Fifteen Mile Creek

Overlooking the valley of Fifteen Mile Creek and the Green Ridge State Forest National Recreational Trail. Fifteen Mile Creek
A Place of National and State-wide Significance

By Francis “Champ” Zumbrun

“…at 15 Miles Creek…recrossed the Potomack …to a tract of mine on the Virginia Side….having reviewed this land I again crossed the river and getting into the Waggon Road [present Oldtown Road on Green Ridge State Forest] pursued my journey to …old Town … lodged at Colo. Cresaps...”

- George Washington, 8 September 1784

Photos: (r) Overlooking the valley of Fifteen Mile Creek and the Green Ridge State Forest National Recreational Trail.
Bottom (l to r) Fifteen Mile Creek aqueduct on the C&O Canal National Historical Park; the Potomac River at the conjunction of Fifteen Mile Creek; Memorial Day Family Fun on Fifteen Mile Creek, 2007.

Fifteen Mile Creek aqueduct on the C&O Canal National Historical Park.

The Potomac River at the conjunction of Fifteen Mile Creek

Thomas Jefferson’s father, Peter Jefferson, a pioneering surveyor, was one of the first to put Fifteen Mile Creek on the map. In 1751, Peter Jefferson with his partner Joshua Fry, produced the map know today by historians as the Fry/Jefferson map. The designation of Fifteen Mile Creek on this map makes Fifteen Mile Creek one of Allegany County’s oldest place names. Fifteen Mile Creek at Green Ridge State Forest in eastern Allegany County is a place of national and state-wide significance. Just consider the cultural and natural landmarks connected to Fifteen Mile Creek: The National Road: the road that built the nation; The Mason and Dixon Line, the most famous boundary line in the nation; The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail; The Potomac River; the nation’s river; The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The bridge over Fifteen Mile Creek on the National Road
	One person very familiar with the Fifteen Mile Creek landmark was George Washington. His journal shows more than 16 visits to this region of the country throughout his life as a surveyor, military officer, landowner, and President of the United States. Washington’s quote at the beginning of this article is taken from his journal, written not long after the American Revolutionary War. His success as a General of the colonial military forces made Washington one of the most famous people in the world, yet we find him traveling alone the day of September 8, 1784, meeting a party on the banks of Fifteen Mile Creek and the Potomac River. On this particular trip, Washington was inspecting his tracts of western land on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. Once he completed his inspection, Washington knew that he need to travel only fifteen miles west by road from the junction of Fifteen Mile Creek and the Potomac River (thus it’s place name- Fifteen Mile Creek) to reach the frontier town of Oldtown, where he planned to stay the night with Colonel Thomas Cresap.
This is Saint Patrick's Catholic Church over-looking Fifteen Mile Creek valley at Little Orleans. It was built in 1860 by Irishmen who worked to build the C&O Canal. Note the cloverleaf in the circular window.
Fifteen Mile Creek’s headwaters originate in Pennsylvania and travel 19.3 miles before emptying into the Potomac River. Buffered almost entirely by trees and state forests, Fifteen Mile Creek is one of Maryland’s most pristine streams. A section of Fifteen Mile Creek is categorized by the Maryland Department of Environment as a Tier II Stream, indicating that its superb water quality conditions are better than necessary to support fishing and swimming.

A typical summer scene at Fifteen Mile Creek - dry creek bed

The plant Harperella is listed as federally and state endangered, and grows on Fifteen Mile Creek, one of only about 20 places on planet earth where it is known to exist.

To survive, Harperella requires fluctuating water levels during its life cycle. In the spring, Harperella needs moderate intensive flooding to scour rock bars and crevices of competing vegetation. In summer, the opposite is needed; Harperella then requires periodic low water flows in order to expose its flowers and set seed.

Working at Green Ridge State Forest for more than twenty-five years, I have observed Fifteen Mile Creek during times of floods and during times of drought. In spring, Fifteen Mile Creek can flash with high water flows; then several days later it quickly reverts back to a slow trickle of flowing water.

In the summer, during long drought periods that last months, I have seen Fifteen Mile Creek look like a dusty, dry, rough cobblestone road where an occasional pothole is found filled with water.

Fifteen Mile Creek I-68, Exit 62 Sign Stream tributaries that feed into Fifteen Mile Creek (Pine Lick, Piclic, Terrapin Run, and Mudlick) don’t provide much help, as they are also bone-dry in the summer months. Human-caused long-term disturbances to this seasonal pattern of flow can degrade Harperella habitat, and fundamentally alter the nature of the streams that George Washington once knew.

Bringing the gift of water to Maryland’s driest region, the growing scarcity of pristine streams like Fifteen Mile Creek makes them that much more valuable.

A famous doctor once said that our top job is to be good ancestors. In a state that is developing quickly, hopefully we will make informed decisions that benefit future generations so they too have pristine steams like Fifteen Mile Creek to enjoy and cherish.

Above: This dry creek bed is a typical summer scene at Fifteen Mile Creek. This photo was taken in August 2006. This section of Fifteen Mile Creek is at Yonkers Bottom, Green Ridge State Forest, just before it empties into the Potomac River.

Far Right: Fifteen Mile Creek I-68, Exit 62 Sign - The Fifteen Mile Creek entrance is the gateway into Green Ridge State Forest.

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Article and photographs by Francis “Champ” Zumbrun, Manager, Greenridge State Forest in Allegany County.

Green Ridge State Forest