Tenmile Creek (Maryland) facts for kids
Tenmile Creek is a small stream in Montgomery County, Maryland. It flows into Little Seneca Creek, which is a bigger stream.
Where Does Tenmile Creek Start?
Tenmile Creek begins in an area called Thompsons Corner. This is about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Clarksburg. The creek then flows south for about 2.5 miles (4 km). It ends up in Little Seneca Lake. This lake is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is a large lake built to store water. Little Seneca Lake was built on Little Seneca Creek.
Little Seneca Creek eventually flows into the Potomac River. The Potomac River then carries its water to the Chesapeake Bay.
Why Is Tenmile Creek Important?
Studies by the government show that Tenmile Creek has some of the best water quality in Montgomery County. This is very important because the creek is part of the drinking water system. It helps provide emergency water supply for the Washington, D.C. area.
Most of the land around the creek is covered by forests. There are also some farms. However, a big highway, I-270, cuts through the area. In the late 1980s, the county started making plans for more buildings and homes near Clarksburg.
Protecting Tenmile Creek's Water
In 1994, the county government decided to make part of the Tenmile Creek area a "special protection area" (SPA). This was done to keep the water clean. It meant that builders had to put in special systems. These systems help control stormwater runoff. Stormwater is rain that flows over land. It can pick up pollution.
Later, a study found that even with these rules, the water quality in the Little Seneca area got worse after some building projects. So, in April 2014, the Montgomery County Council made even stricter rules. These new rules were put in place to protect the creek's water and the animals that live there.
Some companies that wanted to build in the area were not happy with these new rules. They filed a lawsuit against the county. They said the county was unfairly limiting their construction plans. However, a court called the U.S. District Court in Maryland disagreed with them. The court dismissed their lawsuit in August 2017. Another court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, agreed with this decision in November 2018. This meant the county's rules to protect Tenmile Creek stayed in place.
