The Wednesday Wetness

 Kelia Moniz, Professional Surfer, WSL World Longboard Champion, Roxy team rider & model

Bay Journal, Study searches for alternatives to Potomac River water supply

A two-year study, called Secure the Source, will look at large solutions that could provide emergency water supply for weeks to more than 5 million people in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The $25 million study, announced in June, is aimed at finding potential alternatives to the Potomac River water supply. Project partners include water utility leaders from WSSC Water, Fairfax Water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: On The Beach up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

The Wednesday Wetness

The Baynet, Potomac River Reaches 94 Degrees As Fish Kill Reported In Maryland

Record-breaking water temperatures likely contributed to a fish kill in the Potomac River near Seneca, where Maryland environmental officials recorded an extraordinary 94-degree water temperature following days of extreme heat across the region.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) confirmed the fish kill in a social media post, saying, “We’re aware of reports of a fish kill in the Potomac River near Seneca. Our biologist recorded water temperatures at a record 94°F. This can trigger a summer turnover event, when layered warm and cold water suddenly mix and oxygen-poor water rises to the surface, stressing fish.”

Although the fish kill occurred in Montgomery County, the Potomac River flows south along the borders of Charles and St. Mary’s counties before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay, making the conditions noteworthy for residents, anglers and boaters throughout Southern Maryland.

The fish kill follows several days of dangerous heat across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. Air temperatures climbed into the upper 90s and low 100s across much of the state, with parts of Montgomery County reaching about 100 degrees and nearby Washington, D.C., reaching 102 degrees during the recent heat wave.
...
State officials have not announced how many fish were affected or identified the species involved.

If I'm reading the map right, this fish kill occurred up in the riverine Potomac, above Great Falls. I'm not sure I understand their argument about the summer turnover event. However, it was really hot for a few days there.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Melon Season up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Pooptomac River Reopens for Recreation

 MyMC Media: Potomac river reopens for recreation, but lingering questions remain

Residents filled the Glen Echo Town Hall on Monday evening seeking answers about the safety of the Potomac River months after the Jan. 2026 Potomac Interceptor sewage spill contaminated sections of the river near Minnie’s Island and the C&O Canal.

“Is it safe to walk the trails with my dogs and my children?,” one resident asked during the meeting. “Why does it still smell bad?”

To be fair, it never smelled that good. 

The questions reflected the lingering concerns shared by many community members despite assurances from officials that the Potomac River has largely rebounded and recreational activities can resume with caution.

Representatives from DC Water, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Health told residents that cleanup and restoration efforts remain ongoing while water quality testing shows significant improvement.

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis announced that the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services has lifted its health advisory for the Potomac River after continuous monitoring showed bacterial concentrations had returned to acceptable Environmental Protection Agency safety levels. “Water conditions have improved enough for recreational activities on the river to resume,” Davis said.

Davis said activities such as kayaking, rowing and trail use may continue, but Davis and other health officials urged residents to avoid shoreline areas and river sediment between Lock 11 and the shoreline surrounding Minnie’s Island. 

“Please keep children and pets away from these specific environments,” Davis warned.

While officials emphasized that the river is safe for most recreational purposes, they cautioned residents to remain vigilant, particularly after heavy rainfall. Davis said bacteria levels in natural waterways often surge for 48 to 72 hours after storms.

Residents were advised to avoid ingesting river water, protect open wounds and thoroughly wash skin, clothing and pets after contact with affected sediment areas.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

 

The Wednesday Wetness

 With Alessa Quizon, professional surfer:

WTOP, ‘It’s putrid!’: Glen Echo residents press officials after Potomac River sewage spill. I suspect they're reacting emotionally. The water is being tested, and it keeps coming back OK. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since January.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

The Wednesday Wetness

Potomac Conservancy, Sewage spill: The EPA declares the Potomac’s recovery goals are achieved. Why we disagree

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Everything Stops For Tea up and at'em at The Other McCain.

The Wednesday Wetness

NBC 4 Washington, Potomac River named nation's most endangered due to data centers, aging infrastructure

The Potomac River got top billing in large part due to the massive sewage spill that dumped over 230 million gallons of raw sewage into the river in January. But even if the spill had never happened, the Potomac would have made the top 10, according to Potomac Riverkeeper Network President Betsy Nicholas.

"We were already under discussions about having it as part of the top 10 endangered rivers at the end of last year," Nicholas told News4 on Tuesday. "So we were gathering information based primarily on the impact of water withdrawals, and then water quality concerns, about data centers."

The American Rivers list cites the "rapid, unchecked buildout of data centers" in the D.C. area as "a significant and growing threat" to the Potomac.  Nicholas says data centers use a lot of water for cooling super-sensitive computers and chips. The more data centers there are, the more water is pulled from local water sources, like the Potomac. "As much as maybe 2 to 4 million gallons a day of water could be used for cooling," Nicholas told News4.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: It’s (Almost) That Time of Year Again up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Environmental Impact Concerns Prevented Potomac Sewer Fix

By way of John Sexton at Hat Hair, Massive DC Sewage Spill Caused by Environmental Review That Dragged on for Years

So this was one of the worst sewage spills in American history and naturally people wanted to know why this happened. Today the Washington Post has a story answering that question. It turns out the damage to the section of the pipeline that failed had been known since 2018. But instead of immediately getting to work, the National Part Service decided it needed to perform an environmental review which dragged on for years and prevented the repairs from being made.

