A popular Potomac River island received some much-needed TLC on MLK Day weekend

A popular Potomac River island received some much-needed TLC on MLK Day weekend

Despite chilling temps, our 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service cleanups in DC, Maryland, and Virginia saw amazing turnout!

Our fantastic volunteers were joined by Dr. Kandis Boyd, Director of US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program. Read about her experience, the day’s results (including some very strange finds!), and how our community carries on Dr. King’s legacy.

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10 tips for a river-friendly holiday season

10 tips for a river-friendly holiday season

Ah, the holidays. It’s one of our favorite times of year. But December can also be—dare we say it—a rather wasteful month. Let’s make this holiday season a tad greener this year! Check out 10 simple tips and tricks from our staff for a memorable, river-friendly holiday season.

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5 recent policy wins for the Potomac River you should know about

5 recent policy wins for the Potomac River you should know about

Restoring the Potomac River to full health is a community-wide effort that requires many strategies to return clean, safe waters to local streams. We combine the power of local land conservation with clean water advocacy work. Read on to learn more about the bills we supported during this year’s legislative sessions on a county-, state-, and federal level, why exactly they matter, and what we are working on next.

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What do we know about baby dolphins living in the Potomac River?

What do we know about baby dolphins living in the Potomac River?

Understanding how many bottlenose dolphins in the Potomac-Chesapeake area are reproductive females, the number of calves they’re having, and how many of those calves survive reveals much about the current state of the population and its trajectory.

Discover what the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project (PCDP) is learning about baby dolphins in the Potomac River and how this research is unlocking key information about the health of the mid-Atlantic dolphin populations.

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Our favorite local date spots for the outdoor romantic

Our favorite local date spots for the outdoor romantic

Skip Netflix binge-watching, take a hard pass on a crowded restaurant, and get outside to make some memories with your special someone.

Whether you already have plans or still need to make some for the big day, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best outdoor dates on and around the Potomac. 

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Why do dolphins use the Potomac River?

Why do dolphins use the Potomac River?

Understanding how many bottlenose dolphins in the Potomac-Chesapeake area are reproductive females, the number of calves they’re having, and how many of those calves survive reveals much about the current state of the population and its trajectory.

Discover what the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project (PCDP) is learning about baby dolphins in the Potomac River and how this research is unlocking key information about the health of the mid-Atlantic dolphin populations.

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Indigenous Voices: Discover the beauty of Nanjemoy Creek

Indigenous Voices: Discover the beauty of Nanjemoy Creek

Nanjemoy Creek is known as the “green thumb” of the Potomac River, as it remains so well-forested and pristine. This is in large part thanks to the efforts of the Piscataway people and their efforts to protect their ancestral home.

Hear from Piscataway nation member and Indigenous scholar Gabby Tayac about the connection her people have to Nanjemoy, their history along side it, and how its beauty still inspires her today.

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Ask the Expert: How does your grocery list impact the Potomac River?

Ask the Expert: How does your grocery list impact the Potomac River?

Our friends from Mom’s Organic Market tell you how to write a shopping list that really makes a difference for our local environment and the climate. Check out these 5 quick tips to level up your river-friendly grocery game and find out the #1 action you can take for clean water…

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3 essential books by Indigenous authors for environmental activists

3 essential books by Indigenous authors for environmental activists

All lands in the United States are the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples. If we want to build an equitable and sustainable movement to protect the Potomac River, our local lands, and the climate, we must learn from Indigenous people and their legacy of environmental activism.

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Potomac River dolphins also suffer from viral outbreaks - Here’s how to help

Potomac River dolphins also suffer from viral outbreaks - Here’s how to help

Just like people, dolphins are susceptible to disease outbreaks. That’s why the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project is studying an airborne viral outbreak that caused a mass mortality event among Potomac River dolphins.

So what have they discovered about how and why disease spreads amongst our local dolphin population?And how can we keep them healthy and prevent more outbreaks?

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6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust

6 local wetlands to quench your wanderlust

Don’t drain the swamp, play in it!

For most of this country's history, wetlands were seen as an impediment to development. But now we understand how paving over wetlands means destroying incalculable ecological services - and some of the Potomac River region’s most magical travel destinations.

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Got climate grief? Head to the river

Got climate grief? Head to the river

Science says that getting on or near water can ease the collective stress we’re all feeling due to the climate crisis and COVID-19. That’s why protecting our natural resources is more important now than ever.

Here’s how you can help keep our local waterways clean and publicly accessible during a time of crisis.

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7 hidden gems and little known parks to explore this summer

7 hidden gems and little known parks to explore this summer

There are literally hundreds of national, state, and local parks in the Potomac region. Choosing where to go can be overwhelming.

To help you take advantage of the great outdoors this summer, we’ve done the hard work for you. Pack your reusable water bottle and lace up your boots. Here are 7 spots off the beaten path to explore this summer.

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Update: Maryland to plant 5 million trees in 10 years

Update: Maryland to plant 5 million trees in 10 years

The climate crisis is a major threat to life in Maryland, but despite vigorous efforts by Potomac Conservancy and grassroots organizers, the vital Climate Solutions Now bill failed to pass through the Maryland legislature this year.

Find out what climate-related solutions were passed in Maryland this year and how we can continue the local fight for climate solutions and the Potomac River.

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It's dolphin season! Here's what we know (so far) about the Potomac River population

It's dolphin season! Here's what we know (so far) about the Potomac River population

Did you know the Potomac River is the summer home and breeding ground for thousands of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins?

As dolphins are currently returning to our waters, learn from expert Ann-Marie Jacoby of the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project about the history, lives, and behaviors of dolphins in the area.

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