The Future of Multiobjective Reservoir Management in the Potomac River Basin

The Potomac River Basin covers 14679 square miles between the Appalachian Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay. As with most other large river basins, the Potomac Basin has a diverse geography and serves many economic and recreational purposes. The lower portion of the basin includes the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and most of the water supply for this region comes from the Potomac River. The upper portion of the basin is predominantly rural, but includes many areas that are growing. In addition, the upper portion of the basin contains a significant agricultural industry, many stream sections prized for their fishing and Whitewater opportunities, a number of active and abandoned mines, and some industrial facilities. Two reservoirs in the headwaters of the Potomac River have a significant impact on the many uses of the river and on environmental conditions in the river. These reservoirs are operated primarily for flood control, and flow augmentation to support water quality and water supply. The current operational strategy for these reservoirs was developed in the 1980s when acid mine drainage was the primary water quality challenge. Since then, many of the acid mine drainage sources have been addressed and water quality has improved. At the same time, recreational activities on and below the reservoirs have increased and gained in prominence, especially fishing and white water boating. Because of the changing conditions, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin is working with the reservoir operators and stakeholders to study how operations can be changed in order to better balance needs within the basin. The study is based on a collaborative modeling approach known as Shared Vision Planning.