D.C. Water asked the National Park Service for permission to fast-track repairs in 2018, after inspectors found widespread corrosion and detached rebar in one area of the six-foot-wide concrete pipe that runs under federal parkland in Maryland, records show. The utility sought to strengthen a three-quarter-mile section that included the point that later ruptured...

But the National Park Service’s environmental review dragged on for years and was still not complete when the pipe collapsed — a delay that experts said appeared to flout a 2020 federal rule requiring such examinations be done within one year...

A review by The Post of more than 2,600 public utility documents reveals how concerns about the removal of trees and vegetation, along with other environmental impacts, postponed repairs to the Potomac Interceptor. The pipe continued to degrade for more than seven years before it failed on Jan. 19 and released one of the largest spills of untreated wastewater in U.S. history.

Northern Long-eared Bat

 

This happened because the NPS was concerned about the trees and an endangered bat species.

In September 2021, during President Joe Biden’s first year in office, the utility informed the Park Service that the project would probably require removing not three trees, but about 260. The utility promised to replant hundreds of trees, replacing the diameter of those lost, inch-for-inch.

Park Service officials replied that they had “critical concerns” about the trees, partly because they might serve as a habitat for the endangered northern long-eared bat.

The bat typically lives in caves and mines but can rest in shaggy bark and crevices of trees along the C & O Canal in warmer months.

Ultimately, the Park Service decided it needed to do a major review of the site because the plan involved work at another spot a short distance away thus compounding the environmental impact.

A law passed under the Trump administration required the NPS to finish its review in one year from the date it announced it was necessary, but instead the review just dragged on for years even as continued inspections of the pipeline showed it was deteriorating. In fact, the section which eventually failed was cause for an emergency meeting in December 2024.

On Dec. 12, 2024, D.C. Water officials met with Park Service officials to deliver an urgent request, according to a D.C. Water presentation prepared for the meeting. The utility said it needed approval to begin repairs on the most critical 800 feet that appeared to be in imminent danger of failing.

The Potomac Interceptor “needs immediate repair in which the rapid degradation of the pipe has made it a high priority task to prevent collapse,” read the first item on the meeting agenda.

Crews finally got to work last fall and finished a small section. The plan was to continue the work on the next section of the pipe this summer. Instead, the pipe failed in January. So this disaster was the direct result of an ecological review that took seven years.

The tendency for government to put off needed work is just astounding. I wonder how are the trees and bats getting on now? 

The Wednesday Wetness

There are a bunch of articles on the Potomac River sewage spill in yesterday's Bay Newsfeed:

D.C. Government, Dept of Health Lifts Potomac River Recreational Advisory for Washington, DC

WaPoo, Is the Potomac River safe? What to know as D.C. lifts water advisory

WRC, Do you feel safe touching the Potomac River? People give mixed reactions after spill

WJLA, District leaders question DC Water over Potomac sewage spill

WTOP, 2 more sections of Potomac Interceptor rated at high risk after massive sewage spill

WUSA 9, Potomac River watermen seek relief as sewage spill stigma devastates oyster season

FWIW, I would be willing to touch the River water; I've done far worse; and I had the Hep A shot. I might even eat Striped Bass or Blue Catfish from below the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. I might still be a little leary about eating oysters from anywhere north of the 301 bridge.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Because I Can up and at 'em at The Other McCain.

Shit Still Don't Flow Uphill

It's a big day in news from the Potomac Interceptor sewage spill:

The Balmer Banner, How the sewer line collapse unfolded and spread millions of gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River

NBC 4, Potomac sewage spill: Federal government not paying for all of repairs "D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she expected the federal government to reimburse 100% of repair costs. But the Army Corps of Engineers said the government will fund a portion. News4’s Mark Segraves reports." Why would she expect the feds to pay the whole thing?

WTOP, Who foots the $20M bill of the Potomac River sewage cleanup, repairs?.  "Earlier this week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration request, seeking full reimbursement for costs incurred by both D.C. and D.C. Water. “We expect 100% reimbursement,” Bowser said. But D.C. Water’s facilities, including the Potomac Interceptor, are funded through an intermunicipal agreement, or IMA. Maryland and Virginia would be on the hook for more than 50% of the cost, per the agreement. So will the federal government approve D.C.’s request? And if so, will Maryland and Virginia’s share be covered too?"

ABC 7, DC Water, Va. and Md. health officials provide next steps in sewage spill repairs. Word salad.

WBOC, MD officials: Chesapeake Bay oysters remain safe following Potomac River sewage spill. I'm still not going to eat oysters from north of the 301 bridge.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activates Emergency Operations Center in support of Potomac Interceptor Spill response efforts

WaPoo, A Potomac island was their haven. A sewage spill made it unreachable. What, did they swim?

Shit Don't Flow Up Hill

 According to my contacts in the plumbing industry. 

