never know when you’ll spot one soaring overhead.”

• Click here to reveal the answer!

  It’s the Hooded merganser

  Fun fact: Members of the duck family can have some pretty remarkable “hairdos,” and the Hooded merganser is no exception. Though these little birds with distinctive silhouettes spend much of their time on the water, they nest in tree cavities (another reason to protect our riparian buffers!). Baby mergansers waste no time in the nest, venturing out with their mom within a day of hatching. text goes here

Where to find them: Mergansers can be found in streams and ponds around our region, finding our climate favorable enough to skip migrating. Spots like Huntley Meadows Park and Mason Neck State Park offer the perfect blend of tranquil waters, shoreline vegetation, and food sources for water birds. 
 
How to spot them: Diving birds often gather in mixed-species flocks, so seek out large groups and look for the unmissable bristled crest (black and white on males, light brown on females). They’re speedy divers and flyers, so stay focused!

• Click here to reveal the answer!

  It’s the Eastern bluebird!

  Fun fact: The “bluebird of happiness” has been a sign of spring for hundreds of years, with records from early U.S. colonizers showing their association between the birds and the return of favorable weather.  
  
  Eastern bluebirds are another conservation success story: The cherished species experienced steep population decline in the mid-20th century due to competition with invasive starlings and sparrows, but they bounced back thanks to public protection efforts.

Where to find them: Even if we associate them with warmer days, Eastern bluebirds can be found in the Potomac region throughout the year. Bluebirds favor open, grassy spaces like meadows and even sports fields over dense woodlands, making them an easy observation for suburban birders. 
 
How to spot them: Thanks to their vibrant plumage, this beloved thrush isn’t tough to spy. Look for them on power lines, at nesting boxes, and in the trees. You might also catch them zipping between the ground and lower branches while hunting. 

• Click here to reveal the answer!

  It’s the Carolina chickadee!

  Fun fact: Chickadees are known for their gregarious personalities. Zach recounted, “They’re quite reactive and will often respond to pishing,” or making noises that sound like generic bird calls – a practice he says to use sparingly, as it can cause stress. “During the spring breeding season, they’ll often fly very close to investigate the sources of intriguing sound. I’ve had them land within a few feet of me to check me out.”

Where to find them: Carolina chickadees are fairly common residents of the DC metro area and can be found across much of the Potomac region year-round. They prefer habitats with plenty of trees and can often be spotted at the edges of forests or along trails. 
 
How to spot them: Chickadees are a great species for beginner birders to learn. As Zach told us, “Chickadees can be hard to spot, as they’re often foraging high up in the outer branches of mature trees, but they call frequently. One of their most frequent calls is the classic chick-a-dee-dee-dee, which is relatively easy to distinguish. This is a common alarm call, with the number of dee-s representing the severity of the perceived threat. The more dee-s, the greater the concern.”

Finding the harmony in our local habitat

An astonishing variety of bird species call the Potomac's lands and waters home, making our region a rewarding one for outdoor enthusiasts and birdsong appreciators. As many native species face struggles related to the climate crisis, efforts to fortify streamside forests and keep our waters clean make a difference for our local feathered friends. Together, we can keep the Potomac’s spring symphony ringing sweetly for generations to come. 

🐦 Protect and restore the Potomac’s lands and waters for birds... and maybe spot a new species while you're at it!

Become an acorn collection volunteer and help us reforest our region this fall

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If you've spent part of your weekend at a cleanup event near the Potomac River, you know firsthand the astonishing amount of trash we can collect in a few short hours. Last year, volunteers bagged over 17 tons of litter from local green spaces and shorelines. If not for their efforts, all that trash would have continued to flow downstream into the Chesapeake Bay and out into the ocean.

Many of the items we find at our cleanups are disposable products like plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and styrofoam containers. But just because we are done with something doesn’t mean it is done with us.

What happens to the trash that gets left behind out in nature? Read on to learn just how long it takes for everyday disposables to break down in a marine environment. 

Styrofoam

New stryofoam items are harder to come by in our area since the bans in Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the District have been in effect for years, but there’s still plenty of old styrofoam trash washing up on our shores. Do you know how long it’ll take for it to decompose? Click the arrow on the right to find out.

Since it's a type of plastic, styrofoam creates many of same issues for wildlife and water quality that other forms of plastic do. Styrofoam is highly absorbent and capable of soaking up other pollutants like pesticides. As saturated styrofoam disintegrates, those pollutants leach into the water, making it even more toxic.

Fishing Line

Nothing beats a beautiful spring morning spent fishing on the shores of the Potomac, right? But when a line accidentally gets tangled and is cut loose, how long does it stick around? Click the arrow on the right to find out.

Turns out, if Joan of Arc went fishing in the Potomac using a modern fishing line, we may still be able to find it in the river today!

Plastic Bottles vs. Glass Bottles

Spoiler alert: One of these takes A LOT longer to break down but is still a better choice for our river. Click the arrow on the right to find out.

Don't panic. There's good news: Glass is infinitely recyclable, and it can (and should!) be used over and over again. Plastic can really only be recycled once before it is processed into a non-reusable substance. 

Another downside: Plastics are toxic and break down into smaller and smaller pieces without actually disappearing. These microplastics are a serious threat to wildlife, water quality, and public health. They release chemicals into the water, are toxic to animals that eat them, and they can harm underwater vegetation and habitat. 

Aluminum Cans vs. Tin Cans

Do you know which takes longer to break down? Click the arrow on the right to find out.

Encouragingly, aluminum is the most recycled material in the United States. When recycled, both tin and aluminum can be back in business in just a few month!

