Nearly four centuries of intense land use have threatened the health of the Potomac River watershed. Many of the river’s tributaries have been altered and degraded. Acid mine drainage has polluted its headwaters, while farming has overloaded the waterway with sediments and nutrients. Rapidly expanding urban populations and urban sprawl have created a host of problems, from urban stormwater runoff and altered streams to fragmentation of the forest and destruction of critical fish and wildlife habitat.

The scope and complexity of the Potomac River Basin are beyond the Partnership’s resources to address all at once. Of the Potomac’s tributaries, the Shenandoah and Monocacy River and Antietam Creek will be the initial focus for project work. These drainages are designated as Category 1 watersheds by the states and had intensive historic agriculture use. They have the lowest percentage of healthy riparian forests, high nutrient and sedimentation loading, large areas of gypsy moth killed timber, growing development pressures, and loss of viable trout fisheries due to temperature problems. Activities are targeted on private lands and portions of the George Washington-Jefferson National Forest. Public and private funds are committed for five years, 2000-2004.

As you roll over these resource issues you will see locations throughout the watershed. Click on any resource issue to see it's identified sites. You will then be able to choose a more detailed map to visit these sites and learn more about the crucial resource issues facing the Potomac River watershed and related Partnership activities.