These tributaries converge near Darnestown. Another major tributary, Dry Seneca Creek, empties into Seneca Creek west of Darnestown. The creek continues south and passes under Seneca Aqueduct/Riley's Lock (Lock 24) of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal before it flows into the Potomac River. There is about a 600 feet (180 m) change in elevation from the stream's upper sources to its mouth at the Potomac. Seneca Creek has a watershed area of 121 square miles (310 km2).
Recreationedit
The entrance to Seneca Creek Greenway trail at Seneca Rd in Darnestown, MD.
Depending on conditions, parts of the creek are navigable by light watercraft, such as kayaks or canoes. Near Riley’s Lock there is a boat ramp into the creek which provides access to the Potomac River.
An area of about 6,300 acres (25 km2) along 14.75 miles (23.74 km) of the creek has been set aside as Seneca Creek State Park. It has trails including the 16.5 miles (26.6 km) Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, the 10 miles (16 km) Schaeffer Farm Trail, and many shorter and easier trails. Parking and picnic areas are provided at various locations in the park. Long Draught Creek, a small tributary north of Gaithersburg has been dammed to form the 90 acres (0.36 km2) Clopper Lake which is the centerpiece of the park's day use area. This area includes multiple picnic areas, a disc golf course, boat rentals for the lake, and restroom facilities.
Historyedit
Just west of the creek's mouth is the Seneca Quarry, the quarry that provided the red sandstone for the Smithsonian Castle and locks 8 - 27 of the C&O Canal. The remains of the 1837 stone cutting mill are still intact, though unmarked; above the quarry is the restored quarry masters house. Both are within state park lands.[2]
Built in 1837, the Seneca stone cutting mill cut the stone for the Smithsonian Castle
During the 1920s and 1930s Seneca was a popular vacation spot for people from lower Montgomery County and Washington who came for the cooler temperatures, boating, swimming, and fishing. There was a hotel near the canal and cottages lined the creek until they were washed away or destroyed by the several floods that have affected this area. Unfortunately Seneca has been the site of many drownings and boating accidents over the years. Today the area is a popular local recreation area.
seneca, creek, potomac, river, tributary, this, article, about, stream, montgomery, county, maryland, state, park, seneca, creek, state, park, confused, with, seneca, creek, west, virginia, tributary, north, fork, south, branch, potomac, river, near, seneca, r. This article is about the stream in Montgomery County Maryland For the State Park see Seneca Creek State Park Not to be confused with Seneca Creek in West Virginia a tributary of the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River near Seneca Rocks Seneca Creek is a 5 8 mile long 9 3 km 1 stream in Montgomery County Maryland USA roughly 16 miles 26 km northwest of Washington D C It drains into the Potomac River Seneca CreekSeneca Creek and the Seneca Creek Greenway trail near Berryville Road in Darnestown MDLocationCountryUnited StatesStateMarylandCountiesMontgomeryPhysical characteristicsSource locationDarnestown MD coordinates39 07 43 N 77 20 09 W 39 12861 N 77 33583 W 39 12861 77 33583MouthPotomac River locationSeneca Aqueduct Darnestown MD coordinates39 04 05 N 77 20 27 W 39 06806 N 77 34083 W 39 06806 77 34083Length5 8 miles 9 3 km The Aqueduct at Riley s Lock Contents 1 Course 2 Recreation 3 History 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksCourse editThe creek begins with two main tributaries Great Seneca Creek 21 5 miles 34 6 km long 1 begins in Damascus and flows south past Montgomery Village Germantown Gaithersburg and Seneca Creek State Park Little Seneca Creek 14 0 miles 22 5 km long 1 rises in the Clarksburg area flows south through Little Seneca Lake and Black Hill Regional Park and the community of Boyds These tributaries converge near Darnestown Another major tributary Dry Seneca Creek empties into Seneca Creek west of Darnestown The creek continues south and passes under Seneca Aqueduct Riley s Lock Lock 24 of the Chesapeake and Ohio C amp O Canal before it flows into the Potomac River There is about a 600 feet 180 m change in elevation from the stream s upper sources to its mouth at the Potomac Seneca Creek has a watershed area of 121 square miles 310 km2 Recreation edit nbsp The entrance to Seneca Creek Greenway trail at Seneca Rd in Darnestown MD Depending on conditions parts of the creek are navigable by light watercraft such as kayaks or canoes Near Riley s Lock there is a boat ramp into the creek which provides access to the Potomac River An area of about 6 300 acres 25 km2 along 14 75 miles 23 74 km of the creek has been set aside as Seneca Creek State Park It has trails including the 16 5 miles 26 6 km Seneca Creek Greenway Trail the 10 miles 16 km Schaeffer Farm Trail and many shorter and easier trails Parking and picnic areas are provided at various locations in the park Long Draught Creek a small tributary north of Gaithersburg has been dammed to form the 90 acres 0 36 km2 Clopper Lake which is the centerpiece of the park s day use area This area includes multiple picnic areas a disc golf course boat rentals for the lake and restroom facilities History editJust west of the creek s mouth is the Seneca Quarry the quarry that provided the red sandstone for the Smithsonian Castle and locks 8 27 of the C amp O Canal The remains of the 1837 stone cutting mill are still intact though unmarked above the quarry is the restored quarry masters house Both are within state park lands 2 nbsp Built in 1837 the Seneca stone cutting mill cut the stone for the Smithsonian Castle During the 1920s and 1930s Seneca was a popular vacation spot for people from lower Montgomery County and Washington who came for the cooler temperatures boating swimming and fishing There was a hotel near the canal and cottages lined the creek until they were washed away or destroyed by the several floods that have affected this area Unfortunately Seneca has been the site of many drownings and boating accidents over the years Today the area is a popular local recreation area See also editList of Maryland rivers Locks on the C amp O CanalReferences edit a b c U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map accessed August 15 2011 Peck Garrett 2012 The Potomac River A History and Guide Charleston SC The History Press pp 62 63 ISBN 978 1609496005 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seneca Creek Maryland USGS Current Conditions for the Nation Seneca Creek U S Geological Survey Seneca Creek State Park Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Great Seneca Creek Watershed Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection WAMU 88 5 FM Metro Connection From Stone to Bright Red Structure A Tour of the Seneca Quarry March 30 2012 39 04 06 N 77 20 26 W 39 068441 N 77 340540 W 39 068441 77 340540 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seneca Creek Potomac River tributary amp oldid 1133507771, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