Cardboard Boxes

Every cat owner knows cardboard boxes are man’s greatest gift to felinekind. But how long does the box take to breakdown after Mr. Whiskers is done? Click the arrow on the right to find out.

Not too bad, but it's best to recycle that box so it can be used again and again.

Disposable Diapers

Ten fingers, ten toes, and 10-14 diapers a day. Can you guess how long disposable diapers take to break down? Click the arrow on the right to find out.

What?! That's enough to make us all cry. Consider switching to cloth diapers and using disposables sparingly (or not at all).

The excitement of doing good. How long 'till it's gone?

The feeling you get giving back and protecting the Potomac? That never fades!

Potomac Conservancy volunteers give a few hours of their weekend to make a BIG difference for our local habitats and communities. Every nature lover who joins us helps us get closer to our goal of 40,000 pounds of trash removed from our waterways and parks in 2025!

Join us at our next cleanup event to get your hands dirty for clean water and experience that feel-good moment for yourself. Your children’s children’s children’s children will thank you. 

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When you think of spring along the Potomac River, blooming cherry blossoms might first come to mind, but another native flower puts on quite the show, too. Have you ever checked out Virginia bluebells?  

Bluebells thrive in forests along the Potomac River and its many streams and creeks. This plant prefers partial or full shade, so you might find them close to oaks or sweet gum trees. What makes Virginia bluebells so special is that they form dense colonies and spread into a carpet of flowers. This makes them especially fun to take photos of and bask in their beauty. 

These lovely local plants, as evident by their name, are native to the Potomac River region! In their first stage of blooming, you’ll see small pink buds, which will eventually turn into blue trumpet-shaped flowers. When they bloom, you’ll be able to clearly see 5 petals formed into a tube shape. 

They bloom for 3-4 weeks at the end of March, going into April. Like all plants, there is no set date when they bloom, so keep your eyes peeled for early signs of the flowers! Increasingly, Virginia bluebells and other plants are blossoming earlier than ever because of a warming climate.

3 parks to find blossoming bluebells this spring 

Riverbend Park, Virginia

This is a dream location if you're a Virginia bluebell because you’re right by the Potomac River and there are pawpaw trees for shade. Plus, Great Falls Park is right down the river: it's full of lots of history and wildlife! You combine gorgeous bluebell views with Potomac River views, a win-win! 

Trail recommendation: Riverbend Park Loop - 2.3 miles with 187 ft elevation gain

Rock Creek Park, DC 

Shhh! Don't tell Virginia...Washington, DC is home to native bluebells as well! If you can’t make it out to Virginia to see these flowers, check out this 1,754-acre city park. Rock Creek Park is full of over 32 miles of trails, some of which you’ll find bluebells growing alongside! Bonus: there are multiple public transit accessible entrances.  

Trail recommendation: Boulder Bridge Loop - 3 miles with 341 ft elevation gain 

Bull Run, Virgina 

This park has a specific trail known for their bluebells. If that isn’t a sign to visit, we don’t know what is! This park gives you a chance to admire the flowers without the crowds. Plus, if you’re looking for a fun activity to pair with it, there are camping sites in the park too! 

Trail recommendation: Bull Run-Occoquon Trail: Centreville Road to Bluebell Trail – 4.9 miles with 91 ft elevation gain 

Caring for the Potomac River region

If you enjoy being immersed in local nature, help Potomac Conservancy protect them! Join a spring cleanup and make a difference this spring! 

We work with our neighbors (like you!) to empower community change. In 2024 we activated hundreds of volunteers to collect 34,380 pounds of litter through the Potomac River region! 

Polluted runoff from urban and developing areas is the only growing source of pollution in the Potomac River. That’s why it is critical we remove as much trash as possible from the river and its surrounding land. 

Want to dive in and reduce polluted runoff? 🗑️ 

Join us for a cleanup today!

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Spring is a perfect time for hiking, gardening, and camping in the Potomac River region – but have you tried foraging? It’s trending on social media for good reason. 

We’ve got handy beginner information to help you expand your “nature resume” skills with this fun (and tasty!) activity. Bonus: It includes three forest-to-table recipes. 

But first, let’s dive into the world of foraging local plants found in the mid-Atlantic region. 

What is foraging?

The streams and forests of the Potomac River support a rich ecosystem at the ready to explore. And as a result, our region benefits from an abundance of local flowers, bushes, and trees, some of which are even edible. Mmm!

When we pick a naturally growing plant to eat or cook with, it’s called foraging. Foraging is a great way to connect with the nature around us that is different than typical recreation like paddling and hiking. And spring is an ideal time to try it out as sprouting plants are easier to spot without dense ground cover of ferns and other greenery. 

It also opens a whole world of possibilities in terms of curiosity, viewing our region through a new lens, and recipes! Let’s dive into some food you can make with foraged plants.

Foraging tips

• Preparation: do your research before you go out, and it doesn’t hurt to bring information along with you. Learn how to handle the plant properly before touching, preparing, or eating it.

• Certainty: always identify plants with 100% certainty before harvesting them.

• Sustainability: only take 1/3 of the species you see and ensure the area remains plentiful with the plant. 

• Avoid contaminated areas: since some of the items you might forage are invasive, they may have been sprayed with chemical insecticides or herbicides. Know the area you’re collecting from, and stay away from sections that are treated with sprays.

3 recipes using locally foraged plants

Forsythia

The forsythia plant is native to Asia and are a fast-growing shrub in our region. It blooms in the spring with bright yellow flowers. They are commonly used in landscaping and can be found in other areas the region.

