Watts Branch (Potomac River tributary) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Watts Branch
Location of the mouth in Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Physical characteristics
Main source	Rockville, Maryland 39°05′48″N 77°09′26″W / 39.0967748°N 77.1572024°W / 39.0967748; -77.1572024
River mouth	Potomac River Montgomery County, Maryland 167 ft (51 m) 39°02′23″N 77°15′36″W / 39.0398312°N 77.2599817°W / 39.0398312; -77.2599817
Length	11.2 mi (18.0 km)
Basin features
Basin size	22 sq mi (57 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Fallsmead, Horizon Hill, Cold Spring, Fallsreach, Kilgour Branch Right: Research Blvd., Lakewood, Valley Dr., Piney Branch, Sandy Branch

Watts Branch is a tributary stream of the Potomac River in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Course

The headwaters of the stream originate in the city of Rockville, and the branch flows southwest for 11.2 miles (18.0 km), under the C&O Canal near Swain's Lock, to the Potomac River, which drains to the Chesapeake Bay. The watershed area is about 22 square miles (57 km²).

Portions of Watts Branch flow through a stream valley park, a mostly undeveloped natural area which acts as a riparian buffer zone to help minimize stream bank erosion and filter pollutants from stormwater runoff.

Tributaries of Watts Branch

Major tributaries of Watts Branch include:

• Research Boulevard Tributary
• Valley Drive Tributary
• Cold Spring Tributary
• Fallsreach Tributary
• Potomac Green Tributary
• Kilgour Branch
• Potomac View Branch
• Piney Branch
• Piney Glen Tributary
• Greenbriar Branch
• Sandy Branch