A watershed is an area of
land where water collects to flow into a river, a lake, or another large body
of water; we all live inside a watershed.
In collaboration with local
partners, Arezza provides training,
work study, other professional enrichment as well as sustainable travel
services for groups and families. f you are also planning a vacation to the
Potomac Region, our team manages series of eco-friendly activities:
Walking, biking, canoeing,
horseback riding and more
Annapolis and Chesapeake Bay
Boat Tours
Museums, Cultural
Attractions & Nightlife
A Day on a Working Farm
Farmers and Arts &
Crafts Markets
Unique Culinary Experiences
with visits to wineries, breweries and local food producers
Potomac
River and Chesapeake Bay Water Resources and the Environment. Green
Infrastructure for Coastal Resiliency Maryland Ecosystem Enhancement Program
and Water Trail Guides.
Anacostia River
Trails
The Lower Potomac,
Anacostia, Patuxent and Wicomico rivers are among the major waterways in the
region, but hundreds of smaller streams, creeks and rivers abound providing
numerous opportunities for recreational boating.
Anacostia River Watershed 176 square mile area of land encompasses most of the eastern half of
the District of Columbia and large portions of Prince George’s County and
Montgomery County in Maryland. The Anacostia has 13 major tributary creeks and
streams - many with their own sub-watershed citizen advocacy groups; it starts
near Bladensburg, MD, and runs for 8.5 miles before meeting the Potomac River
at Hains Point in Washington, DC.
Anacostia River Trails and Port Towns The word
Anacostia is derived from the Nacotchtank Indian word anaquash; it means village
trading center. In the 18th century the port at Bladensburg, Maryland, was
40 feet deep and served as a major center for colonial shipping fleets. Today,
at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, site of the old port, the water often measures 3 feet deep or less. In the
18th century, the Anacostia River flowed through 2,500 acres of tidal wetlands.
Today, less than 150 acres of wetland remain.
Wildlife The Anacostia River supports 188 species of birds and nearly 50 species
of fish. Some of the animals you can see in and along the river include: bald
eagles, beavers, white perch, ospreys, striped bass, cormorants, crayfish,
herons, turtles, egrets, otters, herring, red fox, shad, kingfishers, and
bullhead catfish.
Pollution and its Effect of Fish Species Each year, Washington's antiquated combined sewer
system dumps over 2 billion gallons of raw sewage and storm water directly into
the river. Recent efforts have begun to reduce this overflow volume. According
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more than 20,000
tons of trash and debris enter the Anacostia's waters each year. Between 1989
and 2009, AWS volunteers collected and removed more than 850 tons of trash from
the watershed. Experts estimate that approximately two-thirds (2⁄3) of brown
bullhead catfish in the Anacostia River have tumors. The bullhead is an
environmental indicator species for the Anacostia.
Potomac
River Trails
The North Branch Allegany County, Western Maryland. Start and End Point: The route
begins in
Westernport and ends in Cumberland. Distance: 32 miles.
Upper Potomac River Washington, Frederick, and Allegany Maryland + Jefferson County West
Virginia. Start and End Point: The route begins in Shepherdstown, West Virginia
and ends in Cumberland Maryland. Distance: 115 miles.
Middle Potomac River Located in Montgomery, Frederick, an Washington Counties. Start and End
Point: Georgetown, Washington D.C. to Williamsport, Maryland. Distance: 92
miles.
The Potomac River and the
Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal feature recreational fishing, biking,
hiking, kayaking, canoeing, camping.
Lower Potomac River Prince Georges, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. 115 miles of the
lower Potomac River from Washington DC to Chesapeake Bay.
Other Southern Maryland Trails Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Calvert, Charles and St.
Mary’s counties. The region of Southern Maryland is a peninsula bordered by the
Potomac River to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east. Predominantly
rural with areas with dense population and suburban development closer to the
Washington D.C. area. Steep cliffs can be found along the Chesapeake Bay
shoreline and along areas of the Potomac River. Most of the streams, creeks and
rivers experience tidal influences and have brackish water - a mix of fresh and
salt water.
Charles County Water Trails along Mattawoman Creek, the lower Potomac River, Port
Tobacco River and Nanjemoy Creek.
Point Lookout Water Trails Point Lookout State Park - the southernmost tip of St.
Mary’s County where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The State Park
offers a variety of paddling experiences that range from an hour or two to
all-day excursions with overnight camping options on the Point Lookout
peninsula.
Kingfisher Canoe Trail Prince Georges County, Anacostia River. Set in a very urban
environment, this trail features some surprisingly natural areas as it passes
by the Kenilworth Marsh and Aquatic Gardens and the National Arboretum. The
trail begins at the Bladensburg public boat ramp and continues down the river
to end at the Anacostia Park boat ramp.
Patuxent River Water Trail Anne Arundel, Prince Georges, Calvert, Charles,
and St. Mary’s counties. 110 miles long. Many public parks and launching sites
for recreational boating provide additional access for visitors to enjoy the
river’s resources.
