Choptank River
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Choptank River is a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay on the Delmarva Peninsula. It rises in Kent County, Delaware, runs through Caroline County, Maryland and forms much of the border between Talbot County, Maryland on the north, and Caroline County and Dorchester County on the east and south. It is located north of the Nanticoke River and its mouth is located south of Eastern Bay. Cambridge, the county seat of Dorchester County and Denton, the county seat of Caroline County are located on its south shore.
Its watershed area in Maryland is 1,004 square miles, of which 224 square miles is open water, so it is 22% water. The predominant land use is agricultural with 418 square miles, or 48% of the land area.
[edit] Course
The Choptank River begins at Choptank Mills, Delaware, where Tidy Island Creek and Culbreth Marsh Ditch join together. It ends at the Chesapeake Bay in a very wide mouth between Blackwalnut Point on Tilghman Island, and Cook Point, near Hudson, Maryland. Tidy Island Creek and Culbreth Marsh Ditch rise in western Kent County, Delaware. The entire watershed is in the coastal plain. it reaches sea level near Denton, Maryland and isn't salty until around 2 miles below Denton. Greensboro, Maryland, about 6 miles up the river from Denton, is the head of navigation.
[edit] Tributaries
Its main tributaries are the Tred Avon River and Tuckahoe River on the north side and the Cabin Creek and Hunting Creek on the south side. There are also several small creeks on the northern shore, including Harris Creek, Broad Creek, Irish Creek, Island Creek, La Trappe Creek, Bolingroke Creek, Mile Creek, Kings Creek, Forge Branch, and Broadway Branch. On the southern shore the small creeks include Jenkins Creek, the Warwick River, Marsh Creek, Skeleton Creek, Mitchell Run, Hog Creek (Maryland), Fowling Creek, Robins Creek, Williston Creek, Watts Creek, Chapel Branch, Spring Branch, Gravelly Branch, and Cow Marsh Creek.
[edit] References
- United States Geological Survey. 7.5 minute series topographic quadrangles.
- Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Profile: Choptank River
|
|||||||||||||||||
