Potomac Riverkeeper Inc

TO STOP POLLUTION AND TO RESTORE CLEAN WATER IN THE POTOMAC AND SHENANDOAH RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES THROUGH ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WATERSHED PROTECTION - WE IDENTIFY SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO STOP THEM. WE REGULARLY PATROL THE RIVERS WE WORK TO PROTECT. WE RESPOND TO TIPS AND COMPLAINTS. WE REVIEW PAPER RECORDS - LIKE DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS AND INSPECTION REPORTS - TO DETERMINE WHETHER VIOLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. WE COLLECT EVIDENCE - WATER QUALITY SAMPLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOS, VICTIMS INTERVIEWS- AND BUILD THE CASE WE NEED TO STOP THE POLLUTION. AND WE ORGANIZE - WE LISTEN TO COMMUNITIES ALONG THE RIVER AND WORK WITH THEM TO STOP THE PROBLEMS ABOUT WHICH THEY CARE THE MOST. WE BUILD GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR CLEAN WATER THROUGH STEWARDSHIP, INCLUDING OUR ON-THE-WATER PADDLE SERIES: RIVERPALOOZA AND RIOPALOOZA.

SHENANDOAH: WE WERE THE FIRST TO IDENTIFY THE TOXIC ALGAL OUTBREAK ON THE NORTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A NO CONTACT ADVISORY FROM THE COMMONWEALTH FOR MORE THAN 50 MILES OF THE RIVER. WE CONVINCED THE VA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY OF THE CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS FOR ADDRESSING HARMFUL ALGAL OUTBREAKS AND THE DEQ TO PROPOSE A WATER QUALITY STANDARD FOR CHLOROPHYLL A, WHICH IS A MEASURE OF ALGAL GROWTH IN THE RIVER. WE EXPANDED OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE 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 BOTH POLLUTION STOPPING AND 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. WE ESTABLISHED THE FIRST RIVERKEEPER DRONE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM IN THE U.S. AND ALSO TRAINED WATERKEEPERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO USE DRONES TO DOCUMENT AND INVESTIGATE POLLUTION INCIDENTS. WE BEGAN A COMMUNITY SCIENCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOOD COLLEGE TO TEST FOR CONVENTIONAL POLLUTANTS AND ALSO ACID MINE DRAINAGE. WE SETTLED OUR LAWSUIT WITH VERSO PAPER MILL WITH A SCHEDULE FOR REMEDIATION OF MULTI-YEAR BLACK LIQUOR DISCHARGES.

LOWER POTOMAC: WE LAUNCHED OUR TRASH FREE POTOMAC CAMPAIGN WITH VOLUNTEER TRASH CLEANUPS IN ALEXANDRIA, NATIONAL HARBOR, AND OXON RUN AND AN ORGANIZING EFFORT TO PASS LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE SOURCES OF PLASTIC POLLUTION. WE CONTINUED OUR STAND UP PADDLEBOARD CLEANUPS AND LESSONS AT DAINGERFIELD ISLAND. WE EXPANDED OUR COMMUNITY SCIENCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING ON THE POTOMAC RIVER IN DC, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA. WE LAUNCHED OUR 50 MILLION MUSSELS CAMPAIGN WITH AN INITIAL PILOT INSTALLATION AT NATIONAL HARBOR.