Antietam Creek flows about 54 miles from its headwaters in Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest to the Potomac River near Antietam, Maryland. About 3/5 of the Antietam Creek watershed is in Maryland and the remainder is in Pennsylvania. In Maryland, the watershed’s 2002 landuse is approximately 42% agricultural, 31% forest/woodland, 27% developed/urban. The mainstem of the Antietam Creek and many of its tributaries are designated Use IV-P for recreational trout waters and public water supply.  Beaver Creek, Little Antietam Creek and Marsh Run designated Use III-P for natural trout waters and public water supply.

In 1996, the Antietam Creek (MD Segment 02140502) was placed on Maryland’s 303(d) list of impaired waters for sediments.  In 2002, it was also listed for fecal bacteria impairments.  To address these impairments, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for sediment and bacteria were developed and approved for the Antietam Creek watershed in 2008 and 2009, respectively.   

The watershed plan available below focuses on meeting the sediment and bacteria TMDLs the Antietam Creek watershed in Washington County, Maryland. It incorporates phased mitigation strategies to eliminate sediment and fecal bacteria impairments associated with nonpoint sources and to monitor the water quality benefits of mitigation efforts as well as documenting affects to biological communities. This plan was accepted by EPA in September 2012 based on EPA’s components of a watershed-based plan (A-I criteria) pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program guidance. EPA's acceptance of the plan makes this watershed eligible for funding from the Federal 319(h) Grant. 

This watershed plan was developed through a partnership led by the Washington County and the local Soil Conservation District. Other partners contributed to the plan and helped direct the plan's goals. The State provided technical assistance and guidance. The primary partners included:

• The Washington County Soil Conservation District

• The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County

• The Antietam Creek Watershed Alliance

• The Canaan Valley Institute

• The Maryland Department of the Environment, Water and Science Administration, Integrated Water Planning Program.

Contact information

For more information contact the Washington County Soil Conservation District at (301) 797-6821, Ext. 3.