Potomac Riverwatch: Spring 2022
NEWS
New Maryland Dove-- After several years of construction at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, a new replica of Dove, one of two ships to bring settlers to Maryland in 1634, was lowered into the bay on March 28, 2022. The ship still needs several weeks of rigging and preparation before it is officially launched and delivered to St. Mary's City on the Potomac River, where it will replace a replica version that was launched in 1978.DetailsOyster Shells in the River--Several huge "lumps" of oyster shells have been discovered in a 10-mile section of the Potomac near the U.S. 301 bridge. Scientists located the shells in a section of the river that is mostly freshwater and not a current habitat for oysters. Oyster shells are currently in short supply, and are important for the reproduction of oysters, which attach themselves to the shells. More information.
Swimming in the River--The Potomac Riverkeeper Network has launched a campaign to open the Potomac at Washington D.C. to swimming, something that has been banned since 1971. The "Swimmable Potomac River Campaign" seeks to ensure that the river can be used for all types of water recreation, part of an awarness effort to mark the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.Details