Back River (Maryland)
{{short description|River in Maryland, United States}}
{{other uses|Back River (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Back River
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Maryland
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| subdivision_type5 = City
| subdivision_name5 = Essex
|length_mi=9
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| source1 =
| source1_location = Rosedale
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|39.3076074|-76.519408|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = Chesapeake Bay
| mouth_location = Edgemere
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|39.2437193|-76.4002369|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression =
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|basin_size_mi2=61
| tributaries_left = Moore's Run, Northeast Creek, Deep Creek
| tributaries_right = Herring Run, Bread and Cheese Creek
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Back River is a tidal estuary in Baltimore County, Maryland, located about {{convert|2|mi|0}} east of the city of Baltimore. The estuary extends from Essex, Maryland, southeast for about {{convert|8.8|mi}}U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ |date=2012-03-29 }}, accessed April 1, 2011 to the Chesapeake Bay. The watershed area is {{convert|39075|acre}} and includes Essex Skypark Airport and the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant.Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Baltimore, MD (2005). [http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/BR_main_nuts_final.pdf "Total Maximum Daily Loads of Nitrogen and Phosphorus for Back River in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420124332/http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/BR_main_nuts_final.pdf |date=2011-04-20 }} The river is shared between Essex, MD, Dundalk, MD, and Edgemere, MD
Water quality
File:Fishing at Back River Near the Sewage Plant - NARA - 546940 color-adj1.jpg
Back River is in a highly urbanized 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),MDE (1999). [http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/tmdl/backriver/backriver_tmdl.pdf "Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Documentation for Chlordane in Back River."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927155057/http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/tmdl/backriver/backriver_tmdl.pdf |date=2011-09-27 }} and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). The Herring Run tributary is listed as impaired due to high levels of bacteria.MDE (2007). [http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/Herring_Run_TMDL_final.pdf "Total Maximum Daily Loads of Fecal Bacteria for the Herring Run Basin in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927155147/http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/Herring_Run_TMDL_final.pdf |date=2011-09-27 }} 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."Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM), Towson, MD (2010). [http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Environment/Watersheds/tbrswapvol1.pdf "Tidal Back River Small Watershed Action Plan."] February 2010.{{rp|81–90}}
Tributaries
The Back River watershed consists of {{convert|73|mi}} of streams in Baltimore County and Baltimore City.DEPRM. [http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/environment/watersheds/ep_brmain.html "Back River Watershed."] 2010-06-03.
- Armistead Run
- Biddison Run
- Bread and Cheese Creek
- Brien’s Run
- Chinquapin Run
- Deep Creek
- Duck Creek
- Herring Run
- Moore’s Run
- Northeast Creek
- Redhouse Run
- Stemmers Run
- Tiffany Run
See also
References
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- United States Geological Survey. Reston, VA. [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:582987 "Back River."] Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Accessed 2009-08-28.
{{Refend}}
External links
- [http://www.savebackriver.org Back River Restoration Committee]
- [http://bread-and-cheese-creek.com Clean Bread and Cheese Creek]
- [http://bluewaterbaltimore.org/ Blue Water Baltimore, formed in 2010 from a merger of the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls, Herring Run, and Baltimore Harbor Watershed Associations, and the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper]
{{Maryland waters}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Rivers of Baltimore County, Maryland