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OverviewFlora and FaunaThreat LevelHow to HelpHow to VisitOverviewAn ecological gem located less than 25 miles from downtown D.C., the Jug Bay area encompasses more than 5000 acres of park and wetlands along the Patuxent River. Protected within 6 park units, the area is a treasure trove of natural and historical sites. There are more than 20 miles of hiking trails, 2 public canoe launches, 2 nature centers, active archaeological digs, and 3 museums including a pair of 18th century manor homes overlooking the river. Important designations include
- Operating as a unit of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System through which the local parks work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct scientific research and education outreach to advance protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
- Recognition as an Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society as a critical habitat for endemic and migratory birds.
- Gateway site in the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail established in 2006
Farthest south on the Prince George’s side of the river, the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in the first half of the 20th century by Edgar Merkle to protect the then threatened Canadian Goose. Run today by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the park offers a visitor center, hiking trails, observation towers, and driving tour.
Next going north, the biggest park unit is the Patuxent River Park Jug Bay Natural Area. It has the greatest variety of public amenities including hiking trails, picnic areas, tent camping, boat ramps, fishing areas, canoe rentals, and guided tours of the river by pontoon boat. The Patuxent River Park is also home to the Patuxent Rural Life Museums.
A few miles farther north is the Mount Calvert Historical & Archaeological Park, one of the most significant historical and archaeological sites in Prince George's County. Located on a picturesque rise at the confluence Western Branch and the Patuxent that has over the centuries been home to Native American villages, the first county seat and port of entry for colonial Prince George’s county, and now the18th century manor house of an antebellum plantation. Surrounded by active archaeological digs, the house is now home to museum chronicling the 10,000 year history of the site.
Across the Western Branch, but many miles distant by road, is Billingsley Manor, another museum that is half a century older than the home at Mount Calvert. This beautiful house was home to many prominent Prince George’s families over the centuries.
On the Anne Arundel County side of the river sits the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and Glendening Preserve. With fewer amenities than the Patuxent River Park, the Sanctuary is focused on educational outreach and scientific studies. Sanctuary is open to the public on a limited basis on Wednesdays and weekends by reservation
only. The mission of the Sanctuary is supported by hundreds of volunteers who participate in scientific studies, lead nature hikes and canoe trips, act as docents at the visitor center, and support the general maintenance of the sanctuary.
The Glendening Preserve is the newest addition to the Jug Bay family of parks. Partly a former horse farm and partly a private hunting preserve, the park is slowly being returned to a more natural state. This area is open daily for hiking. Also in Anne Arundel County, immediately north of the Route 4 bridge at the Patuxent Wetlands Park is another public canoe launch and fishing area.
Flora and Fauna
In the early spring, the first plants begin to emerge from the open waters of Jug Bay. By June, the wetlands are transformed into a field brimming with broad leafed spatterdock, hydrodynamically shaped arrow arum and arrowhead, and tall cattails and wild rice. Visiting you will see flocks of red-winded blackbirds forage through the tall reeds while majestic blue herons stalk small fish along the water’s edge. The marsh is dotted with osprey nests where each year faithful pairs return to raise their young. Hidden amongst the many small channels are beaver lodges and very illusive wood ducks. The freshwater marsh is also a nursery for fish and hosts a wide variety including killifish, mummichogs, shiners, sunfish, catfish, perch, and rockfish.
Hiking through the hardwood forest overlooking the river you can find a variety of birds including chickadees, tufted titmouses, woodpeckers, thrushes, and catbirds. You may see one of Jug Bay’s much studied red-bellied turtles or spy a (non-poisonous) black rat snake in the brush. Deer are common in these woods. Near the south end of the bay, there is a good chance you’ll spot a bald eagles high in the tall trees along the river.
Jug Bay is an important stop over for birds heading south on the fall migration. The rich wetlands provide an important rest stop for a wide variety of migrating birds that feed on the wild rice, berries, sub-aquatic vegetation, and fish of the area. Over 30 species of waterfowl spend the winter around the Jug Bay area including Canadian Geese, Tundra Swans, Mallards , Black Ducks, Green-Winged Teals, Long-Tailed Ducks, Buffleheads and Goldeneyes.
