Gunpowder River
Encyclopedia
The Gunpowder River is a 6.8 miles (10.9 km) tidal inlet on the western side of Chesapeake Bay
in Maryland
, United States
. It is formed by the joining of two freshwater rivers, Gunpowder Falls (often referred to locally as "Big Gunpowder Falls") and Little Gunpowder Falls.
's York County
. From there, the Gunpowder flows in a generally southeast direction through the length of Baltimore County
until it reaches Joppatowne
where it is joined by the Little Gunpowder and the Bird River
, becoming simply the "Gunpowder River" once it passes the Amtrak
train bridge that runs from Chase
to Joppa
. Joppa was an important deep-water seaport and rival to the port of Baltimore in colonial American times, until sedimentation
of the Gunpowder River caused by upstream development made its harbor inaccessible to large ships.
until it reaches the Big Gunpowder. From there, the Gunpowder River is mainly a tidal estuary
of the Chesapeake Bay
that continues to form the boundary between Baltimore and Harford counties.
s that form Gunpowder Falls State Park
, the largest state park in Maryland. At two points, Gunpowder Falls is dammed to form major reservoir
s for the Baltimore
metropolitan area: Prettyboy Reservoir
and Loch Raven Reservoir
. By the time the Gunpowder reaches the Bay, however, it is no longer a rural river, but a suburban river that passes under Interstate 95
and many bedroom communities for Baltimore. Nonetheless, Gunpowder State Park on the Chesapeake Bay may give one the impression that this is still a somewhat remote river.
Both streams flow over the Fall Line
separating the Piedmont Plateau from the Atlantic Coastal Plain
just downstream of US Route 1. This creates some class III whitewater
opportunities for kayakers and canoeists when the water is reasonably high.
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...
in 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is formed by the joining of two freshwater rivers, Gunpowder Falls (often referred to locally as "Big Gunpowder Falls") and Little Gunpowder Falls.
Gunpowder Falls
The Big Gunpowder, 56.7 miles (91.2 km) long, begins in the extreme southern part of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's York County
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
. From there, the Gunpowder flows in a generally southeast direction through the length of 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...
until it reaches Joppatowne
Joppatowne, Maryland
Joppatowne is an unincorporated "bedroom community" in southwestern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was established in 1961 as a Planned Unit Development . Joppatowne is a census-designated place - the population was 11,391 at the 2000 census.Joppatowne is only a small part of what is...
where it is joined by the Little Gunpowder and the Bird River
Bird River
The Bird River is a tidal river in eastern Baltimore County in the U.S. state of Maryland. The Bird River empties into the Gunpowder River.-External links:*...
, becoming simply the "Gunpowder River" once it passes the Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
train bridge that runs from Chase
Chase, Maryland
Chase is an unincorporated community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.-Geography:Chase is located at . Chase is located on the waterfront of the Gunpowder River, Middle River, Dundee Creek, Saltpeter Creek, and Chesapeake Bay...
to Joppa
Joppa, Maryland
Joppa, Maryland in Harford County, Maryland is now a planning region for the county, but there was originally a town at the center called Joppa. Joppa was founded as a British colonial settlement in the early 18th century, and takes its name from the biblical town of Joppa .The town of Joppa on...
. Joppa was an important deep-water seaport and rival to the port of Baltimore in colonial American times, until sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension to settle out of the fluid in which they are entrained, and come to rest against a barrier. This is due to their motion through the fluid in response to the forces acting on them: these forces can be due to gravity, centrifugal acceleration...
of the Gunpowder River caused by upstream development made its harbor inaccessible to large ships.
Little Gunpowder Falls
Little Gunpowder Falls, as its name implies, is much smaller than the mainstem Gunpowder Falls. Throughout its 25.2 miles (40.6 km) length, it forms much of the boundary between eastern Baltimore County and western Harford CountyHarford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
until it reaches the Big Gunpowder. From there, the Gunpowder River is mainly a 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....
of 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...
that continues to form the boundary between Baltimore and Harford counties.
Recreation
Both the Gunpowder and Little Gunpowder Falls flow through hilly agricultural and forest land for much of their length. In fact, there are no less than four separate state parkState park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
s that form Gunpowder Falls State Park
Gunpowder Falls State Park
Gunpowder Falls State Park is an park in northwestern Baltimore County and eastern Harford County, Maryland. It is primarily made up of the stream valleys of the Big and Little Gunpowder Falls and the Gunpowder River, and boasts over 100 miles of trails. All areas of the park are convenient to the...
, the largest state park in Maryland. At two points, Gunpowder Falls is dammed to form major reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s for the 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...
metropolitan area: Prettyboy Reservoir
Prettyboy Reservoir
Prettyboy Reservoir occupies 206.5 sq/km of northern Baltimore County, Maryland, also known as the Hereford Zone. Even though the reservoir is located in the county, Baltimore City owns the reservoir and the surrounding land. The reservoir is one of three reservoirs created to supply the...
and Loch Raven Reservoir
Loch Raven Reservoir
The Loch Raven Reservoir is a reservoir that provides drinking water for the City of Baltimore and most of Baltimore County, Maryland. Originally built in 1881 as a dam and water tunnel to channel water to Lake Montebello and Lake Clifton, the new dam was constructed in 1914 in efforts to increase...
. By the time the Gunpowder reaches the Bay, however, it is no longer a rural river, but a suburban river that passes under Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maryland
Interstate 95 in Maryland is a major highway that runs diagonally from northeast to southwest, from Maryland's border with Delaware, to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, briefly entering the District of Columbia before reaching Virginia...
and many bedroom communities for Baltimore. Nonetheless, Gunpowder State Park on the Chesapeake Bay may give one the impression that this is still a somewhat remote river.
Both streams flow over the Fall Line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
separating the Piedmont Plateau from the Atlantic Coastal Plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...
just downstream of US Route 1. This creates some class III whitewater
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
opportunities for kayakers and canoeists when the water is reasonably high.
Tributaries
- Minebank Run
- Long Green Creek
- Sweathouse Run
- Haystack Branch
- Jennifer Branch
- Bean Run
- Foster Branch
- Taylor Creek