Potomac River
By: Josh Bennett, Christian Allen, Cole Gifford
Demographics of the area-past and present; what kind of human activities are there that affect it?
The population of the Potomac basin is about 6.11 million people and has increased by about five percent since 2005. The average population density is 84 people per square mile and in the late 1500s, the average population density was 2.2 people per square mile. People living in urban areas account for the most of the basin’s residents at almost 81% of the population. Those living in rural areas make up 18.6% of the population, while those living on farms only account for 0.7%. The basin’s major industries include agriculture and forestry throughout the basin, coal mining and pulp and paper production along the North Branch Potomac River, chemical production and agriculture in the Shenandoah valley, high-tech, service, and light industry, as well as military and government installations in the Washington metropolitan area, and fishing in the lower Potomac estuary. http://www.potomacriver.org/potomac-basin-facts
How is the land along the river used?
Potomac River
What kind of surfaces are present?
What is the elevation of the land around the river? How does it compare to the area around it?
How do (3) and (4) affect the amount of runoff and groundwater? What are the effects of these on the river?
What kind of pollutants affect the river? (point source/non-point source)
How has the quality of the water in the river changed?
http://www.epa.gov/oaqps001/gr8water/xbrochure/chesapea.html http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/newsletter/streammonitor.htm
http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/bay_cond/bay_cond.cfm?param=pH&station=POT1830