Potomac Riverkeeper Inc

Shenandoah: We upgraded our monitoring equipment for toxic algal outbreaks so we dont have to rely on the state to determine when and where they occur. We filed multiple algae complaints with the Commonwealth to encourage the state to monitor for algal outbreaks. We organized a cleanup with 16 partner organizations of 62 sites on Earth Day, removing 60 tires and 200 bags of trash from the Shenandoah River System. We renewed our internship program with four universities: Shenandoah University, Howard University Law School, Trinity University, and Hood College. We also expanded partnerships with community groups led by people of color for stopping pollution, reducing public health risks to communities, and increasing recreational access programs.

Upper Potomac: We expanded our investigation and awareness campaign for PFAS (forever chemicals), including partnering with USGs on testing PFAS levels in fish tissue and blood and partnering with faculty at Frostburg State. We expanded our community science water quality monitoring program in partnership with Hood College to test for conventional pollutants and also acid mine drainage.

Lower Potomac: We pursued our Trash-free Potomac Campaign with volunteer trash cleanups in Alexandria, National Harbor, and Oxon Run and participated in efforts to pass legislation to reduce the sources of plastic pollution. We expanded our community science water quality monitoring on the Potomac River in DC, Maryland and Virginia. We expanded our 50 Million Mussels Campaign at National Harbor. We worked with Congresswoman Norton to fund a study by The Army Corps of Engineers to assess where swimming can safely occur in the rivers in DC. We brought litigation against the city of Alexandria for unpermitted discharges of coal tar and creosote into the river and litigation against the navy for more than 100 years of unpermitted discharges of munitions into the Potomac River, including the critical habitat of the endangered atlantic sturgeon. We worked with Maryland legislators to increase funding for inspection and enforcement personnel to protect Marylands waterways.