Monocacy River
Encyclopedia
The Monocacy River is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River
, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean
via the Chesapeake Bay
. The river
is 58.5 miles (94.1 km) long, with a drainage area of about 744 square miles (1,927 km²). It is the largest Maryland
tributary to the Potomac.
The name "Monocacy" comes from the Shawnee
name for the river, Monnockkesey, which translates to "river with many bends." (However, another local tradition asserts that "Monocacy" means "well-fenced garden" in an Indian language.) An unrelated stream, Monocacy Creek
, is a tributary of the Lehigh River
in Northampton County, Pennsylvania
, in the United States.
The Monocacy National Battlefield
lies alongside part of the river, marking an 1864 engagement during the American Civil War
, the Battle of Monocacy Junction. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
crosses over the river at the Monocacy Aqueduct
, the largest of the 11 aqueduct
s on the canal.
, west of the unincorporated town of Harney
, at the Maryland
-Pennsylvania
border. The river is formed by the confluence
of Marsh Creek
and Rock Creek, which flow out of Adams County, Pennsylvania
. Maryland tributaries include Furnace Branch, Tuscarora Creek
, Carroll Creek
, Linganore Creek
and Ballenger Creek
in Frederick County
and Double Pipe Creek
in Carroll County; other Pennsylvania tributaries include Alloway Creek and Toms Creek in Adams County.
About 60% of the Monocacy watershed is dedicated to agricultural use; about 33% of the watershed is forest
ed. The city of Frederick
and its suburbs form the largest urban area
within the watershed.
problems in the state due in large part to runoff
from the 3,500 farms, livestock
operations and dairies
in the watershed. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has listed the Monocacy with impaired water quality
for sediment
and fecal coliform bacteria
. A major tributary basin, the Double Pipe Creek watershed, is also impaired for sediment and bacteria.
Some farmers in the Monocacy watershed participate in the national Conservation Security Program
operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), designed to help stem pollution due to erosion and pollutant
runoff from farming. In the 1990s the watershed was part of a national water quality demonstration project sponsored by USDA, which helped farmers reduce fertilizer usage and reduced discharges of nitrogen
and phosphorus
to the river.
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
via the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. The river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
is 58.5 miles (94.1 km) long, with a drainage area of about 744 square miles (1,927 km²). It is the largest Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
tributary to the Potomac.
The name "Monocacy" comes from the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
name for the river, Monnockkesey, which translates to "river with many bends." (However, another local tradition asserts that "Monocacy" means "well-fenced garden" in an Indian language.) An unrelated stream, Monocacy Creek
Monocacy Creek
Monocacy Creek is a tributary of the Lehigh River in Northampton County, Pennsylvania in the United States.One of only 56 limestone streams in the state of Pennsylvania, the creek's headwaters lie in the slate belt, near the borough of Chapman....
, is a tributary of the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
in Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, in the United States.
The Monocacy National Battlefield
Monocacy National Battlefield
Monocacy National Battlefield is a unit of the National Park Service, the site of the Battle of Monocacy Junction in the American Civil War fought on July 9, 1864. The battlefield straddles the Monocacy River southwest of the city of Frederick, Maryland. The battle, labeled "The Battle That Saved...
lies alongside part of the river, marking an 1864 engagement during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Battle of Monocacy Junction. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River in Maryland from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The total length of the canal is about . The elevation change of...
crosses over the river at the Monocacy Aqueduct
Monocacy Aqueduct
The Monocacy Aqueduct — or C&O Canal Aqueduct No. 2 — is the largest aqueduct on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, crossing the Monocacy River just before it empties into the Potomac River in Frederick County, Maryland, USA...
, the largest of the 11 aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s on the canal.
Geography
The river rises in Carroll County, MarylandCarroll County, Maryland
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton , signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster....
, west of the unincorporated town of Harney
Harney, Maryland
Harney is an unincorporated community in Carroll County, Maryland, USA.-References:...
, at the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border. The river is formed by the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of Marsh Creek
Marsh Creek (Monocacy River)
Marsh Creek is a tributary of the Monocacy River in south-central Pennsylvania and north-central Maryland in the United States. Marsh Creek and Rock Creek join below Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Battlefield to form the Monocacy River...
and Rock Creek, which flow out of Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,407. It was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County and named in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams...
. Maryland tributaries include Furnace Branch, Tuscarora Creek
Tuscarora Creek (Monocacy River)
Tuscarora Creek is a tributary of the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Maryland, in the United States.The creek rises at the eastern base of Catoctin Mountain, about north-northwest of the city of Frederick, and flows southeast about to its mouth at the Monocacy...
, Carroll Creek
Carroll Creek
Carroll Creek is an tributary of the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Maryland. The headwaters of the creek are located on the eastern slopes of Catoctin Mountain, southeast of Gambrill State Park. The stream runs roughly east through the city of Frederick to the Monocacy, which drains to the...
, Linganore Creek
Linganore Creek
Linganore Creek is a tributary of the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Maryland. The stream is formed from the confluence of the north and south forks of the Linganore , about east-northeast of the city of Frederick. The creek runs roughly southwest to the Monocacy River, which drains to the...
and Ballenger Creek
Ballenger Creek
Ballenger Creek is a tributary of the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Maryland. The headwaters of the creek are located on the east slope of Catoctin Mountain, about west of the city of Frederick. The stream runs roughly southeast to the Monocacy National Battlefield and the confluence with...
in Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
and Double Pipe Creek
Double Pipe Creek
Double Pipe Creek is a major tributary of the Monocacy River in Carroll County and Frederick County in Maryland, located several miles north and west of Westminster...
in Carroll County; other Pennsylvania tributaries include Alloway Creek and Toms Creek in Adams County.
About 60% of the Monocacy watershed is dedicated to agricultural use; about 33% of the watershed is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed. The city of Frederick
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
and its suburbs form the largest urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
within the watershed.
Pollution
The State of Maryland designated the Monocacy as a Maryland Scenic River in 1974. However, it has one of the greatest nonpoint source pollutionNonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution refers to both water and air pollution from diffuse sources. Nonpoint source water pollution affects a water body from sources such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source air pollution...
problems in the state due in large part to runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
from the 3,500 farms, livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
operations and dairies
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
in the watershed. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has listed the Monocacy with impaired water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
for sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
and fecal coliform bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. A major tributary basin, the Double Pipe Creek watershed, is also impaired for sediment and bacteria.
Some farmers in the Monocacy watershed participate in the national Conservation Security Program
Conservation security program
The Conservation Security Program is a voluntary conservation program in the United States that supports ongoing stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments and technical assistance for maintaining and enhancing natural resources...
operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), designed to help stem pollution due to erosion and pollutant
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
runoff from farming. In the 1990s the watershed was part of a national water quality demonstration project sponsored by USDA, which helped farmers reduce fertilizer usage and reduced discharges of nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
and phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
to the river.
External links
- Monocacy Scenic River Water Trail Map & Guide - Maryland DNR
- Monocacy River factsheet - Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- Monocacy Watershed profile – US EPA
- Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance
- Monocacy Aqueduct – C&O Canal Virtual Tour
- Monocacy Basin Stream Monitoring Project
- Monocacy Battlefield – National Park Service
- Fishing the Monocacy River
- Kayaking/Canoeing the Monocacy
- Monocacy Scenic River Citizen's Advisory Board