by Kate Shunney
The Potomac River Conservancy has reported that in 2025, the Potomac River’s health remains at a “B” grade.
“That’s remarkable progress from a dismal ‘D’ in 2011,” the conservation group said in a release about the health of the river.
Progress on the six health indicators for the Potomac River include improvements in pollution levels, fish, habitat, land, people and climate. 
Pollution levels are determined by measuring nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment levels in the watershed. Polluted runoff and nitrogen from agricultural runoff have both dropped in recent years.
Fish health in the Potomac River is still of great concern to natural resources officials, as the number of invasive species like Blue Catfish and Chesapeake Channa rises and native species like Striped Bass, White Perch, Smallmouth Bass and American Shad decline significantly. Part of the dynamic is tied to climate change and warming waters, low flow conditions and water clarity.
“The assessment of key Potomac River fish species is an excellent way to discern overall water quality trends as most native species need clean and clear water with consistent temperatures in order to have thriving populations,” the report says.
Habitat quality of the Potomac River and its basin is being affected by loss of wetlands, forests and shoreline, the annual report says. But efforts by watershed groups to increase buffer areas along the river help maintain the shoreline and keep the tree cover that shades the water, keeping river temperatures healthier for underwater habitats. Underwater grasses in the river are improving and forested buffers were given an “A” grade by the Conservancy as Maryland Virgina and West Virginia planted additional trees along the Potomac.
According to the report, in 2023, Virginia planted almost 300 miles of forest buffers along the river, while Maryland added 40 miles and West Virginia gained 13 miles.
The health of the land along the Potomac River was measured based on urban, suburban and rural Best Management Practices. Rural BMP’s got a B- grade, up from a C in 2023. The amount of protected land along the river has grown to 2 million acres, exceeding EPA goals.
The Potomac River got an A grade for public access points, pointing to an abundance of ways that people can connect to the river for outdoor recreation like boating and fishing.
“Now, with 325 sites across the Potomac region (and even more throughout the Chesapeake!) our community has an ever growing network of publicly accessible sites to fish, hike, watch for birds, or simply sit and enjoy our beautiful river,” the report says.
The report also measured the number of sports fishing licenses being sold for area residents and outdoor recreation surveys to show the impact of people enjoying the river and building economic growth around recreation in the river basin.
Rising temperatures and more extreme weather conditions continue to play out in the Potomac River basin, tied to both drought and flooding.
“Warmer temperatures also increase the variability and intensity of precipitation. Because warmer air holds more moisture, our watershed can experience heavier storms and more intense droughts. This won’t mean more or less rain, but more extreme weather events. Droughts will harm agriculture, reduce water flows, and raise temperatures in streams and rivers. In contrast, intense rainfall could overwhelm stormwater systems and pollute streams,” the report points out.
“Local solutions must align with regional policies to protect both people and ecosystems. In droughts, efficient water use and advanced irrigation can sustain base flows, while increased forest management can reduce wildfire risks. In flood-prone areas, upgrading stormwater infrastructure and promoting green practices like low-impact development can mitigate polluted runoff. These strategies aren’t new, but the Potomac watershed needs stronger commitment to build a resilient future where both people and wildlife thrive in the face of climate change,” says the Conservancy in their report.
The full report can be found at https://potomacreportcard.org/
