Mattawoman Creek

Mattawoman Creek is a 30.0-mile-long (48.3 km)^[1] coastal-plain tributary to the tidal Potomac River with a mouth at Indian Head, Maryland, 20 miles (32 km) downstream of Washington, D.C. It comprises a 23-mile (37 km) river flowing through Prince George's and Charles counties and a 7-mile (11 km) tidal-freshwater estuary in Charles County. About three-fourths of its 94-square-mile (240 km²) watershed lies in Charles County, with the remainder in Prince Georges County immediately to the north.

Mattawoman appears on Capt. John Smith's circa-1608 map as Mataughquamend, an Algonquian compound translated as “where one goes pleasantly.”^[2] Today, Mattawoman Creek is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as impaired under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act for excess nutrients, sediment, and loss of living resources.^[3][4] At the same time, because it is the southernmost Potomac River freshwater estuary in Maryland,^[5] Mattawoman has escaped much of the degradation associated with urbanization spreading from Washington, D.C. It retains noteworthy biodiversity.

Assessments of fish communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay system by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources find the Mattawoman estuary to be the most productive of sampled tributaries for migratory fish.^[6] Especially abundant are anadromous alewife, blueback herring and American shad and semi-anadromous white and yellow perch. The largemouth bass, a resident gamefish that supports an active recreational fishery in the tidal freshwater Potomac River and its tributaries, also achieves high concentrations in the estuary.^[7][8][9] On the basis of fish assessments, Maryland fisheries biologists have concluded that^[6]

“Mattawoman represents as near to ideal conditions as can be found in the northern Chesapeake Bay, perhaps unattainable in other systems, and should be protected from overdevelopment.”

The estuary supports extensive freshwater tidal marshes that are partially protected as Maryland Wildlands and as Natural Environment Areas. Palustrine wetlands are concentrated in the broad stream valley of the fluvial reaches, where a site with the greatest species richness of amphibians and reptiles in Maryland has been identified by the Department of Natural Resources.^[10]

Mattawoman drains the town of Indian Head, the town of Bryans Road, and most of Waldorf, the largest community in Charles County. Its watershed remains over 50% forested but is approaching a 10% impervious cover,^[11] often cited as a threshold for significant degradation as measured by water quality and species diversity.^[12] Continued loss of forest and increases in impervious cover are anticipated,^[11] as most of the watershed in Charles County falls within a designated development district, which at about 83 square miles (210 km²)^[13] (214 km²) is larger than Washington D.C. (61 square miles; 158 km²). With respect to projected growth, the Mattawoman Creek Watershed Management Plan authored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers notes that^[11]

“[t]hese intense development practices would have severe repercussions on the biological community and would decrease the habitat quality within the estuary.”

The quality of Mattawoman’s living resources are acknowledged by Charles County government,^[14] while the juxtaposition of high quality and high vulnerability to development are recognized by state^[15] and federal agencies.^[11] For example, the Mattawoman Creek Watershed Management Plan states:^[11]

“The Mattawoman Creek represents an important natural resource, with a diverse network of forests, tributaries, and wetlands, providing tremendous fish and wildlife habitat. The ecological integrity of the Mattawoman is at risk from current and future development pressures within the watershed.”

The juxtaposition of value and vulnerability has caused the creek and its watershed to become a focal point for regional^[16][17] and local^[18][19] conservation organizations that work to restore the Chesapeake Bay in the face of growing urbanization, which studies find contribute to the decline of the Bay.^[20]

Proposals for two four-lane highways that would cross the fluvial stream, and the expected attendant development, have generated debate. The first, the Western Waldorf Bypass, is one of three alternatives being considered by state and federal agencies for the U.S. 301 Waldorf-Area Transportation Improvements Project.^[21] This highway would divide lengthwise about one-half of the Mattawoman watershed. The second, for which controversial^[22] wetlands permit applications have been submitted, is a proposed extension of Charles County’s Cross County Connector, which would cross the width of the watershed.

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, Mattawoman Creek has also been known by the following names.

• Mataughquamend
• Matawoman Creeke
• Matawomen Creeke
• Mattawomans Creek
• Mattawomen Creek
• Pangayo
• Saint Thomas Creeke
• Zachia Swamp

See also

• List of Maryland rivers

References

1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed August 15, 2011
2. ^ Kenny Hammil, The Place Names of Maryland, Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society, 1984. ISBN 0-938420-28-3.
3. ^ Total Maximum Daily Loads of Nitrogen and Phosphorus for Mattawoman Creek in Charles County and Prince George’s County, Maryland, Maryland Dept. Env., 2004
4. ^ Environmental Protection Agency letter approving the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Total Maximum Daily Loads for nutrients.
5. ^ Alice J. Lippson et al.,. Environmental Atlas of the Potomac Estuary , Environmental Center, Martin Marietta Corp., prepared for Maryland Dept. Nat. Res., 1979.
6. ^ ^{a b} J. Carmichael et al., Fish Sampling in Eight Chesapeake Bay Tributaries, Maryland Dept. Nat. Res., Chesapeake Bay Research and Monitoring Div., 1992. Report CBRM-HI-92-2.
7. ^ Ken Penrod guides
8. ^ K. Penrod, Ken Penrod’s Tidal Potomac River Fishing Bible, PPC Publishing, Beltsville, MD, 1992.
9. ^ L. Fewless, Statewide Fisheries Survey and Management Study V: Investigations of largemouth bass populations inhabiting Maryland's tidal waters , Maryland DNR, Freshwater Fisheries Division, 1996. Report F-48-R.
10. ^ Maryland Biological Stream Survey 2000-2004, Vol IX, Aquatic Biodiversity, Maryland Dept. of Nat. Res., July 2005. Report CBWP-MANTA-EA-05-6.
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} Mattawoman Creek Watershed Management Plan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District.
12. ^ Chesapeake Stormwater Network Bulletin No. 3
13. ^ Charles County Government: Planning and Growth Management
14. ^ Charles County Government: Mattawoman Creek
15. ^ Maryland Clean Water Action Plan, 1998.
16. ^ Chesapeake Bay Foundation
17. ^ Washington Smart Growth Alliance, Regional Conservation Priorities 2007.
18. ^ Smarter Growth Alliance for Charles County
19. ^ Mattawoman Watershed Society
20. ^ Development growth outpacing progress in watershed efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay, Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007. Rpt. #2007-P-00031.
21. ^ U.S. 301 Waldorf Area Transportation Improvements
22. ^ “Cross County Connector Center of Lengthy and Heated Hearing,” Pete Hurrey, TheBayNet.com, Aug. 1, 2008

