State of the Nation’s River
RIVER HEALTH INDICATOR
PEOPLE
The health of our communities is directly tied to the health of the Potomac River and our local lands and streams. Often considered the wildest urban river in the country, the Potomac is home to a diverse array of plants and wildlife, and provides drinking water for over 5 million people.
Discovering how people connect with this treasured resource is important to understand the accessibility and condition of our special outdoor places. Hiking, fishing, paddling, birding, and bicycling along the Potomac are just a few of the many ways the river enriches the quality of life for local residents and attracts visitors from around the world.
Short-term trends for this indicator vary; in 2016, additional public access points were created and outdoor recreation participation increased, but sport fishing license purchases declined. In addition, some parks, such as Leesylvania State Park in Virginia, are reaching capacity in the summer, which suggests increased interest in these resources, but could lead to problems with overcrowding. While park visitation continues to increase, there’s no data available to understand if this visitation is resulting in increased river stewardship or awareness. And, unfortunately, positive river access trends are not equally reflected across the diverse communities of the Potomac; data suggests that some communities still face barriers and challenges when it comes to equal access to the river.
Public Access Points
Previous Grade: B+
State and local governments are working to improve access to the Potomac and its tributaries. The Potomac region is full of historic landmarks, unique natural features, and exhilarating outdoor adventure spots.
The Captain John Smith Trail is one of three national water trails that runs nearly the entire length of the tidal portion of the Potomac. In 2015, the National Park Service released a Potomac River Segment Plan for the trail that seeks to enhance water access sites and make the river accessible for millions of local residents and visitors. The C&O Canal travels parallel to the river, from Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland.
Situated in the tidal waters of the Potomac, Mallows Bay and its ghost fleet are part of the Captain Smith Trail. Mallows Bay is currently under review by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to become the first National Marine Sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay region.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are 257 public access points along the Potomac and its major tributaries, including approximately 150 sites directly along the river. These public sites can include boat ramps, fishing piers, swimming areas, and non-motorized boat launches. Since the last report in 2016, two additional public access points, both in West Virginia, were constructed in the watershed.
The EPA’s 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement includes a goal for 300 new sites in the Chesapeake Bay by 2025 (reaching a total of 1,439 sites in 2025). By scaling from the Bay-wide goal, Potomac Conservancy established a benchmark of 325 total public access sites in the Potomac River basin by 2025; with 257 sites now open, the Potomac basin is 79 percent (B+) towards reaching the goal.
The Potomac received a “B+” for public access points in the previous Potomac River report card.
Sport Fishing Licenses
Previous Grade: C
The Potomac continues to be a valuable resource for commercial and recreational fishing; as water quality conditions improve, positive fisheries trends should follow. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) regulates fishing in the tidal stretches of the Potomac River, from Washington, DC down to the Chesapeake Bay.
The number of PRFC individual sport fishing licenses issued for the Potomac is on the decline, perhaps due to an increase in fees. In our last report, Potomac Conservancy established a target of 6,600 PRFC sport fishing license sales by 2025 (a 51 percent growth in sales from the peak year, 2013). In 2016, 2,744 individuals purchased an individual sport fishing license, meeting 42 percent (C-) of the established goal.
The Potomac received a “C” for sport fishing licenses in the previous Potomac River report card.
Outdoor Recreation
Previous Grade: B
Outdoor recreation brings multiple benefits to residents and communities across the Potomac region. Participating in outdoor activities strengthens connections with the river, promotes a healthy lifestyle, builds relationships, and generates economic income for communities.
The Outdoor Industry Association analyzes the national economic output from outdoor recreation. Their 2016 report estimates $887 billion in consumer spending on outdoor recreation supports 7.8 million American jobs and generates $59.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. Outdoor recreation generated $44.9 billion in consumer spending in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia in 2016.*
Approximately 58 percent of residents in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2016, which is an increase from 49 percent from our last report. An average of 75 percent of residents participated in at least one outdoor activity in the top ten states; the national average for participation is 62 percent. Comparing our regional average of 58 percent to the top ten average of 75 renders a grade of 77 percent (B+) for this category.
The outdoor recreation community is also experiencing a notable shift in the racial diversity of its members. In 2016, the participation rates of Hispanic and Black communities rose to 48 percent and 33 percent, respectively. Researchers from the Outdoor Industry Association expect this trend to continue over the next five years. Black and Hispanic communities combined are projected to experience a 2.2 percent rise in participation rates. Though these trends show a promising future, communities of color have historically been excluded from outdoor spaces; overcoming this racial gap will take time and consistent effort. The Potomac received a “B” for outdoor recreation in the previous Potomac River report card.
The Potomac received a “B” for outdoor recreation in the previous Potomac River report card.
*More detailed data, including Congressional district-level statistics, is anticipated in 2018 for use in future Potomac report cards; until then, this metric relies on data combined at the state level, which include areas outside of the Potomac watershed.
Park Visitation
Previous Grade: N/A
The Potomac region has wonderful national and state parks, including several that directly access the Potomac River. Visits to national and state parks in the region increased 2 percent to 8.6 million in 2016. The C&O Canal received 4.8 million visitors, according to the National Park Service, up from 4.7 million in 2015. Shenandoah National Park visitation steadily increased the past few years to a high of 1.4 million visitors in 2016.
A 2016 report by Headwaters Economics estimates that the C&O Canal and Shenandoah National Park promoted almost $2 million in visitor spending that supported 2,600 jobs. Visits to state parks in the region increased in Virginia and West Virginia but decreased slightly in Maryland.
Visitation and outdoor recreation remains strong throughout the region, but a lack of data on river specific activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, present challenges to understanding whether outdoor recreation along the river leads to increased awareness and river stewardship.
There is no restoration target established for the Potomac River park visitation.
The Potomac received no grade for park visitation in the previous Potomac River report card.
Resources and Methodology
This indicator measures the connection between People and the Potomac. Engaging communities with the river builds that connection and strengthens the public’s appreciation for natural places that provide clean water and benefit our quality of life. Recreationists, fishers, hunters, birders, athletes, and everyone else who enjoys the Potomac River experiences a connection to the river, which in turn, can deepen into a shared responsibility for protecting this valuable resource. At this time, the report does not feature trends for other indicators like trash or sustainable schools.
While other types of fishing licenses exist (for example, pleasure boat or commercial), this report uses individual sport fishing licensees as a metric from the Potomac River Fisheries Commission because it exemplifies the connection that individual sport fishing brings to the Potomac River. In addition, other types of licenses exist for areas throughout the Potomac watershed, but are regulated separately according to the specific jurisdiction. The tidal area regulated by the PRFC is representative of a larger Potomac watershed-wide metric, compared to other metrics that vary by jurisdiction.
Data for the People indicator are provided by the USGS, the PRFC, the Outdoor Industry Association, the U.S. National Park Service, the Maryland Park Service, West Virginia State Parks, and Virginia State Parks.
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