Every year, environmental nonprofit American Rivers puts together a list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers" — and in 2026, the Potomac is at the top of the list.⁠ ⁠ The Potomac 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."⁠ ⁠ Then the sewage spill happened when the Potomac Interceptor, an underground sewer line, collapsed just before January's massive snowstorm. ⁠ ⁠ That highlighted other concerns about the effects of aging infrastructure on the river...