DC Water's Manager David Gadis:
"We had too many white men in charge"
"The executives should reflect the city"

DC just had the largest sewage spill in US history: 240 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 gallons in one month FLOODING the Potomac pic.twitter.com/shQ9rZfWJV

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 18, 2026

NOVA Campaigns @NoVA_Campaigns "The Chair of @dcwater board isn’t an engineer, or city planner Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes is a DEI bureaucrat, non profit “educator”, grant disperser of taxpayer money, & former asst head of a boys charter school She’s now head of the largest raw sewage spill in US history." Quote Berliner @berlinbears1961,  Replying to @EndWokeness, "This is the person appointed by the Democratic Mayor of DC to run DC Water as the chair of their board. I want you to carefully review her bio and tell me her expertise in waste water management and most specifically her engineering chops. https://dcwater.com/person/dr-unique-n-morris-hughes"

At Da Caller, DC Water’s CEO Oversaw $520 Million In DEI Contracts — And The Biggest Sewage Spill In US History 

DC Water CEO David L. Gadis has championed equity and diversity throughout his tenure. He was also named in a lawsuit against his former employer for allegedly withholding information about water contamination in Flint, Michigan.

Before joining DC Water in 2018, Gadis served as executive vice president of Veolia North America and CEO of Veolia Water Indianapolis — the utility’s first black CEO and the first black executive to lead a major Indianapolis utility, according to his bio. It touts his partnership with municipal leaders and his leadership on diversity initiatives.

That reputation faced scrutiny in 2018. An amended class action lawsuit cited a Veolia statement in which Gadis promised the company would deploy its “technical expertise” to “ensure water quality for the people of the city of Flint,” touting experience with challenging water sources and contaminant management. The suit claims residents had “every reason to rely” on Veolia’s subsequent assurances of safety.
. . .
Emails later revealed Veolia officials knew problems extended beyond discoloration and foul odors, noting that “lead seems to be a problem.” Those emails were exchanged a day before a private meeting where lead went unmentioned, MLive reported. Gadis was copied on emails discussing potential lead issues before attending a public meeting where Veolia officials repeatedly assured residents the water was safe.

I'll bet no one loses a job over this. 

Maryland, My Maryland

The Key Bridge has not been rebuilt.

There’s raw sewage flooding the Potomac River.

Democrat Wes Moore signs emergency legislation…

To ban local authorities from aiding ICE in removing illegals from Maryland.

Democrats are trying to destroy America.pic.twitter.com/khowHcvqXW

— C3 (@C_3C_3) February 18, 2026

From the Free Bacon, Democrat Wes Moore Stumbles During CBS Town Hall When Asked To Address Free Beacon Reporting About Exaggerations and Falsehoods in His Life Story. Shorter Moore, 'you're racist to question my version of events.'

The Wednesday Wetness

There are lots of digits being spilled in the Potomac sewage catastrophe:

WRC-NBC: Crews make progress in controlling sewage spill, but timeline remains 4-6 weeks
WTOP News : Progress at Potomac sewer collapse but overflow risk remains, DC Water says
WUSA-CBS: Health concerns grow as Potomac River begins to thaw after massive sewage spill
WJLA-ABC: 'Remnants of sewage' including toilet paper, left behind after wastewater pipe collapse
WDCW-CW: Sewage spill in Potomac River impact fishing industries

Not a good time to go Blue Catfish fishing.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mustang Gal up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Steps in the Potomac Shit

Leslie Eastman at LI notices Potomac Interceptor Rupture Poised to Become the Largest Sewage Spill in U.S. History "This man-caused disaster not merely a technical breakdown but a profound public health, environmental, and governance crisis affecting downstream communities." Hat Hair's Beege Welborn says 'P' Is for 'Perfume' as in 'River' - It's Also for 'Potomac'. At News Wax, Trump, Md. Gov. Moore Battle Over Potomac Sewage Spill Response. I say, get every federal bureaucrat in DC out there with a shovel.

From Fox, Collins boosts Republican voter ID effort, but won’t scrap filibuster, "Mike Lee-led campaign gains crucial vote but faces 60-vote Senate filibuster challenge." At RCP, Sen. Dave McCormick on SAVE Act: If An 80-20 Issue Can't Get 60 Votes, Something Is Amiss In The Senate, but then, we knew that. Dmitri Bolt at TownHall, CNN Confronts Chuck Schumer on Voter ID. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair hears Fetterman: What's Wrong With Requiring ID to Vote? Secretary Kristi Noem @Sec_Noem, "It must be exhausting to regularly manufacture outrage even over the most commonsense statements. Yes, we must build election infrastructure that makes it easy and secure for eligible American citizens to vote—while preventing non-citizens, including illegal aliens, from casting ballots. The choice of who to vote for is obviously up to the voters themselves. So here's the real question for @jaketapper @jonkarl and anyone else clutching pearls over this: Do you actually support allowing people who are in this country illegally to vote in our elections?" Support? They're counting on it.

Sundance at CTH explores the relationship between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein. John LeFevre @JohnLeFevre, "Nothing from NBC News on Obama's lawyer or Reid Hoffman - who donated $100 million to Democrats, bankrolled the Kavanaugh smear campaign, and funded the E. Jean Carroll hoax against Trump. Media silence when it doesn't fit the narrative." Quote NBC News @NBCNews, "At least half a dozen top Trump administration officials appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files.  Batya Ungar-Sargon @bungarsargon, ""Ironically, in denouncing how 'wealthy powerful men' are protected in a two-tiered legal system, Khanna pulled the ultimate powerplay — defaming four individuals with little concern of accountability. Ironically, Khanna succeeded in showing the ultimate example of the impunity enjoyed by 'wealthy, powerful men.'" Quote Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "I have spoken with members who were part of the conference on the petition to force the release of these documents. Massie and Khanna opposed efforts to amend the petition to allow for greater resources to review the millions of documents... https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/15/ro-" From Campus Reform, Jeffrey Epstein's obsession with human bodies led him to fund the genetics research of two current Harvard profs. "Epstein was obsessed with blue eyes and worked with scientific contacts to prove his hypothesis that blue eyes were a signifier of high intelligence while he was funding and visiting Harvard's Program for Evolutionary Dynamics." At Fox, Israeli intelligence sources reject claims Jeffrey Epstein was Mossad operative following document releases "Israeli prime minister escalates political feud following renewed scrutiny of Epstein's dealing with ex-Israeli leader Ehud Barak." But then, they would if it were true, too.

