The Monocacy watershed is found in the central part of the State of Maryland with its headwaters in Adams county of Pennsylvania. The river formally becomes the Monocacy at the Mason-Dixon line where Rock Creek and Marsh Creek join.
In addition to Adams county Pennsylvania, parts of Frederick, Montgomery, and Carrol Counties in Maryland make up the bulk of the watershed.
A majority of the tributaries are third order streams or higher, with larger volumes of water being contributed by Rock Creek and Marsh creek in Pennsylvania, and Bennet creek Muddy run, big hunting creek, double Pipe creek and Lake Linganore which also serves as a water source for The city and county of Frederick in Maryland.
Major towns in city's in the watershed are are expanding and include the City of Fredrick and Thermont in Maryland, and Gettysburg,PA.
As of a 2006 report on the Monacocy competed by Frederick county reports: The 960 sq- mile water shed averages a flow of 600 Mgd at the mouth, and is comprised of approximately 64% agricultural land 25% Forested, and Urban 8%.(Fredrick County, 2006) I had calculated 988 sq-mile area on google maps.
I can be reasonably expected that the % of developed land will have increased dramatically in the last 10 years. According the Frederick County's 2011 water and sewage plan, urban uses was up to 17%.(Frederick County, 2011) This change in land use will bring with it a change in water quality and quantity for the watershed if not properly managed.
Resources
Frederick County, (2006), The Monocacy, Monocacy Scenic River Board, Accessed from:https://frederickcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/9909
Frederick County, (2011), Frederick County water and sewage plan, Accessed from: https://frederickcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21969
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