The Potomac River: 'A Troubling Picture'

A recent report from the Potomac Conservancy describes the river's recent degradation.

The Potomac River’s future presents “a troubling picture,” concludes the sixth annual report of the Potomac Conservancy.  “Too many stretches...are still too polluted to allow you to safely swim, boat, or fish, or to support healthy populations of fish and other aquatic life,” the study proclaims. Titled “Troubled Waters,” the report targets non-point pollution as the “root cause” of the degradation along 51 percent of impaired steams miles, while agricultural practices contribute 37 percent. Unlike “point source” pollution discharged from a discrete site like a pipe, non-point pollution is diffuse and often carried in stormwater washing off impervious surfaces like roofs, parking lots and roads. The 405-mile Potomac River provides …

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