Dave Strom at Hat Hair claims You Won't Believe The New York Times' Take on Rubio's Munich Speech. "The New York Times' reaction to the speech mirrored that of AOC: Western values suck, and Europe is no longer Western because its population is being replaced by third worlders. AOC said it outright, giving an explicitly Marxist race and class-based analysis, while the Times sanded the sharp corners down a bit." You'd be surprised by what I might believe. Hat Hair's Duane Patterson looks at Marco's Moment, Morons, and Mendacity in Munich. Sarah Anderson at TownHall watches Rubio’s European Tour Heats Up — WaPo and the Cuban Revolution Take a Beating. Sundance hosts Secretary Marco Rubio's Joint Press Conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and reports President Trump Announces Board of Peace Meeting February 19th at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace. 

PJM's Cathy Salgado hears the  Trump Admin tout $2,400 Savings From Ending Start-Stop Car Feature. We don't have it, but that's got to be annoying. We have a hybrid, and it alway shuts off, unless it need charge. But at least the electric side accelerates right off. News Wax, Trump Touts Dip in Mortgage Rates Vs. Biden. ""Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News." It's a bit much to claim credit for, but if the Democrats are going to wield the "affordability" club, it's fair.

From NYPo, Trump threatens kidnappers with death penalty if Nancy Guthrie isn’t returned alive in call with The Post, Democrats immediately call for cashless bail for the offenders /sarc.

Dave Strom looks at the Democrats Auditioning for Nomination in Munich. At Twitchy, AOC Mocks Marco Rubio for Saying Cowboys Come From Spain (Ask African Slaves). End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "AOC mocks Rubio: "My favorite part is he said cowboys are rooted in Spain. Uhhh, speak to Mexicans & African slaves!" Spain introduced horses to Mexico." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair calls it Too Dumb to Check: Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be AOCs. Joe Chalfant at TownHall, Did AOC's Word Salad Just End Her Presidential Ambitions? Hardly, it's par for Democrats who have to constantly talk around truth and logic. Brad Slager at RedState, The Ocasio-Cortez Disaster in Munich Gives a 2028 Election Primer As Bloomberg News Cleans Up Her Mess. Driscoll at Insty, WAS IT OVER WHEN THE VENEZUELANS BOMBED PEARL HARBOR? Western Lensman @WesternLensman, "AOC: The US shouldn't engage in actions like the one against Maduro just because Venezuela is “below the equator." Venezuela is not below the equator. Got a round of applause anyway." A Larry video at Hat Hair, AOC, Hillary Clinton Globally Shamed As Rubio Stuns World Elites. Driscoll again with DAAAMN: Watch Hillary’s Face as Czech Deputy PM Macinka Shuts Her Down in Heated Back and Forth on Gender. Fox News @FoxNews, "REALITY CZECH: Hillary Clinton clashes with Czech Deputy PM Petr Macinka after he says President Trump reacted to policies that went "too far." MACINKA: "We saw the woke revolution. I don't agree with the gender revolution, the climate alarmism..." CLINTON: "Which gender? Women having their rights?" . . ." Amy Curtis noticed Hillary Clinton Lied About Deportations Under Her Husband and Obama. Well, her mouth was moving. 

Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine, "Piers, what is disgusting is a major NYC Muslim leader saying we must give up our dogs because "NYC is coming to Islam" We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans. I choose my dog. I know my first appearance on your show didn't go well for you, but if you want to try again, I am happy to administer another beating." Jake Tapper @jaketapper, "Disgusting bigotry." Quote Congressman Randy Fine @RepFine "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one." Amy Curtis @RantyAmyCurtis, "So for the midterms, @TheDemocrats have decided to take the side of banning dogs and calling the critics who oppose banning dogs “racist.” Keep up the good work." and Totally weird how not one Leftist has said, “No, we won’t let Muslims ban your dogs.” I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. RBe @RBPundit, "Apparently all the political commentators just flat out missed that some Muslim activist who works for the new NYC mayor said dogs should be banned indoors in New York." Wilfred Reilly @wil_da_beast630, "This "dogs" tweet thing is a classic example of a totally fake, made up scandal. A Muslim troll - an adult with a powerful position - tweeted that New Yorkers should get rid of all (indoor) dogs to appease Muslim immigrants, because dogs are filthy in Islam and Muslim incomers do not want to see them. In direct response, quoting his opponent, another powerful adult said that - if forced to make this binary choice by Muslims - he would prefer dogs to Muslim incomers. This is about the 90% US position, btw. Every S...S...SHOCKED response to part two is literally just someone intentionally ignoring the 1st 1/2-2/3 of the exchange so they can do the "You Monster!" bit. It really is tiring."

