Patapsco River
Encyclopedia
The Patapsco River is a 39 miles (62.8 km) river
in central Maryland
which flows into Chesapeake Bay
. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore
. With its South Branch, the Patapsco forms the northern border of Howard County, Maryland
.
of the North and South Branches, near Marriottsville, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of downtown Baltimore. The 19.4 miles (31.2 km) South Branch rises further west at Parrs Spring, where Howard County
, Carroll
, Frederick
, and Montgomery
counties meet. The North Branch flows 20.9 miles (33.6 km) southward from its origins in Carroll County. Through most of its length, the Patapsco is a minor river, flowing for the most part through a narrow valley. The last 10 miles (16 km), however, form a large tidal estuary
inlet of Chesapeake Bay
. The inner part of this estuary provides the harbor
of Baltimore
, composed of the Northwest Harbor and the Middle Branch. (See Baltimore Inner Harbor.) The Patapsco estuary is south of the Back River
and north of the Magothy River
.
The Patapsco has a watershed
area (including the water surface) of 680 square miles (1,761.2 km²), or 632 square miles (1,637 km²) of land. Thus, its total watershed area is 7% water.
Patapsco Valley State Park
is adjacent to 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco and its branches, encompassing a total of 14000 acres (5,665.6 ha) in five different areas. Liberty Dam
and its reservoir, located on the North Branch, is a major component of the Baltimore city water system. Besides Baltimore, the river also flows through Ellicott City
(the county seat of Howard County) and Elkridge
.
map, it was called the Bolus River. It has never been a major path of commerce since it is not navigable further upstream than Elkridge. However, the Patapsco valley was used as the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
's original main line west constructed from 1829 onwards, and this route remains, though much altered. Many old railroad bridges lie along the valley, most notably the Thomas Viaduct
and the ruins of the Patterson Viaduct
. Flour mills and a hydropower dam were formerly powered by the river.
The valley is prone to flooding, though at long intervals. The most recent severe flood occurred in 1972 as a result of rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Agnes
, in which Ellicott City and the Old Main Line sustained serious damage.
The Patapsco River featured prominently in the Battle of Baltimore
during the War of 1812
. This is where Francis Scott Key
, while aboard a British ship, wrote a poem which would later become the national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner
". Today, a red, white, and blue buoy marks the spot where the HMS Tonnant was anchored.
area and is subject to extensive urban runoff
and other forms of water pollution
. The Maryland Department of the Environment has identified the Lower North Branch as containing high levels of heavy metals (chromium
, arsenic
, cadmium
, copper
, mercury
, nickel
, lead
, selenium
, and zinc
), as well as phosphorus
, fecal coliform bacteria, and PCBs.
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...
in central 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...
which flows into 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's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. With its South Branch, the Patapsco forms the northern border of Howard County, Maryland
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
Geography
The Patapsco proper begins at the confluenceConfluence
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 the North and South Branches, near Marriottsville, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of downtown Baltimore. The 19.4 miles (31.2 km) South Branch rises further west at Parrs Spring, where Howard County
Howard County
Howard County is the name of seven counties in the United States of America:* Howard County, Arkansas, named for James H. Howard, Arkansas state senator* Howard County, Indiana, named for Tilghman Ashurst Howard, U.S. Representative from Indiana...
, Carroll
Carroll 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....
, Frederick
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 Montgomery
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
counties meet. The North Branch flows 20.9 miles (33.6 km) southward from its origins in Carroll County. Through most of its length, the Patapsco is a minor river, flowing for the most part through a narrow valley. The last 10 miles (16 km), however, form a large tidal estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
inlet of 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 inner part of this estuary provides the harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, composed of the Northwest Harbor and the Middle Branch. (See Baltimore Inner Harbor.) The Patapsco estuary is south of the Back River
Back River (Maryland)
Back River is a tidal estuary in Baltimore County, Maryland, located about east of the city of Baltimore. The estuary extends from the community of Rosedale, southeast for about to the Chesapeake Bay...
and north of the Magothy River
Magothy River
The Magothy River runs through Anne Arundel County in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located south of the Patapsco River and north of the Severn River...
.
The Patapsco has a watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
area (including the water surface) of 680 square miles (1,761.2 km²), or 632 square miles (1,637 km²) of land. Thus, its total watershed area is 7% water.
Patapsco Valley State Park
Patapsco Valley State Park
Patapsco Valley State Park is located in Maryland, USA and extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback riding and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for...
is adjacent to 32 miles (51 km) of the Patapsco and its branches, encompassing a total of 14000 acres (5,665.6 ha) in five different areas. Liberty Dam
Liberty Reservoir
The Liberty Reservoir is a reservoir in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland. It is owned by the City of Baltimore Department of Public Works, but is located outside of the city, and it divides Baltimore and Carroll Counties.-History:...
and its reservoir, located on the North Branch, is a major component of the Baltimore city water system. Besides Baltimore, the river also flows through Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
(the county seat of Howard County) and Elkridge
Elkridge, Maryland
Elkridge is a census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. The population was 22,042 at the 2000 census. Founded early in the 18th century, Elkridge is located at the confluence of three counties, the other two being Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties...
.
History
On the 1612 John SmithJohn Smith of Jamestown
Captain John Smith Admiral of New England was an English soldier, explorer, and author. He was knighted for his services to Sigismund Bathory, Prince of Transylvania and friend Mózes Székely...
map, it was called the Bolus River. It has never been a major path of commerce since it is not navigable further upstream than Elkridge. However, the Patapsco valley was used as the route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
's original main line west constructed from 1829 onwards, and this route remains, though much altered. Many old railroad bridges lie along the valley, most notably the Thomas Viaduct
Thomas Viaduct
The Thomas Viaduct spans the Patapsco River and Patapsco Valley between Relay and Elkridge, Maryland, USA. It is the first multi-span masonry railroad bridge in the United States to be built on a curve...
and the ruins of the Patterson Viaduct
Patterson Viaduct
The Patterson Viaduct, heavily damaged by a flood in 1866, spanned the Patapsco River at Ilchester, Maryland. Built from May to December 1829, the viaduct was part of the Old Main Line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was constructed in the first building phase of the railroad, which...
. Flour mills and a hydropower dam were formerly powered by the river.
The valley is prone to flooding, though at long intervals. The most recent severe flood occurred in 1972 as a result of rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
, in which Ellicott City and the Old Main Line sustained serious damage.
The Patapsco River featured prominently in the Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. This is where Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
, while aboard a British ship, wrote a poem which would later become the national anthem of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
". Today, a red, white, and blue buoy marks the spot where the HMS Tonnant was anchored.
Water quality
The eastern portion of the Patapsco River is in a highly urbanizedUrbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
area and is subject to extensive urban runoff
Urban runoff
Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of water pollution in many parts of the United States and other urban communities worldwide.-Overview:...
and other forms of water pollution
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....
. The Maryland Department of the Environment has identified the Lower North Branch as containing high levels of heavy metals (chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
, arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
, cadmium
Cadmium
Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
, selenium
Selenium
Selenium is a chemical element with atomic number 34, chemical symbol Se, and an atomic mass of 78.96. It is a nonmetal, whose properties are intermediate between those of adjacent chalcogen elements sulfur and tellurium...
, and zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
), as well as 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...
, fecal coliform bacteria, and PCBs.
External links
- Maryland DNR's Surf Your Watershed: Patapsco/Back River
- Maryland Port Administration
- Blue Water Baltimore, formed in 2010 from a merger of the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls, Herring Run, and Baltimore Harbor Watershed Associations, and the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper
- Friends of Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway