What kind of a title is that? Has this guy completely lost it? You know, sometimes I have to laugh to keep from crying. We live in Virginia. Virginia has laws, statutes and rules that differ from Maryland. We live in Loudoun County. Loudoun County has laws, statutes and rules that differ from Fairfax County. Our lives are ruled by political boundaries. But then I drive across the Potomac River and I realize water is a natural resource that has no respect for political boundaries. None! And I rejoice.

The Potomac River Watershed encompasses parts of four states and the District of Columbia (District). The Potomac and its tributaries pay no attention as they flow across a county line or state boundary. The only thing that is important to the water is reaching the ocean.

So what is ICPRB and where does it fit in? The acronym stands for the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. It was formed in 1940 to organize and support the efforts of Potomac watershed jurisdictions (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and the District) in COOPERATIVE efforts to protect and preserve the waters and related natural resources of the watershed. Imagine that! This is an organization that actually works across political boundaries and represents the best interests of the watershed!

What a novel idea! Can these states and the District actually work together on something? Yes! For 71 years they have thanks to ICPRB. This may be the first time some of you have heard of ICPRB because it accomplishes its important work without fanfare, below the radar screen if you will. ICPRB receives its funding from a variety of sources including each of the member jurisdictions.

Let's look at one example of an ongoing activity of ICPRB of great benefit to Virginia. Much of northern Virginia relies on the Potomac River as its primary source of drinking water. There are two reservoirs in the basin that store water that are used to maintain Potomac River flows. ICPRB coordinates the operations of the reservoirs to ensure availability of adequate water to meet northern Virginia demands even in times of extreme drought, while also maintaining flows for the ecological health of the river. For other examples of ICPRB activities that benefit northern Virginia please visit the ICPRB website, www.potomacriver.org

So why am I writing about ICPRB? Because its existence is threatened by our state. Virginia occupies the largest area in the Potomac Watershed and over the years probably has benefitted most from the work of ICPRB. Prior to 2011, Virginia's yearly contribution to support ICPRB was $151,000. The Virginia State Budget for 2011 was almost $39 Billion. What percentage of the budget is Virginia's contribution to ICPRB? Approximately 0.0003 percent, a drop in the proverbial bucket. Yet in 2011, Virginia refused to pony up the 151K. In 2012, Virginia also is refusing to contribute and has even threatened to pull out completely from ICPRB.

This is ridiculous. If Virginia continues, what is to keep other states or the District from deciding 'If Virginia won't pay, why should we?' Cut off too many legs from a stool and what happens? It collapses. If Virginia destroys ICPRB, who speaks for the watershed?

Please check out ICPRB. If you believe as I do that Virginia's behavior is a travesty, please contact your house member, your state senator, and Governor McDonnell and make your feelings known. I have.

Postscript: The day after the above was written, a provision was removed from a legislative bill that would have ended Virginia's involvement with ICPRB. Letters of support from many individuals and organizations together with a core of General Assembly members that stressed the importance of regional planning for a shared resource turned the tide. Budget discussions are ongoing but Virginia will remain a member state of ICPRB.