Potomac River - Thompson Boat Center

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The Thompson Boat Center, right off the Capitol Riverfront, provides direct access to the Potomac River. Parking is located near the intersection of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and Virginia Avenue. The boat center is open to the public and offers canoe and kayak rentals and other non-motorized watercraft.

**WARNING: SWIMMING IS PROHIBITED IN D.C. WATERS REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT STATUS**
Despite its designation as a Class A Primary Contact waterway, the DC Department of Health (DOH) bans swimming in the Potomac River citing the risk of high bacteria levels after rainstorms as the only reason it is considered “unsafe” to swim. The activation of the Clean Rivers Project in DC is expected to reduce system wide combined sewage overflow by 96%, bringing the Potomac significantly closer to a swimmable river.

Water quality standards as well as the methods used to determine pass or fail status vary widely across jurisdictions and monitoring programs. We encourage users to explore the sample data in addition to checking the swim guide status. These data can be viewed through the Chesapeake Monitoring Collaborative Data Explorer, https://cmc.vims.edu/#/home

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Met water quality standards less than 60% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on September 29th, 2022. Potomac Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on September 29th, 2022 at 11:34 AM.

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

A “green” rating demonstrates that the level of E. coli at the time of sampling falls beneath the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality primary contact water quality safety standards as well as the DC and MD Primary Contact Water Quality Standards

These Primary Contact Water Quality Standards are as follows:
• E. coli single sample value = 410 MPN/100mL
• E. coli geometric mean = 126 MPN/100mL

For the first 5 consecutive weeks, single sample values will be compared against the single sample standard of 410 MPN. After 5 consecutive weeks, the geometric mean will be calculated and compared to the 126 MPN value to determine a pass or fail status. Samples are rated “green” if they fall below these values. Samples over the standard are considered "red" due to their failure to meet criteria, and the increased risk of illness.

Potomac sites that are under DC jurisdiction are rated against these values. As requested by the DC Department of Energy and Environment, site ratings are determined by the geometric mean value, not the single sample value.

A red "special status" update indicates an abnormal situation such as a severe weather event, construction activity, or a combined sewage overflow (CSO) in the past 48 hours. This status means it is extremely likely there are unsafe levels of bacteria in the river, and it is recommended to be extra cautious if you are close to the river or come in contact with the water. A grey "special status" can also mean that there was no data collected that week due to high flow rates, park closures, or inaccessibility of the collection site.

Potomac Riverkeeper Network staff, interns, and volunteers monitor water quality at several locations along the Potomac River in partnership with Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and other non-profit organizations. The monitoring effort in Virginia and Maryland waters is generously supported by the Virginia Environmental Endowment, National Harbor Marina, Peterson Companies, SP Marine Management, and Hunting Creek Garden Club. Monitoring in District of Columbia waters is supported by the DC Department of Energy and Environment through grant #RFA 2018-1805-WQD-VWQM Project #1 to Anacostia Riverkeeper.

Monitoring occurs every week from May through September. Parameters to be monitored include E.Coli, total coliform, pH, temperature, and turbidity. Detailed monitoring results can be found through the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative's Data Explorer, https://cmc.vims.edu/#/home

The primary parameter of concern is E. coli, a fecal coliform. E. coli is measured in terms of the Most Probable Number /100 ml water and are indicators of fecal contamination by warm-blooded animals including birds and mammals. Sampling sites along the Potomac fall within several jurisdictions and monitoring programs. Each jurisdiction has defined their own water quality standards and each program uses its own method for determining a pass or fail site status. In 2022, each jurisdiction is using the same Primary Contact Water Quality Standards.

We encourage users to explore the sample data in addition to checking the swim guide status. These data can be viewed through the Chesapeake Monitoring Collaborative Data Explorer, https://cmc.vims.edu/#/home

Water Quality Graph