Paint Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paint Branch |
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Map of the Anacostia River watershed showing Paint Branch
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Montgomery and Prince George's counties, Maryland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Northeast Branch Anacostia River |
| Length | 14.0 miles (22.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 20.8 square miles (54 km2) |
Paint Branch is a small river, also called a stream, in Maryland. It flows for about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) through Montgomery County and Prince George's County.
This stream is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. Paint Branch joins the Northeast Branch. From there, its waters travel to the Anacostia River, then the Potomac River, and finally reach the Chesapeake Bay.
The very beginning of Paint Branch, called its headwaters, is found near Spencerville. This spot is about 11.5 miles (18.5 kilometers) north of Washington, D.C.. The stream then flows south for its entire 14-mile journey. It ends when it meets the Northeast Branch. This meeting point is called a confluence.
The area of land that drains water into Paint Branch is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 20.8 square miles (53.9 square kilometers). It includes parts of several towns. These towns are Spencerville, Cloverly, Fairland, Colesville, White Oak, and College Park.
Exploring Paint Branch's Feeder Streams
Paint Branch gets water from many smaller streams that flow into it. These are its tributaries. Here are some of them:
- Left Fork
- Right Fork
- Gum Springs Tributary
- Good Hope Tributary
- Snowden's Mill Branch
- Fairland Farms
- Columbia Park Tributary
- Hollywood Branch
- Martin Luther King Tributary
- Tanley Road Tributary
- Stewart-April Lane Tributary
- West Farm Branch
- Little Paint Branch
- Indian Creek
Fun Along Paint Branch: Trails to Explore
If you like to walk, bike, or explore, you'll find two trails along Paint Branch. Both are called the Paint Branch Trail.
One trail is in Montgomery County. It's a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) paved path. This trail runs from Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park to Fairland Road. There are plans to make this trail even longer, extending it to Old Columbia Pike.
The other trail is in Prince George's County. It's part of a bigger network called the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. This section of the trail goes from Lake Artemesia to Cherry Hill Road. It's a great way to enjoy nature and get some exercise!
