Potomac Conservancy concludes the region’s first comprehensive climate series — Here’s what we learned

Potomac Conservancy concludes the region’s first comprehensive climate series — Here’s what we learned

The climate crisis is here. And so is the final chapter of Rising to the Challenge, the region’s first comprehensive climate report.

Our report and six-part series have revealed the unique ways in which our streams, wildlife, and communities are impacted by a warming climate and extreme weather.

Dive into Part Six to uncover 7 key climate findings that impact the Potomac River — and the nature-based solutions we must support to overcome the crisis of our lifetime!

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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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Surprising ways 5 local critters survive the cold

Surprising ways 5 local critters survive the cold

Have you ever wondered how our local critters get through the winter?

Whether it’s packing on the pounds, getting out of Dodge, or cozying up with some friends, Mother Nature has quite an amazing response to the cold. Find out how five common critters spend the winter.

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Rising salt levels in the Potomac River threaten wildlife, drinking water.

Rising salt levels in the Potomac River threaten wildlife, drinking water.

Snow’s certainly not been a stanger this winter! Using salt can keep our roads safe, but it has dangerous consequences for the Potomac River.

Learn about the threat of rising salt levels in the Potomac and its tributaries, and alternatives to traditional salt to keep both our roads and freshwater safe.

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Genuinely useful tips for getting outside this winter

Genuinely useful tips for getting outside this winter

Now more than ever, we all need the mental and physical health benefits of getting outside. But how can you take advantage of the winter outdoors without it feeling like a chore?

Check out this list of how to prepare for cold weather, new activities to try, wildlife you can only spot in the winter, and even how to stay in touch with the natural world when you’re determined to stay indoors.

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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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4 ways Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left his mark on the environmental movement

4 ways Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left his mark on the environmental movement

While Dr. King is best known for his role in civil rights actions like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington, he also cared deeply about the environment and left his mark on the conservation movement.

Find out why clean water matters to civil rights advocates and how you can help uphold Dr. King’s legacy through action.

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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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5 *completely legal* ways to pollute the Potomac

5 *completely legal* ways to pollute the Potomac

With all the progress made since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, it may still surprise you to learn there are plenty of ways you can still legally pollute the Potomac River.

Learn how our community allows pollution into our Nation's River – the drinking water source for you and nearly 6 million people – and what you can do about it.

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Quiz: The bats in your backyard!

Quiz: The bats in your backyard!

Did you know that there are dozens of bat species that call the Potomac River region home…and that many of them are under threat or endangered? Luckily, the work we do to conserve our local lands and waters can also help protect these vulnerable creatures. Take this quiz to get to know some of the bats hanging around in our backyards!

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