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Mattawoman Creek

Maryland Tributary

Mattawoman Creek offers one of the most immersive tidal?freshwater paddling experiences in the Chesapeake watershed, with easy access from Mattingly Park in Indian Head. From the launch, paddlers slip quickly into broad marshes lined with spatterdock, wild rice, and--later in summer--the striking pale?yellow blooms of American lotus. The creek's sheltered bends and wetlands make it a haven for herons, ospreys, and other wildlife, while its calm, winding channel invites quiet exploration . Widely regarded by naturalists as one of the region?s most intact and ecologically significant tributaries, Mattawoman Creek rewards both short outings and longer upstream excursions with rich scenery and a sense of true tidal solitude.

A significant tributary of the lower Potomac, Mattawoman Creek runs 30 miles through Prince Georges and Charles counties. Most of the watershed is in Charles County, and is undeveloped. The estuary has extensive freshwater tidal marshes that are protected. The watershed includes the rapidly growing area around Waldorf.

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Contact Information
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis MD 21401
877-620-8DNR
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