Forsythia simple syrup recipe 

1. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 of forsythia in a mixing bowl 

2. Pinch the ingredients together with your fingers or muddle with pestle 

3. Then add the sugar and forsythia to a pot with 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Periodically stir so the sugar doesn’t burn  

4. Then simmer for 15 minutes continuing to periodically stir 

5. After 15 minutes take the pot off the heat and let sit for 30-45 minutes 

6. Then using a small mesh strainer remove the flowers from the simple syrup 

7. You’re all set! You can use this syrup in coffee, tea, or pour it over a bowl of ice cream. * Refrigerate for up to 1 week* 

Wild green onions

This plant can be found from the spring to early summer. At first glance, you might think it is tall grass, but when you look closer, you can see the difference (and smell it, too)! 

Focaccia topped with wild green onions recipe 

1. First, wash and dry your green onions. 

2. Once they’re dried chop the onions until you have about ¼-½ cup (depending on your preference) 

3. Then follow your favorite focaccia recipe, at Team Potomac we like this one. 

4. Right before you get to the step when you press your fingertips into the dough, sprinkle your chopped green onions over the dough.  

5. Then follow your focaccia recipe until the end. 

Saucer magnolias

This tree can be found all around the Potomac River region and is known to bloom before the cherry blossoms. They are a gorgeous pink color and fill our area with the floral smell of spring.

Pickled magnolia petals recipe

1. Remove the magnolia petals individually and gently wash them in cold water. You’ll need about 100 grams of petals.

2. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a pot on the stove and 1/4 cup of white sugar. Heat until all the sugar has dissolved.

3. Place your magnolia petals into a jar and pour the vinegar and sugar mixture overtop.

4. Press the petals down with a spoon so they are submerged in the vinegar and sugar.

5. Allow them to come to room temperature, then refrigerate them for at least 12 hours.

6. When they're ready, you can put them on salads, ramen, or your favorite sandwich!

(Bonus, when you finish the pickled magnolias, you can use the vinegar for a salad dressing!)

How we support a lush and delicious landscape 

Potomac Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust that is working to improve local water quality and return swimmable and fishable waters to the Potomac River. Our local conservation initiatives conserve riverside forests to reduce polluted runoff, mitigate climate impacts, and ensure people and wildlife alike thrive. 

Empowered by a movement of over 35,000 supporters, we’re fighting for clean water and connecting people to the treasured waters of the Potomac River. Foraging and other outdoor activities are a fantastic way to connect with the river and our mission to restore the Potomac to full health. 

🗣️ Speak up to safeguard the Potomac River with us

Sign up for advocacy alerts to make a difference

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For Stephanie Flack and her family, the Potomac River has been a central part of their lives for decades. Its shores have been their gathering place to enjoy holidays, spend weekends, share laughs, and explore.

Creating memories on and along the river

One of Stephanie’s favorite ways to connect with her loved ones and with nature is to savor the natural beauty the Potomac River provides. Her weekends are filled with walks along the C&O Canal and visits to the Olmsted Island overlook, where she takes in the fresh air, watches wildlife, and admires the tranquil scenery.  

Stephanie’s love for our region is a special bond she shares with her children. They delight in visits to Great Falls, finding particular joy in investigating the area’s natural “potholes” created thousands of years ago.

But Stephanie knows the best way to appreciate our local waters is to see them up close. She recounted a particularly impactful experience at a Potomac Conservancy paddle one summer. While floating along the river in a canoe alongside fellow nature enthusiasts, Stephanie watched the Fourth of July fireworks illuminate the Key Bridge.

“I will never forget the sight of the lights and colors reflected on the water.” 

"The river is quite literally part of our family”

Over the years, Stephanie’s recognition of the Potomac’s importance to local life has deepened. She has witnessed how the Nation’s River is one of the region’s greatest unifiers, bringing people from all over the watershed together for recreation and celebration. That kind of unique common ground can make a real difference for our communities and the nature we depend upon:

“Everything that happens in the watershed upstream affects the health of the river where we live, and everything we do affects the river’s health for people and species downstream.”

“About 60% of our body weight is water. Having raised three kids in the Potomac watershed, the river is quite literally part of our family.”

In recent years, Stephanie has been proud to pitch in during fall acorn collections through our Tomorrow’s Trees program, even getting her whole family and their friends involved.

“It’s exciting to know that the seeds we collect will be grown into seedlings, and that those seedlings will be planted in the watershed. They’ll protect and restore air and water quality while improving fish and wildlife habitat. Knowing that our work will help combat the climate crisis by producing more trees that absorb carbon dioxide is satisfying.”

Putting a love for the river into action

Stephanie is determined to continue championing our clean water mission in every way she can. That’s why she has included Potomac Conservancy in her estate plan.

“While it’s important to me to support the work of Potomac Conservancy during my life, I also wanted to designate a gift to the organization when I’m gone. It’s a way to provide a legacy of support for work that is essential to us—protecting clean water, a healthy watershed, and natural areas critical to our quality of life. It’s also making a statement that what Potomac Conservancy does and stands for is a priority to me and congruent with my values.” 

Over the next 20 years, Stephanie hopes to see a huge leap forward in the Potomac’s water quality. She envisions extending protections to a full third of the Potomac River region by designating sustainably managed natural areas for conservation and recreation. 

Stephanie is doing her part to ensure that her vision for the Potomac River is achievable. Making her dream a reality will require hard work and cooperation, but everyone joining Stephanie and Team Potomac in the fight will make a genuine difference for our local environment and shared future. 