At Am Great, Ed Ring calls Mamdani and Newsom The Democratic Party’s Fraternal Twins. "Mamdani and Newsom sell rival myths, but their shared model—big government fused with big corporate power—centralizes control, inflates costs, and leaves ordinary Americans paying the price." At PM, Tenants in NYC public housing won't be allowed to complain about city landlord at Mamdani's 'rental ripoff' hearings. "If these hearings were truly about holding bad landlords accountable, the over 500,000 residents in NYCHA would be able to meaningfully participate." Government cheese. 

Jonathan Turley sees California Democrats Trigger a Reverse Gold Rush with a Wealth Tax: Eat the Rich. Hat Hair's John Sexton, Billionaires Make Plans to Avoid the California Wealth Tax. David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "There’s a weird poeticism to the radical American left being funded by divorce settlements." Quote Forbes @Forbes, "MacKenzie Scott’s $26 billion giving sprint in seven years, including a record $7.2 billion last year, makes her the third-biggest philanthropist of all-time. She gave more in 2025 than Musk, Page, Ellison and her ex-husband Bezos have in their lifetimes combined." Beege Welborn, How Green Is My Cult: CA Now Importing US Gas From *check notes* 4000 Miles Away. Driscoll sees BLUE STATES ARE MOVING LEGISLATION FORWARD TO RESTRICT HOW MUCH YOU CAN DRIVE: "The “15 Minute City” concept is gaining traction on the left, especially in Great Britain, where the Labour Party and leftist cities are seeking to impose harsh restrictions on vehicle use. Here in the U.S., blue states are pivoting toward mileage caps, which would establish maximum “vehicle miles traveled” (“VMT”) allowed for an entire state, with regulators then creating “incentives” to reduce individual driving so as to achieve the VMT objective. From News Nation: “Massachusetts bill aims to reduce driving to meet climate goals” . . ." From the College Fix, EXPOSED: Taxpayers paying for Democrat activists’ grad school tuition. Ben Smith at RedState, Democratic Auditor Takes Own Party to Court After $12M Fraud and 72% Vote for Audit. 

Stacy McCain has a warning, Warning: Stay Away From St. Louis, "“Well, Stacy, how dangerous is St. Louis?” you ask. IT’S WORSE THAN BALTIMORE!" I demand a recount. At Insty, CRIME: Follow the science! Arthur MacWaters @ArthurMacwaters, "Criminality is not random Only 0.2% of people ever commit murder, yet 67% of **all murders**are committed by people with prior arrests People inclined to commit crime will continue to, unless stopped. When those people are stopped, the crime stops." Quote Hunter Ash @ArtemisConsort, "This is a key point: the idea that imprisoning criminals won’t reduce crime tacitly assumes that there’s some kind of crime quota, and other people will start assaulting strangers if we lock up the people currently doing it. x.com/usinglyft/stat…"

At Hat Hair, Capt. Ed, Homan: You Better Believe We'll 'Flood the Zone' in 'Sanctuaries' Again, Dave Strom fears The Ground Troops of the Revolution Are Being Trained Before Our Eyes and In Minneapolis It's the Taxpayers Who Pick Up the Tab for Anti-ICE Activism and John Sexton reports a Public School Teacher Killed by Illegal Immigrant Fleeing ICE. From CIS, DOJ Reveals that Biden Granted ‘Quiet Amnesty’ to Nearly a Million Aliens. "Cases that have been ‘temporarily paused’ for more than three decades, and other denials of justice." The Redoubtable Julie Kelly (at substack) explores how a Deadly Crash Exposes Danger of So-Called 'Chameleon Carriers'. "Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and some federal lawmakers are looking into how trucking companies avoid oversight and accountability through shadow operations in the trucking industry."

The Chronic has No Pity for the ‘Washington Post.’ Ace, "The Media Whined That the Washington Post Cancelled Its World-Beating Sports Section. The Media, You Will Not Be Surprised to Learn, Lied." By "sports," they meant what they mean in every case: DEI propaganda and gay communism bullshit. They do this with every single entertainment men like. They fill men's entertainment with nonstop pro-gay, pro-feminism, pro-DEI propaganda. So that's what was going on with the Washington Post's "sports" desk before they cancelled it. Free Beacon's Andrew Stiles: . . ." Dave Strom notes They Don't Even Try to Distinguish Fact From Fiction Anymore. The article as about the Slantic, but it's a general problem.

Insty calls this SAVAGE. AND FAIR. Rolling Stone @RollingStone, "The MAGA right says Charlie Kirk is a martyr for freedom of expression, but still want people to lose their jobs for criticizing his rhetoric. DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican, "You, of all outlets, need to SHUT UP. You were the first outlet to dox me. You ran a deranged piece painting me as some CFPB mastermind only because you couldn’t dig up dirt. You tried to cancel me. You don’t get to whine about cancel culture. Here’s the rule: if you don’t want to get fired, don’t cheer the deaths of your neighbors, family, or fellow Americans. You and I are not the same. We see you. You are hypocrites. You are evil. Go crawl away in shame."

