Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

09/14/2026

Join us for the upcoming Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting on September 21, 2026! The meeting is open to the public, and will include updates on the state of the sanctuary and upcoming events.

The meeting will be held at the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism basement conference room (107 Centennial St # A, La Plata, MD 20646) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EDT. An option to attend the meeting virtually will also be available.

The agenda and meeting link will be posted on the following webpage prior to the meeting: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/involved/meetings.html

We hope to see you there!

09/10/2026

We're happy to share that the Mallows Bay water quality monitoring buoy has been successfully repaired. Real-time weather and water quality conditions in the sanctuary are now available to view on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Eyes on the Bay website:
https://eyesonthebay.dnr.maryland.gov/contmon/mallowsbay.cfm

Safety update: The Mallows Bay monitoring buoy is currently down and undergoing repair. Real-time weather and water conditions are not available through the Eyes on the Bay website for the time being. For current weather conditions at the sanctuary, please check the Charles County weather station at the Mallows Bay Park boat ramp, which can be accessed here:

https://owc.enterprise.earthnetworks.com/OnlineWeatherCenter.aspx?aid=8623

📸: Kim Hernandez/Maryland DNR

09/04/2026

Happy ! Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary and surrounding Mallows Bay Park provide habitat to a variety of wildlife. From soaring eagles to fluttering butterflies, there's plenty of amazing animals to see when you visit the sanctuary 🦅🐢🐝

Want to learn more? Visit our online Creature Feature to learn more about the wildlife of Mallows Bay! ⬇
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/science/ecology/creature-features.html

📸: Slide 1: Anthony Burrows/Maryland DNR; Slides 2-5: Matt McIntosh/NOAA; Slide 6: Nick Zachar/NOAA

09/03/2026

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary is celebrating seven years in the National Marine Sanctuary System today, and is known for being the home to 118 shipwrecks. The World War I-era vessels are known as the "Ghost Fleet." At low tide, the wrecks are visible from shore and have become incredible places to spot wildlife, such as osprey, bald eagles, and great blue herons. Learn more: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/

09/03/2026

Happy anniversary to our favorite sanctuary!💙On this day in 2019, Mallows Bay was officially designated as Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was the first national marine sanctuary designated in U.S. waters in nearly 20 years and the first (and only!) in the Chesapeake Bay.

Rich in history, heritage, and natural beauty, the sanctuary provides endless opportunities to explore and discover something new. Plan your visit today!
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/visit/tour.html

📸: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

08/20/2026

08/04/2026

August is National Water Quality Month!💦 Did you know that you can check the bacteria levels in the sanctuary all summer long? From May through September, volunteers with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network take weekly water quality samples at three locations in the sanctuary—at the Mallows Bay Park boat launch, Grady’s Spit, and Liverpool Point. The monitoring results are posted to the Swim Guide website and app every Friday, allowing all visitors who plan to enjoy the water to be aware of any potential health concerns.

Learn more about the monitoring effort here:
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/science/community/bacterial-monitoring.html

📸: Courtesy of Stephen Badger/Maryland DNR

08/02/2026

Today is National Coloring Book Day!🎨Have you checked out the Mallows Bay Activity Book yet? It's filled with coloring pages, crossword puzzles, word searches, and other fun games about the history and nature of Mallows Bay! Available for download at the link below ⬇️

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/education/resources/students.html