Cabin John Creek facts for kids
Cabin John Creek is a stream that flows into the Potomac River in Montgomery County, Maryland. The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, covers about 26 square miles (67 square kilometers). The creek starts in the city of Rockville and flows south for about 10.9 miles (17.5 kilometers) until it reaches the Potomac River.
A path called the Cabin John Stream Valley Trail follows the creek for about 8.8 miles (14.2 kilometers). This trail goes through Cabin John Regional Park and Cabin John Local Park, which are great places to explore. The famous Union Arch Bridge carries MacArthur Boulevard and the Washington Aqueduct (a system that brings water) over the creek. This happens about a quarter-mile before the creek flows through a tunnel, called a culvert, under the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and then empties into the Potomac River.
Keeping Cabin John Creek Clean
The area around Cabin John Creek has a lot of buildings, roads, and homes. Because of all this development, the water quality in the main part of the creek and some of its smaller streams isn't as good as it could be. When it rains, water runs off these developed areas and can carry pollution into the creek.
The government of Montgomery County is working on a long-term plan to make the water cleaner. This plan includes projects like stormwater management, which helps control rainwater runoff, and stream restoration, which means fixing parts of the creek to make them healthier for plants and animals.
Smaller Streams Joining Cabin John Creek
Several smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Cabin John Creek, adding to its water. Here are some of them:
- Booze Creek
- Thomas Branch (also known as Beltway Branch and Thomas Run)
- Congressional Branch
- Ken Branch
- Buck Branch
- Snakeden Branch (also known as Snake Den Branch)
- Old Farm Creek
- Bogley Branch
Images for kids
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Union Arch Bridge (Cabin John Bridge) in the 1880s
