I plan to spend a good bit of time on the Potomac River this summer documenting its beauty and the recreation it provides to so many people. Despite significant investments and improvement of the water quality, after years and years of neglect and contamination, the Potomac’s water was once again under assault from a major sewage line break in Montgomery County, Maryland during the winter of 2026. Millions of gallons of waste water spilled directly into the Potomac and the C&O Canal.

These photos were shot earlier this month.