Leave a legacy of clean water 💙

Help Potomac Conservancy restore local water quality by making a lasting gift.

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Maryland is home to stunning mountains, flowing waterfalls, expansive hiking trails, and more. But all of this is at risk due to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services’ proposal to cut 100% of the funding for Rural Legacy, the Maryland Ag Land Preservation Fund, Heritage Areas, local parks and trails, and all Program Open Space land preservation programs through FY2029. 

The 2025 legislative session has been different than many in Maryland due to the large budget deficit, a projected $2.9 billion. Maryland legislators are considering cutting critical outdoor recreation and land conservation programs to address these budget challenges. Defunding these programs would have detrimental effects on the Potomac River, our communities, and land preservation.

Why do we need these programs?

Program Open Space was created over 50 years ago by the Department of Natural Resources. Many green spaces you see in your communities have been supported by this initiative. Today, more than 6,900 park and conservation area projects in Maryland have been funded through Program Open Space grants, and 415,000 acres of land have been protected. (more than 9 times the size of Washington, DC).

Land protection is one of the most powerful tools in the fight for clean water. The most effective and efficient way to ensure our drinking water is safe is to protect the lands that drain into it. Our waters are only as healthy as the lands that surround them. 

For many residents in Maryland, like Marney Bruce, Program Open Space is provides them the opportunity to get outside and enjoy their local environment.

What is being done to protect these programs?

Potomac Conservancy and our partner organizations are not taking this proposal lightly. Here’s how we’ve fought back: 

• We're working with the Partners for Open Space coalition to meet with several legislators and testify at multiple budget hearings. Our Senior Director of Policy, Anna Mudd, has provided testimony dozens of times, and as a coalition, we’ve spoken at hearings throughout the session. 

• As a part of the coalition, we signed on to a joint statement expressing our strong opposition to the proposed budget cuts

• Potomac Conservancy activated our supporters and encouraged them to contact their Maryland representatives to share their opinion 

The Potomac River region is home to our beloved parks, trails, and natural areas. We will not stand by and let these budget proposals pass without a fight! 

🌳 Speak up today for Maryland’s green spaces 

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Spring will be here before you know it, and no matter where around the Potomac River you call home, you never have to venture too far to enjoy nature (yes, even if you are a city dweller!).

Our local urban ecosystems are beautiful, lively, and diverse. The Potomac River’s urban center, Washington, DC, is rich with surrounding green space. The National Park Service manages over 7,000 acres of parkland in the nation’s capital—the equivalent of eight Central Parks. With the arrival of meteorological spring on March 1, trees are starting to bloom everywhere – and the city’s treasured cherry blossom trees are, once again, expected to hit an early peak bloom date this year.

As temperatures rise and storms become more extreme, our fellow plant and wildlife urbanites will become progressively more susceptible to climate-driven stress, polluted runoff, and invasive species that adapt more quickly.

Explore the top climate threats to the Potomac’s urban animals and plants—and what we can do to protect them!

Climate Threats

Shifting blooming season

In the Washington, DC area, the final freeze of winter has moved up two weeks since 1900 – from the second week in April to the end of March – bringing with it an even earlier spring.

The early warmth is shifting spring blooming season. A thirty-year study in Washington, DC found that 89 out of 100 plants bloomed four and a half days earlier to keep pace with increasing local temperatures.

The district’s beloved cherry tree blossoms, in particular, are now blooming about five days earlier than they did last century, reaching peak bloom between late March and early April.

Other impacts from this early warmth have also bloomed into view: an early spring can prove troublesome should a cold snap occur during the blooming season. Further, a mismatch could arise between the blooming cycle and when bees and butterflies are mature enough to pollinate, throwing an entire urban ecosystem out of sync.

Rock Creek Park

In the heart of the District lies Rock Creek Park, a 1,754-acre forested oasis treasured by locals and the more than two million visitors it hosts annually. Geographically, the Park lies where the Northern Piedmont and Coastal Plain provinces meet, creating an ecological transition zone that attracts a diverse array of natural communities.

Connected to neighboring natural areas, Rock Creek Park serves as an important migration corridor for wildlife – allowing animals to wander farther in search of food, water, mates, pollen, and other resources. It also serves as a temporary home for migrating birds in the spring and fall.

Polluted urban runoff and invasive species are top threats to this indigenous habitat, and the heating climate is altering conditions in this urban forest quickly – and drastic changes expected by 2040.

Increased levels of carbon dioxide and warmer, damper conditions combine to make Rock Creek Park more vulnerable to invasive plants, which are already threatening the park’s forests.

- JEANNE BRAHA, Former Executive Director, Rock Creek Conservancy

Rock Creek Park is already experiencing the effects of the heating climate. According to a climate change vulnerability assessment by NatureServe, the Park has observed an average increase of 1.3°F from 1981 to 2014 from the prior thirty-year period.

In the next 20 years, experts project temperatures in Rock Creek Park will increase by a full 3.1°F – an alarming and rapid change for this urban forest.

In the same period of time, NatureServe estimates annual precipitation to increase by 1.2 inches with a 20% decrease of summer rain and a 50% rise in winter precipitation.

Protecting the Park’s natural habitat, controlling invasive species, and protecting surrounding green corridors will mitigate the effects of climate change and provide our fellow wildlife urbanites with the greatest chance of survival.

Vulnerable Indigenous species: Wood Thrush

The hardwood forests of Rock Creek Park provide nesting habitat for the wood thrush, the District’s official bird.

