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Montgomery County officials consider increased enforcement along Potomac River after two drownings

County Executive Elrich implored residents to avoid swimming in the waterway, use county pools After a young man and a teen boy died less than a month apart while swimming in the Potomac River, Montgomery County officials and first responders are...

Dan Murphy • •3 min read
Montgomery County officials consider increased enforcement along Potomac River after two drownings
Public Safety & Justice

Montgomery County officials consider increased enforcement along Potomac River after two drownings

County Executive Elrich implored residents to avoid swimming in the waterway, use county pools

By

Elia Griffin

July 9, 2026 11:34 a.m.

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    Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service crews and county police at the scene of a search and rescue mission for a young man who was swimming in the Potomac River. Photo credit: Pete Piringer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service

    After a young man and a teen boy died less than a month apart while swimming in the Potomac River, Montgomery County officials and first responders are imploring the public not to swim in the powerful waterway.

    During his weekly media briefing on Wednesday, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) called the two drowning deaths “tragedies” and urged county residents to avoid swimming in the river at all costs.

    “This river is not where you should be going” to swim, Elrich said, adding that residents can swim in the county’s pools to cool off from the summer heat.

    Swimming in many areas of the Potomac River, especially near Great Falls, is prohibited and illegal, Elrich said. Despite many signs posted along the river that warn people not to enter or swim in the water, people still do.

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    Earl Stoddard, the county’s Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, said Wednesday during the media briefing that the county is considering increased enforcement along the river, especially during the hottest months of the year. This increased enforcement would be in partnership with U.S. Park Police.

    Stoddard noted that determining additional measures to prevent deaths can be “tricky” because there are many areas along the shoreline where people can enter the river. Some of the land along the river is federally owned and monitored by park police. Still, he said the county is taking river safety seriously.

    “It is something we are concerned about … these are lives that don’t need to be lost and people need to understand just how dangerous the conditions can be,” Stoddard said.

    In mid-June, county emergency responders recovered the body of 20-year-old Nazir Bell, of Germantown, from the river three days after he had gone swimming in the river with friends near Sandy Point. Bell was a graduate of Bethesda Chevy Chase High School and was attending Towson University.

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    Most recently, a 16-year-old boy drowned after going swimming with friends in the river on July 2. Emergency responders recovered the boy’s body one day later near Sandy Point. Montgomery County Police spokesperson Degan Bartels told Bethesda Today on Wednesday that the department would not publicly identify the teen because he was a minor and did not have information about where he was from.

    “First responders have repeatedly implored the public to avoid swimming [in the Potomac River] because of the strong currents and sudden dips in the river bottom, and still tragedies like this occur every year, and families are left to wonder what could have been done to prevent them,” Elrich said.

    While the calm flowing river may look “peaceful,” below the surface is a different story of strong currents, large and jagged rocks, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Assistant Chief Dan Ogren told Bethesda Today on Wednesday. When water levels are low, the river currents can also be particularly unpredictable, dangerous and change in strength frequently.

    Currently, MCFRS personnel, county police and U.S. Park Police monitor the river’s shoreline. Park Police and county police enforce the swimming ban when possible. According to officials, people caught swimming in the river can receive a minimum fine of $200.

    While MCFRS does not enforce the swimming ban, Ogren said the department already has a “robust” public educational program. According to Ogren, MCFRS personnel already go out to the river each weekend during peak seasons to interact with the public and educate them on the dangers of the river.

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    However, Ogren acknowledged that more could be done to reach people and educate them. One target population is the large immigrant community that recreates around the Great Falls Park area and Billy Goat Trail, he said.

    Ogren also noted many people who MCFRS crews interact with along the river claim to not know that it’s illegal to swim in it.

    “That’s a shame because [warning signs are] posted everywhere along the river and we make it a point to get out there and do it,” Ogren said. “We’re definitely trying to increase the number of people who know about the dangers.”

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    Originally published at Bethesdamagazine