External links

• Mattawoman Creek Watershed
• Stream data
• USGS 01658000 MATTAWOMAN CREEK NEAR POMONKEY, MD

Potomac River system Cities and towns | Bridges | Islands | Tributaries | Variant names District of Columbia | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Virginia | West Virginia Streams shown as: Major tributaries • subtributaries • (subsubtributaries) • (subsubsubtributaries)

Tidal Potomac River Gulf Branch | Donaldson Run | Maddox Branch | Windy Run | Spout Run | Foundry Branch | Rock Creek | Boundary Channel | Tiber Creek | Rocky Run | Washington Channel | Anacostia River • Pope Branch • Watts Branch • Hickey Run • Northwest Branch • (Sligo Creek) • Northeast Branch • (Paint Branch) | Four Mile Run | Oxon Creek | Hunting Creek • Cameron Run | Broad Creek | Henson Creek | Swan Creek | Piscataway Creek | Little Hunting Creek | Dogue Creek | Accotink Creek • Daniels Run | Pohick Creek | Pomonkey Creek | Occoquan River • Bull Run • Broad Run • Cedar Run | Neabsco Creek | Powells Creek | Mattawoman Creek | Chicamuxen Creek | Quantico Creek | Little Creek | Chopawamsic Creek | Tank Creek | Aquia Creek | Potomac Creek • Accokeek Creek | Nanjemoy Creek | Port Tobacco River | Popes Creek (Maryland) | Gambo Creek | Piccowaxen Creek | Upper Machodoc Creek | Cuckold Creek | Wicomico River | Monroe Creek | Mattox Creek | Popes Creek (Virginia) | St. Marys River | Yeocomico River | Coan River | Hull Creek Upper Potomac River North Branch Potomac River | South Branch Potomac River | Town Creek | Little Cacapon River • North Fork Little Cacapon River • South Fork Little Cacapon River | Fifteenmile Creek | Sideling Hill Creek | Cacapon River • Lost River • Trout Run • Capon Springs Run • Dillons Run • Edwards Run • Mill Branch • North River • (Grassy Lick Run) • (Tearcoat Creek) • (Bearwallow Creek) | Sir Johns Run | Warm Spring Run | Tonoloway Creek • Little Tonoloway Creek | Sleepy Creek • Meadow Branch | Licking Creek | Cherry Run | Back Creek • Hogue Creek • Isaacs Creek • Tilhance Creek | Little Conococheague Creek | Conococheague Creek • Back Creek | Opequon Creek • Abrams Creek • Mill Creek • Middle Creek • Tuscarora Creek (West Virginia) | Antietam Creek | Shenandoah River | Little Catoctin Creek | Catoctin Creek (Virginia) | Catoctin Creek (Maryland) | Tuscarora Creek (Maryland) | Monocacy River • Rock Creek • Marsh Creek • Alloway Creek • Toms Creek • (Middle Creek) • Double Pipe Creek • (Big Pipe Creek) • (Little Pipe Creek) • Owens Creek • Tuscarora Creek • Carroll Creek • Linganore Creek • Israel Creek • Double Pipe Creek • Bush Creek • Ballenger Creek • Bennett Creek | Little Monocacy River | Goose Creek • Little River | Broad Run (Virginia) | Sugarland Run | Broad Run (Maryland) | Seneca Creek • Dry Seneca Creek • Little Seneca Creek • Great Seneca Creek | Difficult Run | Cabin John Creek | Dead Run | Little Falls Branch | Pimmit Run | Rock Run | Watts Branch | Muddy Branch Shenandoah River North Fork Shenandoah River • Cedar Creek • Smith Creek | South Fork Shenandoah River • North River • (Middle River) • South River North Branch Potomac River Stony River | Abram Creek | Savage River | Georges Creek • Laurel Run | New Creek | Limestone Run | Warrior Run | Wills Creek • Brush Creek • Little Wills Creek | Evitts Creek | Patterson Creek • Mill Creek | Dans Run | Green Spring Run South Branch Potomac River North Fork South Branch Potomac River • Mill Creek • Seneca Creek | South Fork South Branch Potomac River • Kettle Creek | Lunice Creek | Mill Run | Mill Creek | Big Run | Buffalo Creek Lakes and reservoirs Lake Accotink | Lake Anne | Lake Artemesia | Lake Bernard Frank | Lake Braddock | Breckenridge Reservoir | Brushy Fork Lake | Burke Lake | Dalecarlia Reservoir | Georgetown Reservoir | Jennings Randolph Lake | Kingman Lake | Little Seneca Lake | McMillan Reservoir | Mount Storm Lake | Lake Needwood | Sleepy Creek Lake | Stony River Reservoir | Tidal Basin | Trout Pond | Warden Lake