Potomac Conservancy

We believe the foundation of healthy, sustainable, and connected communities starts with clean water. 

Potomac Conservancy is the region’s leading clean water advocate, fighting to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities. We combine the grassroots power of 10,000 members and online activists with local land conservation and policy initiatives to strengthen the Voice of the Nation’s River.

We seek to improve the Potomac River’s water quality by building an impassioned base of river advocates to impart change at the local level. Founded in 1993, we drive the region’s clean water movement by providing the tools that empower local landowners, activists, volunteers, partners, donors and all river champions to lead the charge for clean drinking water, healthy lands and safe access to the river. 

Land Protection 

We work one-on-one with private landowners to protect forested and open space lands in the headwaters regions, and provide resources to ensure our working lands are both productive and river-friendly. 

Clean Water Advocacy

We build a vibrant and diverse river constituency in targeted counties to advocate for, and successfully urge passage of, river-friendly land use policies that have broad impact on water quality.

Community Conservation 

We mobilize thousands of volunteers in hands-on restoration efforts to raise awareness, inspire action and empower our friends and neighbors to make a difference in their communities. 

The Potomac River is an anchor for our region's identity. Its value is experienced in our local quality of life, in ample recreation opportunities and the thriving businesses along its waterfronts. Because it is the source of 90% of the drinking water for over 5 million people living in the Washington DC metro area, it is more than a backdrop. Its waters sustain wildlife, agricultural and industrial economies, and residential communities totaling 6.1 million people across four states and the District of Columbia.

Potomac Conservancy protects and restores the Potomac River and its tributaries, and connects people to this national treasure. We are the region's leading clean water advocate and we believe the foundation of healthy, sustainable, and vibrant communities starts with clean water. We drive the region’s clean water movement by providing the
tools that empower local landowners, activists, volunteers, partners, donors,
and all river champions to lead the charge for clean drinking water, healthy
lands, and safe access to the river. 

Alexandria's Jones Point Park, Four Mile Run, Gravelly Point Park, and Theodore Roosevelt Island are where we host volunteer river clean ups and native seed collection events each year. Through these initiatives, the Conservancy removes thousands of pounds of trash and collects hundreds of pounds of native tree seeds given to state nurseries to be planted throughout the region. Together, we are cleaning up and protecting our river.

We combine the grassroots power of over 30,000 members and online activists with land conservation and policy initiatives to restore the Potomac River to full health. In our quest for a Potomac River that boasts
clean drinking water, healthy lands, and connected communities, the Conservancy
employs proven, common-sense solutions to improve water quality and empower
community action. We do so through three programs: Land Conservation, Advocacy,
and Community Conservation.

• Land
  Conservation – Critical to a clean Potomac is preventing pollution from ever
  entering our waterways. Accordingly, we work one-on-one with private landowners
  to permanently protect lands that are vital to water quality. Focusing on the
  Potomac River’s headwaters, our land conservation program protects natural
  habitats and water filtering processes, prevents damaging land uses, and
  conserves rural ways of life. To date, the Conservancy has protected 16,170
  acres of land and over 103 miles of riparian buffers.


• Advocacy – The Conservancy’s clean water advocacy program empowers community members to urge
  elected officials to enact river-friendly policies. We build coalitions of key
  community stakeholders, local nonprofits, non-traditional partners, and
  individuals to fight for change at local and state levels. Through careful
  research and assessment, we provide our allies and decision makers with tools to advocate for clean water.


• Community
  Conservation – Through robust public outreach and engagement, the Conservancy
  connects people to the Potomac’s lands and waters, motivating community members
  to become vocal and visible advocates. The Community Conservation program is
  the umbrella under which Tomorrow’s Trees (formerly Growing Native), Paddle the
  Potomac, and Potomac River Cleanups fall. Our river champions generously give
  thousands of volunteer hours annually. Our programs provide community members a
  tremendous opportunity to understand clean water initiatives’ impact on their
  lives and offer them the tools to make a difference in their communities. 

We have permanently protected 15,600 acres, mobilized nearly 55,000 volunteers who have removed 354,392 pounds of trash from the shores of the Potomac, planted 8,090 trees along degraded stream banks, and collected 166,125 pounds of native tree seeds for restoration projects. We are working with over 1,000 volunteers and paddle program participants a year, programs designed to engage our community and grow a local movement for clean water.