Tributary Tuesday: Beaverdam Creek (Laurel, Md.)

In Maryland’s Washington, D.C. suburbs, Beaverdam Creek flows past agricultural fields, an abandoned airport, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and parts of the University of Maryland campus before flowing into Indian Creek, and then the Anacostia River.

(Image courtesy thisisbossi/Flickr)

The diverse suburban surroundings of Beaverdam Creek bring many challenges, including litter, polluted stormwater runoff and eroding stream banks. Luckily, the area’s dense population provides lots of volunteers to plant trees and organize cleanups that help improve habitat and water quality in and around this beautiful stream.

Although Beaverdam Creek may be a lesser-known Anacostia River tributary, it is one of the most scenic. The stream flows through Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, acres of federally owned farm fields used for experimental composting, weed control and honeybee projects. Beaverdam Road, which runs through this facility, offers an excellent view of the area. The road is a favorite of bike commuters traveling between Laurel and Greenbelt.

Beaverdam Creek’s 14-square-mile watershed is home to plants and wildlife you might not expect to see just a few miles outside the nation’s capital. Pitcher plants – large, insect-eating plants – grow in bogs near the creek. You may also see river otters flirting along the banks, great blue herons hunting for fish, and bald eagles swirling overhead.

(Photo courtesy taoboy49/Flickr)

More from Beaverdam Creek:

• Volunteer with Beaverdam Creek Watershed Watch Group (BCWWG) to help improve the stream’s health and habitats
• Learn more about the Anacostia River and its watershed from the Anacostia Watershed Society
• Get more information about Beaverdam Creek, its fish species and its erosion issues in these downloadable presentations from BCWWG