Potomac River - Fletchers Cove

Washington, District of Columbia
Managed by Potomac Riverkeeper

Fletchers Cove is run by the National Park Service and is located between Chain and Key Bridges, right off the C&O Canal.

**WARNING: SWIMMING IS PROHIBITED IN D.C. RIVERS AND STREAMS, REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT STATUS**

A “green” rating is demonstrative of the E. coli levels at one point in time.

The Potomac River is designated as a Class A waterway, which means primary contact, however the DC Department of Health (DOH) bans swimming in the Potomac due to sewage overflows. The risk of high bacteria levels after a heavy rain storm is the only reason it is considered “unsafe” to swim in the river. The activation of the Clean Rivers Project in DC is expected to reduce system wide combined sewage overflow by 96%, getting us significantly closer to a swimmable river 365 days a year.

When there is a red "special status" update, there has been a combined sewage overflow (CSO) in the past 48 hours. This 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.

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 26th, 2018. Potomac Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Potomac River - Fletchers Cove is sampled weekly from April 1st to November 30th

SOURCE INFORMATION

TBD

WATER QUALITY GRAPH

Potomac River - Fletchers Cove

Washington, District of Columbia
Managed by Potomac Riverkeeper
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 26th, 2018. Potomac Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   

Fletchers Cove is run by the National Park Service and is located between Chain and Key Bridges, right off the C&O Canal.

**WARNING: SWIMMING IS PROHIBITED IN D.C. RIVERS AND STREAMS, REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT STATUS**

A “green” rating is demonstrative of the E. coli levels at one point in time.

The Potomac River is designated as a Class A waterway, which means primary contact, however the DC Department of Health (DOH) bans swimming in the Potomac due to sewage overflows. The risk of high bacteria levels after a heavy rain storm is the only reason it is considered “unsafe” to swim in the river. The activation of the Clean Rivers Project in DC is expected to reduce system wide combined sewage overflow by 96%, getting us significantly closer to a swimmable river 365 days a year.

When there is a red "special status" update, there has been a combined sewage overflow (CSO) in the past 48 hours. This 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.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Potomac River - Fletchers Cove is sampled weekly from April 1st to November 30th

SOURCE INFORMATION

TBD

WATER QUALITY GRAPH



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