Unfortunately, the past five decades have witnessed a drop of over 60% in the overall wood thrush population as a result of habitat loss from development. “They are the poster child of declining forest songbirds,” Calandra Stanley, a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, told The Washington Post.

WOOD THRUSH SONG / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Forest fragmentation – the loss of connected corridors of woodland habitat – reduces the area available for nesting and breeding. While some local species, like the brown-headed cowbird, can live in smaller natural areas, wood thrushes require expansive stretches of forest to survive. Forest fragmentation favors the survival of predators like the raccoon, possum, and blue jay that steal eggs and chicks from the wood thrush nests.

Climate change is likely to exacerbate already-stressed wood thrush populations as it disrupts their food supply of insects and fruit in late summer when they are bulking up for migration. The reduction in forest cover and food availability, along with rising temperatures, may prompt the wood thrush to migrate further north during the spring and summer months to breed.

Scientists believe there to be a 75% chance that the wood thrush population completely disappears from Washington, D.C. by the end of the century.

This is an excerpt from Potomac Conservancy’s Rising to the Challenge 2023 climate report series. Want to learn more about how the climate crisis is impacting the Potomac River, and solutions to protect vulnerable habitats? Read the rest here.

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Did you know Rachel Carson, a scientist who helped launch the modern environmental movement, lived in the Potomac River region? She spent much of her life in Silver Spring, Maryland (an area that also serves as Potomac Conservancy’s homebase).

Described as reserved and compelling, Carson was a biologist and author who took on the pesticide industry in the 1950s and 60s. She wrote her bestseller Silent Spring from the tranquil escape of her home near the Northwest Branch.

Rachel Carson Conservation Park, a beautiful natural area in Montgomery County, honors this pioneering woman scientist and her environmental work. This serene retreat is popular with hikers, horseback riders, climbers, and other nature enthusiasts.

A Visit to Rachel Carson’s Park

This 650-acre natural area in Olney boasts more than six miles of trails for hiking or horseback riding. Along with immersive forest and meadow experiences, the park contains striking rock formations that many visitors enjoy seeing (or climbing), including one called Rachel’s Cairn. 

There is also plentiful access to the Hawlings River, which appeals to water lovers and those who fish. A particularly popular and picturesque route is the aptly named Rachel Carson Greenway Trail. This serene 4.0-mile loop is rich with boulders and river views.

The Natural Wonders of Rachel Carson Conservation Park

In 1956, Carson wrote, “Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth, are never alone or weary of life.” At Rachel Carson Conservation Park, visitors observe many such beauties and mysteries. Numerous captivating species live in or visit the park, including nesting eagles, hawks, wild turkeys, deer, bluebirds, butterflies, hummingbirds, owls, bats, flying squirrels, and forest songbirds.

Bill Hamilton, natural resources manager for Montgomery Parks, says, “Kingfishers rush up and down the river, and signs of river otters and mink hunting in the ponds will be found along the banks.”

When vernal pools appear in the park, a visitor might see spotted salamanders or hear upland chorus frogs. The Veery, one of Carson’s favorite birds, was recently observed at the park for the first time.

Some of Hamilton's preferred spaces in the park are the restored wildflower meadow and “remote sections of the river that offer a feeling of being all alone and in a world far from what we are used to in the metro area.” The park is open from sunrise to sunset and offers a variety of special events, including guided hikes and wilderness explorations. 

Who Was Rachel Carson?

Rachel Louise Carson, the namesake of this lovely escape, was born in 1907 in Pennsylvania and lived until age 56, when she died at her Maryland home. She studied English and Biology before attending Johns Hopkins University to focus on Zoology and Genetics and earn her Master of Science. She became a writer and editor for the Fish and Wildlife Service but eventually left the government to focus on her science books and personal research, which often involved fieldwork in marine environments. 

Her 1962 book Silent Spring scrutinized growing agrochemical usage and uplifted humans’ interconnectedness with nature. Fern Shepard, president of the nonprofit Rachel’s Network, says one of her favorite Carson quotes is, “In nature, nothing exists alone,” (from Silent Spring).

“Rachel understood that mutuality is a feature of both nature and human relationships, and that we ignore that fact at our peril,” Shepard says. Silent Spring was widely criticized by pesticide companies but taken seriously by Carson’s broad readership, which included President John F. Kennedy, who created the Presidential Science Advisory Committee to investigate her work. This group called for further research into pesticide risks and a curtailing of their indiscriminate use.

Rachel Carson’s Enduring Legacy

Carson is sometimes credited with the ban of DDT and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her legacy has inspired multiple protected areas and contemporary environmental organizations (like Rachel’s Network and the Rachel Carson Council), and an honorary museum is now in the works. Rachel Carson Council President and CEO Bob Musill tells us that if Carson were alive today, she would be pleased to see the return of wildlife like eagles and osprey to the Potomac River region.

“Rachel would be thrilled that this beauty and bounty has been brought about through the concern and involvement of local citizens and conservationists of all sorts,” he says. “She would urge us now, with friends and neighbors, to carry on this legacy by joining the local environmental movement. She would say, as she did in a speech in 1963, ‘Conservation is a cause that has no end.’”

A hike at Rachel Carson Conservation Park can strengthen our connection to the natural world and teaming up with the Potomac Conservancy helps keep thelocal environmental movement going strong.

