Land protection in the Shenandoah Valley is getting a $4.5M boost

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Land protection in the Shenandoah Valley is getting a $4.5M boost

The Shenandoah Valley is home to the pristine headwaters of the Potomac River. But for its tight-knit communities, poorly planned encroaching development is an increasing worry to both the region’s ecological health and its long tradition of agricultural and forest economy.

Learn more about the importance of conserving land in the Shenandoah Valley and how Potomac Conservancy and local partners work to protect the Potomac’s upstream lands forever.

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How the Potomac shaped our society and economy

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How the Potomac shaped our society and economy

The Potomac River has always played an important role in the nation’s economy and politics, but balancing profit and growth with the health of the river and community proved difficult for a developing United States.

Learn more about the Potomac’s economic and geopolitical influence throughout history—and the lingering environmental consequences of exploitative industries—so we can continue to fight for more protections for the river and move into a sustainable future.

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Up Top Acres’ farms are firmly planted on DC roofs

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Up Top Acres’ farms are firmly planted on DC roofs

Rooftop farms provide many amazing benefits to their urban communities—and DC is not an exception! They improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, insulate buildings, and provide amenities to the city’s residents. What’s more, rooftop farms serve as rainwater buffers, reducing pollution from stormwater runoff and making waves for clean water in our city!

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Thank you for helping sustain the river that sustains us all

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Thank you for helping sustain the river that sustains us all

Clean water starts with every single one of us, and our collective actions are making a difference. Read our President’s letter about how Potomac Conservancy’s forest protection, clean water advocacy, and community cleanup programs have been critical to reducing pollution and returning clean, safe waters to area streams—and how people like you are making all of this possible.

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History we should know: How the Potomac shaped our community

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History we should know: How the Potomac shaped our community

The Potomac River has been shaping its physical surroundings for over 3 million years when it was first formed—and for thousands of years, it has played a critical role in the lives of the communities that settled along its banks. Inevitably, humans shaped the river back. Where does that leave us now?

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Announcing Tomorrow's Trees, a people-powered initiative to re-forest the Potomac River region

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Announcing Tomorrow's Trees, a people-powered initiative to re-forest the Potomac River region

The leaves are falling and so are the acorns!

Potomac Conservancy is rebooting and expanding our local acorn collection initiative under a new name: Tomorrow's Trees. Learn more about this exciting roots-to-rivers program and how you can tap your inner squirrel and start collecting acorns this fall.

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Montgomery County is making strides to protect its forests by introducing Bill 25-22

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Montgomery County is making strides to protect its forests by introducing Bill 25-22

In mid-September, the Montgomery County Council has introduced Bill 25-22 to significantly strengthen the county’s Forest Conservation Law, which hasn’t been updated in thirty years. On October 4, our president Hedrick Belin proudly represented our local movement for clean water at a public hearing, speaking in support of the bill and to make it even stronger.

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Montgomery County’s forests need our protection right now—so this teen took action

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Montgomery County’s forests need our protection right now—so this teen took action

Forests are essential for filtering air and water pollution, combating the climate crisis, and nurturing our well-being. Read the story of an empowered community member who decided to fight for trees, clean water, and the future of her generation!

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

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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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