PJM's Mike Cantrell hears an Aussie Influencer Says Pop Star’s Mansion Joke Got Him Booted From the U.S. “Billie Eilish got me deported from the US—I think her legal team contacted DHS,” Drew Pavlou wrote in a post published Sunday on X. “I spent 30 hours at LAX immigration trying to explain that my s---posts were just a joke and that I didn’t actually plan to personally move into her mansion.” Dmitri Bolt, A Man Joked About Moving Into Billie Eilish's Mansion. Her Response Is Breaking Irony Detectors. Man, she's really got that surly teen look down pat, for a 24 year old woman.

Matt Vespa thinks you should Look at What the Rhode Island Hockey Rink Shooter Posted on X Before the Attack. Steve Lookner @lookner "This is the X account of the Pawtucket high school hockey game shooter, according to the New York Post. Police said the shooter's name was Robert Dorgan and he/she went by the name Roberta Esposito. The shooter shot family members and a family friend, then himself/herself. (h/t @DoctorTurtleboy)" At Twitchy, DEVELOPING: Robert Dorgan a.k.a. ‘Roberta Esposito’ Shoots Six at a Youth Hockey Game in Rhode Island. Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck, "The Atlantic, a far left publication, has come out today with a piece about how indefensible it is to transition kids. Massive sea change. We’ve won the PR war to end this absurd abuse."

James Bacon, at Bacon's Rebellion on How to Make Sure Virginia Universities Are Governed by Unaccountable, Leftist Oligarchies Forever, elect Spamberger. 

And oh, so much more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.16.26! The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mustang Gal and FMJRA 2.0: Still Winning up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Potomac Sewage Spill Largest in History

According to the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. Atop Da Hill, Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history

A wastewater spill into the Potomac River that began last month now appears to be one of the largest in American history.

DC Water, a local water utility, said in a press release last week that part of a sewer system known as the Potomac Interceptor collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway on Jan. 19. In that same release, the utility said it “estimates that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site.”

On Monday, DC Water said there had been a “significant overflow” Sunday amid a “high flow period,” with some bypass pumps not in service at the time.

Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a local environmental advocacy group, claimed in a Facebook post Wednesday that the sewage spilled had topped 300 million gallons.

Dean Naujoks, who holds the title of Potomac Riverkeeper, told The Baltimore Sun in an article published Tuesday that the only other spill he could compare in size had occurred in 2017 on the U.S.-Mexico border, leaking 230 million gallons.
. . .
When asked about the scale of the Washington sewage spillage, Gussie Maguire, a Maryland staff scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation compared it to annual sewage spillage in Baltimore.

“The way that I put it into perspective for myself and for people before, is I compared it to annual sewage overflow amounts,” Maguire told The Hill in a Thursday interview. “You don’t really necessarily want to think about it, but there are a lot of sewage overflows going on in any particular year.”

“I follow happenings in Baltimore pretty closely, and their largest volume of sewage spilled in a year. … The largest year that they’ve had in terms of volume in the last — in recent memory is from 2018, and they had right around 260 million gallons over the course of the entire year, or 250.”

So, just an bonus year in Baltimore? 

Another way to put it into perspective is to compare it to the volume of the tidal Potomac River, into which it is being dumped. According to Grok, that volume is about  1.9 trillion gallons. Call it 2 trillion, and we see that if the sewage were evenly mixed in the estuary (it won't be, it will be concentrated near Washington DC), the entire 100 mile estuary would be about 100 ppm sewage.

FWIW, when working in the Anacostia River years ago, they made us get Hepatitis A vaccines. I'm not so sure the people working in the Potomac for the next few months shouldn't consider that. I wouldn't be eating any raw oysters out of the Potomac anytime soon, either.

Call Roto-Rooter!

That's the name and away go troubles down the drain! DC Water, DC Water Identifies Significant Rock Blockage in Potomac Interceptor, Impacting Cleaning and Repair Timeline

Overnight CCTV inspection of the Potomac Interceptor revealed the blockage inside the collapsed sewer line is far more significant, showing a large rock dam stretching approximately 30 feet downstream of the original failure. The unexpected discovery exposed the severity of the obstruction and prompted an immediate reassessment that will extend the timeline for cleaning and repairs.

It’s expected to take an estimated 4-6 weeks of additional time to get a system in place that will add more, larger bypass pumps in a new location and stabilize the site for heavy machinery to safely begin removing the large rocks and boulders inside the sewer line. While the existing bypass system has mostly contained overflows, more pumps are needed to further reduce the remaining flow getting through the pipe. A bulkhead will then be installed upstream of the failure to block the pipe and limit the wastewater reaching the collapse site.

A section of the sewer line collapsed January 19, along Clara Barton Parkway and the 495 interchange and the C & O Canal National Historical Park, causing an estimated 40 million gallons a day of wastewater to escape and enter the Potomac River.

Standard cleaning methods using industrial vacuums and jets are not sufficient to remove these large boulders. Addressing this blockage will require both larger machinery and manual labor. Workers will need to safely enter the pipe, use slings to maneuver around the rocks, and then rely on heavy equipment to extract each boulder, making removal a complex and highly specialized operation.

The large rocks blocking the pipe were likely excavated during original construction in the 1960’s and used as backfill. When the failure occurred, this material collapsed into the interceptor drawn in by the force of wastewater flow, eventually accumulating and creating this rock dam. Additional rock and soil entered the pipe as surrounding material eroded into the sinkhole created by the collapse.

