I am new to the area, and my work takes me into DC a few times a week, so I frequently go over the Patuxent River on Route 29. Lately the river has looked quite low, with so much exposed gravel/dirt banks below the trees. Is this a typical cycle the river goes through each year, getting much lower in the fall/winter?

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dangmanthrowaway t1_iyzkgkz wrote on December 5, 2022 at 10:37 AM

#862,690

I do not think it used to be this way. Heck, the "lake" over by milestone (in Germantown) has been a field for the last 2 or 3 years now. The whole US is seeing less water

gutterbrain73 t1_iyzy3k5 wrote on December 5, 2022 at 1:20 PM

#863,180

Yes, it fluctuates. This is not unusual, and we're far from any sort of drought conditions.

Go to google maps on a PC, pull up street view at the bridge, and review the previous imagery going back to 2007. They're all from the fall which look "low" vs, the 2012 image from April.

FineWinePaperCup t1_iyzzh62 wrote on December 5, 2022 at 1:34 PM

#863,239

WSSC just finished a project on Brighton Dam. And they are anticipating starting a sediment removal project this spring. I don’t think they have specially said so, but they may be lowering water levels in the reservoir to facilitate that.

https://www.wsscwater.com/watershed talks about the sediment.

Some names that may help you research more: Tridelphia Reservoir, Brighton Dam, and they are managed by WSSC (Washington suburban sanitation commission, or close to that)

Edit - oh, Brighton is the other one. The water levels under 29 are T. Howard Duckett Dam and T. Howard Duckett Reservoir. But, it still would not be unheard of that a project in one reservoir is affecting the downstream one.

CheeeeeeseGromit OP t1_iz08oma wrote on December 5, 2022 at 2:50 PM

#863,714

Replying to gutterbrain73 (#863,180)

That's a smart idea. Looking at historic satellite images on Google Earth confirms this as well; in the Springs the river is high, and in the Autumns the river is lower.

CheeeeeeseGromit OP t1_iz08yy0 wrote on December 5, 2022 at 2:52 PM

#863,733

Replying to FineWinePaperCup (#863,239)

I feel silly now, because I did not even realize that part of the river under 29 is part of a reservoir. Thank you for the information though!

gutterbrain73 t1_iz0a5fe wrote on December 5, 2022 at 3:01 PM

#863,798

Replying to dangmanthrowaway (#862,690)

Huh? That little spit to the south of Milestone shopping center? That’s not any sort of lake, not even a stormwater retention pond. Any supply of water it might have had has been cut off by development.

FineWinePaperCup t1_iz0bb3b wrote on December 5, 2022 at 3:10 PM

#863,858

Replying to CheeeeeeseGromit (#863,733)

There are no natural lakes in Maryland. Anything lake looking is dammed.

dangmanthrowaway t1_iz1eiub wrote on December 5, 2022 at 7:29 PM

#865,980

Replying to gutterbrain73 (#863,798)

The one with a path around it next to the residential area that has signs that say "no swimming"

70degreeevening t1_iz1ph8p wrote on December 5, 2022 at 8:39 PM

#866,453

Live near there. They draw down water every year in the fall.

chairmanm30w t1_iz2ibry wrote on December 5, 2022 at 11:58 PM

#867,831

Replying to FineWinePaperCup (#863,858)

I did not know that!