💧 Join our Clean Water Healthy Communities campaign so we can continue protecting the Potomac River we love 💙 

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With their massive wingspans and unmistakable plumage, bald eagle sightings are a highlight for many outdoor adventurers in the Potomac region. If you've ever paused to admire one of these majestic raptors during a hike — or even spotted one perched atop a building! — know that it's the result of local and federal advocacy from environmentalists determined to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

Conservation crash course

Here’s a quick history of bald eagle decline and recovery from Jeff Cooper, Nongame Birds Projects Coordinator and Wildlife Biologist at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR): 

• After WWII, DDT became a widely-used pesticide. Bald eagles and other raptors were exposed through prey fish, leading to a critical thinning of their eggs’ shells and nonviable nests. A nationwide collapse of eagle populations ensued.  

• Silver Spring, MD resident Rachel Carson sounded the alarm in her book Silent Spring, igniting a groundswell of citizen activism. After a decade-long battle and fierce opposition from chemical companies, the EPA was launched, and a ban on DDT came into effect in 1972. 

• The ban, combined with extensive habitat conservation efforts and reduced poaching, paved the way for a remarkable resurgence in bald eagle numbers.

Measuring success bird by bird

The recovery of our region’s bald eagle population has been a slow and hard-fought victory. Larry Cartwright, compiler of Dyke Marsh’s breeding bird survey and DC’s Christmas Bird Count, recalls how it took decades to see signs of progress: “In the 1980s, one was hard-pressed to see an eagle. My first sighting was in the 1990s at Mason Neck,” a bald eagle wildlife refuge established in 1969. 

It took until 2008 to encounter his first breeding pair, long after the DDT ban. 

Jeff Cooper began studying Virginia’s bald eagles in 2001. At that time, only 363 eagle nests were confirmed across the entire Virginia coastal plain. To ensure their continued recovery, the need for population monitoring was clear. 

“DWR sponsored extensive aerial surveys... from the 1970s through 2010. During that time, the eagle population increased severalfold on the Potomac,” Jeff recounted.

According to his current data, there are now “at least 1,500 breeding pairs in the coastal plain of Virginia” alone. 

Up close and personal with bald eagles

“The Tulane Drive pair fledged two offspring just a week before the nest collapsed as the surrounding branches likely became too weak to support the structure. Now those young eagles were just plain lucky!”
- Excerpt from Larry Cartwright's 2023 breeding bird survey report 

Bald eagles mate for life and form closely bonded pairs, often returning to the same nesting site year after year. Biologists and birders who study eagle populations often become familiar with individual birds and pairs through close observation, adding a personal dimension to conservation work. 

Larry has tracked several eagle couples who nest at Dyke Marsh for years, observing his first breeding pair in 2008. Another pair united in 2018 and welcomed their first egg the following year, albeit with some difficulty: “At first, they didn’t seem to know what to do... Eventually they got it right and everything is a success story from there.” They’ve gone on to fledge between one and three eaglets every year since.

Where one conservation story resolves, another begins 

As the Potomac’s eagle populations soar, other important—and too often overlooked—native birds may be facing struggles of their own.   

At Dyke Marsh, declines have been observed in "breeding populations of northern parulas, Acadian flycatchers, yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles” and other birds, Larry observed. 

Potomac locals captivated by bald eagles may find in them a gateway to deeper appreciation of all our native wildlife — and perhaps even a new feathered friend worth fighting for. “Aren’t the medium-sized and little guys important, too?” 

Train your eagle eye like the pros!

Ready to get out there and spot some raptors? Jeff advises that you’re most likely to find higher bird counts and greater activity in the winter and summer. Plan your birding trip in January-February or June-July to coincide with seasonal migration patterns (and don’t forget your binoculars!). 

5 spots to look out for eagles along the Potomac River, according to the experts: 

• Mason Neck State Park - Lorton, Virginia

• Leesylvania State Park - Woodbridge, VA 

• Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge - Woodbridge, VA

• Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Woodbridge, VA

• Dyke Marsh Wildlife Reserve - Alexandria, VA

These days, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home to admire these beloved birds of prey. The National Conservation Training Center’s Eagle Cam offers relaxing views of nesting eagles (and, if you’re lucky, their fledglings)! 

Having studied their growth for decades, Jeff Cooper has seen first-hand how our region provides ideal conditions for bald eagles to thrive. “Some of the highest nest abundances in North American occur in the tidal fresh and low saline waters of the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers." 

But their continued flourishing depends upon healthy waterways, abundant fish, and robust streamside forests for nesting. 

Our work to remove harmful litter from our waters and wild spaces, permanently protecting upstream land,  restore riparian buffers, and fight for legislation that prioritizes the health of nature and our communities benefits bald eagles and hundreds of other bird species that call the Potomac River home. 

🦅 Take action for bald eagles and other wild treasures of the Potomac region

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“Nature is healing.” While this statement can mean many different things to many different people, it has a complex meaning for the African American community. Nature is very important both culturally and spiritually in both the present and the past.

Importance of nature to Black communities throughout history

In the past, the land that was used to terrorize Black Americans through slavery was also a refuge from that terror. One example of this is nature's essential role in the underground railroad. In fact, the Potomac River was a symbol of freedom to slaves, as the river led them from Maryland and Virginia to Pennsylvania, which at the time was known as a “free state.” The Potomac River also provided enslaved people with places to hide throughout the thick forest and rocky shores, some of which remain today.

Black Americans’ connection to rivers goes further than finding a safe haven. Rivers and nature as a whole have a deeply spiritual meaning commonly represented through song. One of the most iconic Negro spirituals is Wade in the Water.

“Wade in the water

Wade in the water, children

God's gonna trouble the water” 

This song was used to warn enslaved people of nearby dogs that could sniff them out. Instead of continuing on land, they should wade in the water to find safety.