To facilitate this work, DC Water will construct a new large pit upstream of the collapse to access the existing sewer line and install new, high-capacity pumps. Five more pumps—coming from Florida and Texas—will increase the pumps on site to 13 and increase capacity to more than 100 million gallons per day, allowing us to temporarily divert wastewater and keep the site as dry as possible for safe rock removal.

That sounds to me like they need to stand back and let the dirty-job guys with the big toys get to work, and then thank them profusely when they fix the sewer that take their shit away,

Cities Have the Rock Salt Blues

You can tell when they've finished getting the streets clear in major cities. They start nagging about all the salt that was used on the roads. NBC 4 Wash,  Anacostia River contamination concerns come as snow piles grow

As D.C. scoops up snow and ice to clear streets and dumps much of it on mounds in four parking lots around the city, concerns are raised about the environmental impact on local waterways.

Construction vehicles dump the snow into large trucks that take it to parking lots at Carter Barron Amphitheater near Rock Creek Park, the old United Medical Center and two lots at the old RFK Stadium site. About 1,000 loads of the so-nicknamed “snowcrete” have piled up so far.

But near RFK flows one of those environmental concerns: the Anacostia River. “Looks filthy, and all of that black stuff, it isn't dirt, right,” Anacostia Riverkeeper Trey Sherard said. “A lot of that black stuff is little, microscopic bits of tires. It's all the things that we added into the tires.” 

“You've got trash, you've got salt, you've got unmitigated dog waste, and they're gonna be in all of these ice piles,” he said. “And it's going straight into the Anacostia River from here.”  One of his biggest concerns is all the salt that could drain into the Anacostia as the ice melts.

Bear in minds, all the rest of that stuff runs off the streets and into the river the next time it rains anyway. And while they always cite salt a potential toxic, they never list  what organisms they are concerned about.

WRICH Richmond, As snow melts, Virginia lawmakers seek alternatives and awareness to road salt. Hey, the sun will do it. You just have to wait a little longer. 

WTOP, Slightly salty water could come out of your faucet soon in these Maryland suburbs “Eventually, it’s going to wash down the storm drains. It’s going to make its way into the creeks, the streams, the rivers, our source water,” Riggins said, adding that WSSC Water regularly tests the water and it’s safe to drink. Riggins said most people likely won’t notice the saltier taste."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Monday: Boots & Bikinis up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

No Shit!

WUSA 9, No sewer overflow escaped collapsed pipe for the first time since Jan 19 sewage spill into the Potomac, DC Water says

For the first time since a 72-inch wastewater pipe burst along the Clara Barton Parkway, DC Water engineers say there are no sanitary sewer overflows escaping from the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor since the incident happened.

DC Water says the pipe collapsed on Jan. 19. The burst led to roughly 200 to 300 million gallons of raw sewage pouring into the Potomac, according to the Potomac Riverkeepers.

Well, good. Better late than never. 

The Wednesday Wetness

WUSA 9, Sewage spill in Montgomery County considered 'catastrophic' 

After nearly a week, since a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway, DC Water reported it's close to fully containing the overflow. DC Water built a temporary bypass system after 72 inches of the 54-mile sewer line collapsed on the evening of Jan 19, causing sewage water to run into the Potomac River. On Sunday, the company said that in the first full day of operation since the bypass was activated, the flow of wastewater increased by about 40 million gallons per day. Almost back to its normal 60 million gallons per day average. Despite this, some of the wastewater continues to escape around the break site. While the bypass is operating, crews will begin excavation, inspection, and develop a long-term repair plan. It is unclear what the timeline of that will be.

While DC Water is working on ways to permanently fix the leak, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) released the results of its testing of the contaminated water from last week's sewage spill. According to its report, the data shows a "far worse impact than originally contemplated." The president of PRKN, Betsy Nicholas, announced on Monday, "These measurements of E.coli bacteria show contamination which is nearly 12,000 times what authorities limit for human contact. And so far, almost 300 million gallons have entered the Potomac River. The long term impact cannot be overstated. We measured against the standards established by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and Maryland’s Department of the Environment. We were able to get this information thanks to the real-time testing done on Friday, January 23 by Dean Naujoks, Potomac Riverkeeper, and Evan Quinter, PRKN Volunteer Coordinator on Friday.”

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Extra Value Meal ready for your clicks at The Other McCain.

Fish 691 Landed in Potomac River

MDDNR, Elusive Potomac River Muskie, Dubbed Fish 691, Caught for First Time After Years of DNR Study

(Garrett) Davis, of Clear Spring, landed a 16-year-old tagged muskie that has been studied by Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists for more than a decade. This particular fish has been recaptured in surveys several times, but had never been caught and reported to DNR by an angler.

This is the story of Fish 691, a female muskie that has been closely tracked by DNR since 2013. It’s a tale that highlights the elusiveness of prized muskellunge, or muskies, which are voracious apex predators that exist in low densities across their range in the United States and Canada. Muskies are known as “the fish of 10,000 casts” due to their hard-to-catch reputation.

The species attracts many of the most dedicated and driven anglers. Maryland manages one “true” muskie population in the non-tidal Potomac River, which supports a naturally reproducing, self-sustaining, and popular recreational fishery.

