Emergency closures have been imposed on portions of the Potomac River due to a recent sewage spill, affecting waters in Charles County, Maryland, and adjacent Virginia shores.
The Maryland Department of the Environment, in coordination with health officials, issued the notice following the spill, which prompted restrictions on activities such as swimming, boating, and shellfish harvesting in the impacted areas. The closure spans from the unclassified area near the Port Tobacco River downstream to the U.S. Route 301 Bridge.
Specific boundaries include:
- All waters upstream of a line running in a slight northeasterly direction from a point on the Virginia shore at the Rt. 301 Bridge (38°21’33.2″ North Latitude, 77°00’54.8″ West Longitude) to a point on the opposite Maryland shore (38°21’48.5″ North Latitude, 76°58’58.1″ West Longitude).
- All waters downstream of a line running northerly from a point on the Virginia shore (38°22’03.4″ North Latitude, 77°05’29.4″ West Longitude) to a point on the Maryland shore (38°54’22.3″ North Latitude, 77°05’29.7″ West Longitude).
The notice was shared by the Charles County Department of Health and aligns with protocols for protecting public health after sewage contamination events in the Potomac River. Similar closures have occurred in the past due to overflows or spills entering tributaries like those near Port Tobacco River.
This closure affects Southern Maryland waterways, particularly in Charles County, where the Potomac River forms the southern boundary. Residents and visitors are advised to avoid contact with the water in the closed areas until further notice and testing confirms safety. No specific details on the spill’s volume, exact source, or cleanup timeline were provided in the notice, but such incidents typically involve monitoring by state environmental agencies until bacterial levels return to safe thresholds.
The Potomac River serves as a critical resource for recreation, fishing, and shellfish in the region. Emergency closures help prevent health risks from pathogens in untreated sewage.