Nature was also commonly used by enslaved people for medicinal purposes.  They promoted healing through the use of medicinal herbs, some of which are native to this area. Wild cherry bark was used to reduce fever and is still used in medicines today. You can even find black cherry trees locally by identifying their distinctive scaly bark.

Plants were not only used for medicine and for eating but also in other creative ways. During the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, Africans would braid seeds and grains into their hair as a means of rebellion against those hunting them and a reminder of home. Today many Black Americans express themselves by placing flowers in their Afros and mimicking them with intricate cornrow braiding patterns. 

Importance of nature to Black communities today

In the present, Black Americans’ relationship with nature still remains complex. There is a general discouragement from participating in hiking, camping, and other outdoor recreational activities. This is mostly due to it being marketed as a “white” thing, coupled with the lack of representation in the media or even the lack of diversity in environmental fields of work. The history of racial violence, especially in rural areas, cannot be ignored as it causes fear throughout the community. This can leave some to believe that modern Black Americans are disconnected from nature. However, this could not be further from the truth.

Black Americans’ Nonconventional Connection to Nature

1. There are many community members who enjoy outdoor activities despite the intense racial history. Additionally, many Black women have embraced nature in order to reclaim their connection with their ancestors and find self-love.

2. One of the biggest cultural practices for black folk are barbeques, also known as cookouts—literally cooking outside. Barbeques are filled with the scent of smoky meat and the warm connection of community and family. They often lead elders to sit outside for hours throughout the day and into the night while younger children play nearby. 

So yes, nature is healing, complex, beautiful… and very important to the Black community.

Blue Riggins, Environmental Communicator and Potomac River region resident

Former Potomac Conservancy Communications Intern

Help us protect the Potomac River by taking action today in your local community! 🌿

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In the hustle and bustle of a city, it can be easy to take trees for granted. They blend into urban environments so well that many of us forget to consider just how much they do for our cities. Parks, street sidewalks, and neighborhoods—trees work hard wherever they are!

When we think about the benefits of trees, their oxygen-producing powers usually come to mind. It’s definitely true that trees help us breathe better, but there are many, many more ways in which they improve the health of our communities. Trees are nature's true wonders, and us water folks are barkin’ mad about them!

Let’s not beat around the bush—here are 7 reasons to love urban trees:

1. They’re a breath of fresh air

We all know trees filter out carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but did you know just how good they are at cleaning air? One acre of tree cover can remove roughly 80 pounds of pollutants and 1.2 tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year, making them essential in the fight against climate change.

2. Their roots are clean water masters

Air pollution isn’t the only kind of pollution trees mitigate. Their roots are also expert filtration systems, which catch stormwater runoff and reduce the amount of pollutants that reach rivers and streams. This means trees promote clean water in the Potomac River and other local streams and rivers. According to the National Park Service, urban forests prevent about 2.9 million cubic meters of runoff from entering national parks in the Washington, DC area each year.

3. Trees are cool. Literally.

Shading from urban trees helps keep temperatures down, playing an important role in reducing urban heat islands. Shade, along with evapotranspiration (the process through which water leaves the ground and enters the atmosphere), can lower city temperatures on the hottest of summer days by 2-9°F. This cooling impact makes trees an effective, nature-based solution to the climate crisis!

And that’s not all: a 2019 study found that urban tree cover saves the United States up to $12 billion annually, including costs from electricity usage and heat-related illnesses like heat stroke.

Tree shade also benefits urban streams. In the summer, tree canopies keep streams from overheating, which is good because excessive heat reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water (think of bubbles going flat in a soda sitting outside the fridge) and stresses acquatic life. In the winter, trees lose leaves and allow the sun's rays to reach streams, keeping them at a moderate temperature.

4. Trees are good for your mental health

Many studies show green spaces can reduce stress and improve moods. Tree cover in urban neighborhoods is also related to many physical health benefits.

You might even get a boost just from reading this blog—research has demonstrated that simply looking at pictures of trees produces mild effects on a person, but we know that a picture is nothing compared to the real thing!

5. City critters need them

Animals and insects are part of any city’s ecosystem, and many of them rely on trees for food and shelter. Plenty of trees keeps our urban ecosystems healthy and diverse, which we love to see!

6. Trees serve communities

There’s nothing better than connecting with your neighbors and loved ones in nature! A tree-filled park is the perfect spot for a picnic, an evening stroll with a friend, or a small community gathering.

Trees even provide shade and resting spots during a litter cleanup, which is a great way to give back to them after all they do for us.

And just like us, trees are social beings—they need to be part of a community so they can share nutrients and communicate with each other! Not only do trees help each other, every part of a tree in every stage of its life works to serve its community: leaves filter air and cool down environments, roots remove pollutants from groundwater, snag trees provide habitat to birds and other creatures, and fallen trees are the perfect place for fungi to grow and recycle the tree’s nutrients into the earth. Talk about efficency!

7. Do we really need another reason?

OK, if you need one more, let’s face the simple truth: Trees are downright pretty!  

DC’s beloved cherry blossom trees draw more than a million spectators each spring, and no one can argue with the beauty of leaves changing color all over the region in the fall.

Trees undeniably beautify cities, and their aesthetics can also increase property values, which is a nice little bonus. But really, trees offer us so much already that their looks are just the cherry on top.

Take action for our local trees! 🌳

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Great Falls Park is an iconic symbol of the Potomac River and the most visited park in our region, drawing half a million visitors each year. When we think of the park, images of rushing falls, impressive rock formations, and wild rapids come to mind. But as any visitor will tell you, Great Falls is far more than a photo opp: It has a deep history that shaped our region and continues to be a critical part of our local communities today.