Due to this popular sport fishery, DNR Biologists have been tracking muskies in the Potomac since the late 1990s. They do so by inserting individually numbered external dart tags into captured fish to monitor growth, movement, and estimate exploitation–or if fish are being removed at a faster rate than they can reproduce. To protect this sensitive population, DNR recommends avoiding fishing for muskies when water temperatures meet or exceed 80 degrees.

To date, DNR has tagged 1,011 muskies in the Potomac, and 466 have been reported recaptured for a 46% recapture rate. From 2017 to 2021, biologists also conducted a radio-telemetry study to better understand seasonal movements and habitat preferences.

Over the years, anglers have provided recapture data on tagged fish that paint a picture of that individual fish’s life, with some telling a more interesting story than others. When Davis reported his recent catch, it highlighted the evasiveness, longevity, and resilience of a riverine muskie in the southern part of their range.

 

The first capture and first recapture

DNR Freshwater Fisheries biologists annually monitor the Potomac River’s muskie fishery from Seneca in Montgomery County to Cumberland in Allegany County. During a routine electrofishing survey in March 2013, biologists collected and inserted tag 2414 into a female muskie measuring 30.25 inches. This was DNR’s first encounter with the muskie that would later be dubbed Fish 691. Exactly two years later, in March 2015, this muskie was recaptured for the first time during another routine electrofishing survey in the same general area, where she measured 36.5 inches.

 

Second recapture

In March of 2017, biologists began implanting radio transmitters into muskies. Tag 2414 was collected during this effort, marking her second recapture by scientists. She measured 39.75 inches, weighed 15.5 pounds, and was aged at 7 years using a cross-section of her anal fin ray.

Biologists anesthetized her using electronarcosis and surgically implanted a radio transmitter that allowed them to monitor her movements throughout the summer and fall of 2017. At the time, they dubbed her fish 950.

Tracking data throughout 2017 revealed this particular muskie was rather sedentary. She had a distinct home range and rarely moved out of the “pool” habitat where she resided. When transmitter batteries expired in winter 2017-18, the fish went undetected again.

 

Third recapture

In 2018 and 2021, grant money through Muskies Inc. was awarded to DNR to continue investigating summer habitat occupancy of muskies in waters that exceed their temperature tolerance. Staff purchased larger radio transmitters with an increased range of detection and longer battery life.

On March 9, 2021, biologists recaptured fish 950 for the third time. Now 11 years old, she measured 43.75 inches and weighed 20.75 pounds. Biologists replaced the existing transmitter with another unique radio frequency – she now became Fish 691.

Fish 691 was tracked weekly throughout 2021 and provided valuable data, exhibiting similar behavior with a relatively small home range and minimal movements through the duration of the telemetry project.

 

In addition to annual electrofishing surveys, biologists conducted a muskie population estimate in spring 2022 in the section of the river where this fish had been documented to have spent most of her life. Extensive work was done to collect and recollect as many muskies as possible to gain an accurate estimate of the current population, but despite biologists’ growing fondness for her, Fish 691 was not recaptured in this effort. The survey indicated that there are approximately 7 to 11 adult muskies greater than 30 inches long per river mile on this stretch of the Potomac.

The area where Fish 691 was known to reside experiences some of the highest angling pressure for muskies in Maryland. Despite having a defined preferred area, Fish 691 had still not been reported by an angler since DNR started tracking her presence in the area in 2013.

 

Davis lands the muskie

On January 4, that changed–Fish 691 took the end of Davis’s line and he reeled her in, marking her fourth recapture. For the first time in her 16-year life, she was caught on hook and line by an angler. Davis noted her tag number and snapped a few photos before releasing this true trophy Maryland muskie.

“I was very fortunate to catch her,” said Davis. “And, it was awesome to hear the story behind her.”

That's quite a biography for a fish. And since he released the fish, we may get even more later.

I did spend a few days Muskie fishing with Tom in Presque Isle Lake in Wisconsin. We didn't catch any, but we had two follow up close to the boat. We made at least 10,000 casts. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: All You Can Eat marinated and ready for consumption at The Other McCain.

Just Looking for a Pic-a-nic Basket

Southern Maryland News, Bear sighted in St. Mary's County

Late last week reports began popping up on social media of black bear sightings in St. Mary’s County. The county’s emergency services department issued a warning to residents with some helpful tips now that there seems to be at least one black bear that wandered into the county.

Those tips include never feed a bear, secure garbage outside of homes, don’t leave pet food outside, remove bird feeders while bears are active, and clean and store grills. “While black bears are generally not aggressive, they can pose a threat if they feel cornered, startled or have easy access to food around human habitats,” according to the department.

So far, sightings have been reported in Piney Point, Mechanicsville and Dameron and Historic St. Mary’s City — in other words, throughout St. Mary’s County.

Officials have not given any word on how the black bear may have arrived in St. Mary’s, although some have speculated it swam across the Potomac River from Virginia, where the bears are prevalent, especially in the mountains.

For now, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is monitoring the situation. “To my knowledge, I don’t believe they’ve caught the bear or seen the bear too recently, but it is exciting,” Commissioner Eric Colvin (R) said at Tuesday’s county commissioners’ meeting. “Recommendation is if you see the bear, just let it be, let it go on its way.”

If it swam the Potomac to get to St. Mary's County, it can swim the Patuxent to get to Calvert. It's a good thing Black Bears hardly ever kill anybody. I wonder if it's hanging out with the St. Mary's Alligator.