Threat Level - ModerateWater quality: The Patuxent, like the entire Chesapeake Bay, is heavily impacted by nitrogen and phosphorous pollution comes from suburban development, either from direct runoff from over-fertilized suburban lawns, or from the more than 20 wastewater treatment plants along the river. These pollutants over-fertilize the river which can cause algae blooms which, when they decompose, use up the oxygen in the water literally choking the life out of the river and disrupting the entire food chain.
The problem is compounded by erosion and sediment runoff exacerbated by the ever growing acreage of asphalt pavement for roads and parking lots upstream of Jug Bay. The sediment blocks sunlight further smothering the river. Pesticides from gardens and farms, and additional toxins such as heavy metals from landfills, illegal dumping, further stress the ecosystem.
Suburban Sprawl: Jug Bay is indirectly affected by the water quality impacts of increased development, but the sprawl is also getting closer as development accelerates along Route 301 and Route 4 which bracket the area. Just in 2007, community action prevented the building of a 260,000 square feet big box retailer at Wayson's Corner just outside the Glendening Preserve. The retail center, and its associated parking lots, would have add a severe impact on nearby Galloway Creek. Quick citizen action resulted in Anne Arundel County using funds from Program Open Space to acquire and protect the 30 acre parcel.
Invasive Species: Invasive species such as Purple Loosestrife, Japanese Honeysuckle, Garlic Mustard, and multi-flora rose are present in the Jug Bay area. Spreading quickly these plants can overrun an area displacing native plants disrupting the ecosystem, threatening local animal, fish, and insect populations. Also posing threats gypsy moths, emerald ash borer, and other exotic insects and animals. Control of these species requires constant diligence by local park staff and volunteers.
How to Help
See my list of
10 Things You Can DoSupport local conservation groups including
- Friends of Jug Bay -
http://www.friendsofjugbay.org- Patuxent River Keepers -
http://www.paxriverkeeper.orgLearn about Volunteer Opportunities at
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary -
http://www.jugbay.org/jugbay/volunteer.html- Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation -
http://www.pgparks.com/things/volunteer.html- Maryland Conservation Corp -
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/mcc/yearround.htmHow to VisitPark Info
- Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary
- Jug Bay Natural Area:
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
- Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, (Closed Sundays from December through February)
- Reservations Required: 410-741-9330
- Entrance Fee: $3 per adult, $2 per child, $2 per senior
- Website: http://jugbay.org
- Glendening Preserve
- Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, (Closed Sundays from December through February)
- Phone: 410-741-9330
- Entrance Fee: none
- Website: http://jugbay.org
- Mount Calvert Historical & Archaeological Park
- Park hours: 8 a.m. to sunset daily
- Museum Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, April–October. Weekday group tours available by appointment.
- Phone: 301-627-1286
- Entrance Fee: none
- Website: http://www.pgparks.com/places/parks/mtcalvert.html
- Billingsley House Museum
We went canoeing along the Potomac last week. After putting in to the re-watered C&O Canal at the Pennyfield Lock a few miles west of tony town of Potomac Maryland, we paddled for a couple of miles up the shady canal to Violettes Lock. It was a beautiful day in the low 80's and we spotted blue herons, turtle, and a bold little green heron. Once at Violettes, we ported the canoe up and over to the Potomac river itself to complete one of the few places you can do a canoe loop trail.
The most memorable part of the trip were the river grasses, both in the canal and on the river. I'm used to canoeing on the Patuxent which today is a turbid and choked with sediment. The water on this stretch of the Potomac was clear and the river grasses had recovered magnificently. Near Violettes Lock there were a few patches heavy in hydrilla but mostly we saw vast underwater meadows of water stargrass. These dense clusters of meter-long braids of grass were topped with delightful little yellow flowers floating just on top of the water. Amongst the grasses, we spied all varieties of fish including bass, catfish, and blue gills. The water clarity was excellent; it made me think of bringing my snorkel gear.
Since hydrilla is not native to the Chesapeake I was alarmed and upset that the mass of vegetation was blocking my navigation to the inner reaches of the marsh. However my reading now indicate that this may not be such a bad thing. It seems that hydrilla on the Potomac was a pathfinder plant for the river's recovery. This hardy weed was the first plant to establish itself as the water quality began to improve. Once in place, this fast growing plant helped to further filter the river, both physically and chemically. The hyrdrilla has also proved a useful food source for wintering waterfowl. Other native sub-aquatic vegetation, like the fields of stargrass we observed, soon followed the hydrilla.
