Back River (Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Back River is a tidal estuary
in Baltimore County
, Maryland
, located about 2 miles (3 km) east of the city of Baltimore. The estuary extends from the community of Rosedale
, southeast for about 8.8 miles (14.2 km) to the Chesapeake Bay
. The watershed
area is 39075 acres (15,813.1 ha) and includes Essex Skypark Airport.
area and is subject to extensive urban runoff
and other forms of water pollution
. The Maryland Department of the Environment has listed water quality impairments in the mainstem river for chlordane
(a pesticide
), and nutrients (nitrogen
and phosphorus
). The Herring Run
tributary is listed as impaired due to high levels of bacteria
. The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) has classified Bread and Cheese Creek
as having a “Very High Priority” for stormwater
management actions, due to the large amount of trash and sediment found in it. The county recommends implementing a number of remedial activities to control urban runoff
pollution, including "downspout
disconnection, storm drain
marking, buffer
improvement, alley
retrofit, street sweeping, tree planting and public education."
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....
in Baltimore County
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
, 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...
, located about 2 miles (3 km) east of the city of Baltimore. The estuary extends from the community of Rosedale
Rosedale, Maryland
Rosedale is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 19,199 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, southeast for about 8.8 miles (14.2 km) to 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 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 is 39075 acres (15,813.1 ha) and includes Essex Skypark Airport.
Water quality
Back 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 listed water quality impairments in the mainstem river for chlordane
Chlordane
Chlordane, or chlordan, is an organochlorine compound that was used as a pesticide. This white solid was sold in the U.S. until 1983 as an insecticide for crops like corn and citrus and on lawns and domestic gardens.-Production and uses:...
(a pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
), and nutrients (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...
). The Herring Run
Herring Run
The Herring Run is an tributary of the Back River located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Geography:The watershed has its headwaters in Towson, Maryland, and flows through Baltimore and Baltimore County before discharging into the Back River, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay...
tributary is listed as impaired due to high levels of 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...
. The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) has classified Bread and Cheese Creek
Bread and Cheese Creek
Bread and Cheese Creek is a tributary of the Back River in Baltimore County, Maryland. The creek is long, with headwaters just east of the Baltimore city line. It flows east through Baltimore County before emptying into the Back River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay...
as having a “Very High Priority” for stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
management actions, due to the large amount of trash and sediment found in it. The county recommends implementing a number of remedial activities to control 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:...
pollution, including "downspout
Downspout
A downspout, downpipe, roof drain pipe, or leader is a vertical pipe for carrying rainwater from a rain gutter to ground level...
disconnection, storm drain
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
marking, buffer
Riparian buffer
A riparian buffer is a vegetated area near a stream, usually forested, which helps shade and partially protect a stream from the impact of adjacent land uses...
improvement, alley
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
retrofit, street sweeping, tree planting and public education."
Tributaries
The Back River watershed consists of 73 miles (117.5 km) of streams in Baltimore County and Baltimore City.- Armistead Run
- Biddison Run
- Bread and Cheese CreekBread and Cheese CreekBread and Cheese Creek is a tributary of the Back River in Baltimore County, Maryland. The creek is long, with headwaters just east of the Baltimore city line. It flows east through Baltimore County before emptying into the Back River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay...
- Brien’s Run
- Chinquapin Run
- Deep Creek
- Duck Creek
- Herring RunHerring RunThe Herring Run is an tributary of the Back River located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Geography:The watershed has its headwaters in Towson, Maryland, and flows through Baltimore and Baltimore County before discharging into the Back River, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay...
- Moore’s Run
- Northeast Creek
- Redhouse Run
- Stemmers Run
- Tiffany Run