Maryland Blue Crab Moratorium?

Blue crab fishing in Maryland has been a struggle the past couple years, and there's a need for a solution to these low crab populations. Goucher College has proposed a  moratorium on crab fishing for a full year, and according to a poll taken by the college 63% of Maylanders are in support, but not by locals.

Potential Site for Recreational Boat Launch

Potomac River near Cumberland, MD.

Potential sites for a new recreational boat launch along the Potomac River behind Canal Place are being examined. An access point that includes paddling southeast across the existing portion of rewatered canal and exiting at the maintenance road that leads to the crest and railroad tracks is currently favored. At that point boaters would descend on a ramp that leads down to a grassy landing before entering the river.

In order for this to work, a ramp would need to be constructed on top of the flood control levee so that boaters can access the river bank. This will require the permission of CSX, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 

Park officials are currently studying the leakage problem at the Canal Basin, and think that the historic stone canal wall may need to be repointed. 

Officials hope a second launch site will be added above the dam beneath the Blue Bridge. 

Read the full article: Possible Boat Launch Sites Examined Along the Potomac River

Long Bridge Reconstruction

Photo came from the July 1983 Metro Memo Tabloid magazine, published by WMATA* 

The Long Bridge, which runs parallel to the 14th Street Bridge, is the only direct rail connection between Washington D.C. and Virginia.

Owned by CSX, the bridge sees 56 passenger and 23 freight trains each day, which is about 98 percent capacity at peak hours.  However, it is considered old and inadequate and in need to replacement.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted $2.8 million dollars for a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to investigate the potential for

Determining the Maryland-Virginia Border

The Potomac River has long been considered the boundary between Maryland and Virginia. However, old and new court battles have raised the questions, when the river begins to shift and expose new land does the boundary also shift.

Potomac Shores, a corporation that owns land along the Potomac in Maryland, claimed to own a 150-foot strip of land that emerged on the southern side of the Potomac River bank as the river changed course. This area, known as Potomac Wayside, was commonly used as an

Contractor Sentenced to 10-months for Dumping National Mall Sewage in the Potomac

Potomac River at Great Falls.  Retrieved from: Dcist Photo Credit: Justin Shuck

Patrick Brightwell, manager of a contracting company, was hired hired by the National Park Service to clean the National Mall's storm water sewer system between 2009 to 2011.

Future Predictions of Flooding and Storm Surge Puts D.C. at Risk

Before sea level rise can permanently claim land its presence will be felt through higher and more frequent coastal floods caused by storm surges. Climate Central's September report, Washington, D.C. and the Surging Seas, makes predictions for potential record flooding along the Potomac River in the coming years based on local sea level rise projections of up to 4.0 feet by 2100 (based on sea level rise in 2012).

Currently, the region's record observed flood is 7.9 feet above the local high tide line. By 2100 floods exceeding today's record, up to 10 feet above the current local high tide line, may become annual events.

1,350 acres of land, $4.6 billion in property value, and 1,400 people reside less than 6 feet above the high tide line in Washington D.C. These figures increase to

Sewage Spill Leads to Cancellation of Nation's Triathlon Swimming Event

Photo Credit: MyFoxDC

Sewage overflow into the Potomac River is not uncommon during periods of heavy rain. Early this September, such an overflow occurred releasing sewage into the river for 15 minutes. Unfortunately for the athletes of the Nation's Triathlon, it takes roughly three days for the bacteria levels from sewage overflows to dissipate, which means the swimming portion of the race had to be cancelled.

Read the Article: Sewage Spill Caused Swimming to be Dropped from Nation's Triathlon