How Great Falls got on the map

George Washington saw the potential for the Potomac River and knew that transportation was essential to the success of the young United States. He made it his life goal to see the Potomac River made navigable as far as the Ohio River Valley. This was no easy feat: With over a half mile of cascades and rapids and a 76-foot drop over its span, Great Falls was incredibly tumultuous. Washington needed a serious plan. 

In 1785, the president chartered The Patowmack Company to find a pathway west by clearing a river channel and building skirting canals around the Potomac's more turbulent sections, like Great Falls. Navigating treacherous areas like Great Falls was expensive for the company. The Potomac’s unpredictable conditions made it challenging to return boats back up the river, and similar projects around the Erie Canal was proving successful. A canal project adjacent to the Potomac River grew increasingly necessary. 

After 26 years of operation and ongoing financial challenges, the Patowmack Company declared bankruptcy. The new Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O) Company acquired their charter and continued the work of developing an improved still water canal system in Mayland. The project was completed in 1850. 

These days, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (all 184.5 miles of it!) is one of the region’s most popular destinations for hiking and biking!

Enjoyed and protected for its beauty 

Though Great Falls never became the transportation hub Washington envisioned, it was still cherished for its idyllic views and pristine wildlife. In 1930, Congress authorized the conservation of 800 acres of land around the historic Patowmack Canal. Great Falls, rich with stories of early American history and natural beauty, was transferred to the National Park Service in 1966.

Recreation in Great Falls today

• Hiking: People from near and far enjoy over 15 miles of trails 

• Whitewater kayaking: Adventurers are drawn Great Falls for its thrilling water sports 

• Finding a moment of calm: Not everyone who comes to Great Falls is looking for an adrenaline rush; many visitors come to unwind and relax 

• Birdwatching: The park is home to over 150 bird species, drawing flocks of birders year-round 

• Discovering new plants: For those who love ID'ing new plant species, you're bound to find unique ones here! 

💧 Join our Clean Water, Healthy Communities campaign to protect places like Great Falls! 💙 

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When we order a green juice or buy a bottle of water, we feel a little healthier. To us, it’s a nice pick-me-up, but for the critters that live in the Potomac, these beverages are anything but refreshing.

Every day, plastic water bottles, bottle caps, and straws end up in the Potomac River, polluting our water and threatening wildlife. Other forms of plastic like bags make their way into the river as well, contributing to growing concerns about microplastics and “forever chemicals” entering our drinking water.

With the help of our amazing volunteers, we remove literal tons of plastic and trash from our hometown river each year. But there’s still a lot of work to be done!

Pitch in to help clean our waters and protect animals by reducing your use of plastic disposables: Opt for reusable alternatives like these instead.

Metal and glass straws

ICYMI: Plastic straws are out. DC banned them in 2019 after the anti-straw movement blazed across social media.

If you don’t think straws are a problem, think again: Consumers in the US use 500 million straws every day.

If you want to reduce the amount of plastic entering the Potomac but still feel like you need a straw to enjoy your favorite drink, try a metal or glass straw. They’re durable, can easily be washed and reused, and they’re small enough to fit in your backpack or bag so you can bring them to restaurants and cafes.

Bonus: Metal and glass straws are a great alternative to plastic ones, but if straw use is optional for you, you can try ditching them altogether. Practice a little conscious consumerism, spare the planet some packaging waste, and you just might decide, “Hey, the straw-free life isn’t so bad!”

Reusable bottles

Say no to single-use bottles by bringing a reusable water bottle everywhere you go! Many plastic bottles end up in our local streams and rivers, presenting serious threats to the wildlife that lives there. On a typical cleanup day, our volunteers collect 60 to 80 bags of trash, and 2/3 of them are filled to the brim with plastic bottles.

So be a friend to the many creatures that live in the Potomac and get yourself a reusable water bottle for everyday use.

Bonus: Need your morning cup of joe to get you through the day? Make your coffee addiction river-friendly by tagging in your favorite thermos or tumbler. Many cafes offer a small discount when you BYO cup!

Reusable bags

Single-use plastic bag bans are becoming more common. So if you’re already bringing reusable bags to your local grocery store, why not bring one everywhere else, too? If you’re going to the mall or need to pick up some items at the drugstore, bring a reusable bag to carry your purchases. Getting a foldable bag like this one that can easily fit in a purse, backpack, or car will help you always be prepared so you never have to use a disposable plastic bag again.

Imagine how many plastic bags you can prevent from entering the Potomac if you used reusable bags every time you went shopping. That’s right, a whole lot!

Bonus: Take your sustainable shopping one step further by bringing mason jars and other containers to buy food in bulk. Stores like Mom’s Organic Market, Yes! Organic, Whole Foods, FulFillery in Takoma Park, MD, and local co-ops offer bulk sections, which means less packaging to pollute our rivers. And buying items in bulk is generally less expensive… it’s a win all around! Check out DC Reduces for more local options.

Reusable cutlery sets

The next time you find yourself heading to your favorite fast food restaurant, don’t pick up that plastic fork and knife. Instead, bring a set of reusable utensils to help cut down on plastic waste. It may seem like a small effort, but those forks and knives quickly stack up if you’re eating out once a week or more often.

Bonus:  If your fave take-out option puts your order in a plastic bag, politely say, “I don’t need a bag” when it’s being packed up. Bring one of your reusable bags to carry your food instead.

Want to amplify your eco-friendly dining habits? Check out Too Good To Go and help local restaurants reduce food waste!

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