Octoraro Creek is a

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...

of the Susquehanna River, joining it above the Susquehanna's mouth at

Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...

. The Octoraro rises as an East and West Branch in

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. The East Branch and Octoraro Creek form the southern half of the border between Lancaster and Chester counties until the creek crosses the Mason-Dixon line. It winds through northwestern Cecil County, Maryland before joining the Susquehanna. Each of the branches is less than long. The entire creek drains of watershed. Octoraro Creek was designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by Legislative Act 1983-43, managed by the Octoraro Creek Watershed Association. A brick tunnel leading to Octoraro Creek was built by Charles Spotts and used by slaves travelling the

Underground Railway The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...

through Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

East Branch Octoraro Creek

The East Branch Octoraro Creek, long, starts at Christiana, Pennsylvania, created by the confluence of Williams Run and Pine Creek, which carries the Lancaster - Chester County border for about a mile. The East Branch continues the border with Lancaster County to the west and Chester County on the east bank. The branch enters a steep wooded valley and passes under the

Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge or Mercer's Ford Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East branch of the Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. A Lancaster County-own ...

at Bailey Crossroads Road. The branch continues through the valley which widens out near Steelville. The branch loops through another steep valley north of Homeville, which widens out before the creek passes under PA Route 896 at Andrews Bridge. Muddy Run joins the East Branch from the east out of its own set of steep valleys. The East Branch widens out into the eastern part of Lake Octoraro about northwest of

Oxford, Pennsylvania Oxford is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Oxford is the closest town to Lincoln University. The population was 5,733 at the 2020 census. History The borough was once called Oxford Crossing and Oxford Village during the ...

West Branch Octoraro Creek

Pine Grove Covered Bridge Wide Side View 3000px

The West Branch Octoraro Creek runs entirely in Lancaster County. The branch, which starts about a mile south of Green Tree, is created by the confluence of Meetinghouse Creek, Mine Run, and a small unnamed creek which starts near the village of Ninepoints. The branch flows under the

Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge The Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge or Eichelberger's Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the West Branch of the Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A county-owned and maintained bridge, its official designation is the ...

, northwest of Bartville, then flows for a few miles through a narrow valley, southwest of Collins. The valley widens as the branch passes under Puseyville Road. The branch passes under Noble Road at Kings Bridge and under the White Rock Forge Covered Bridge at White Rock. The branch then widens out into the western part of Lake Octoraro about two miles east of Oak Shade.

Main branch Octoraro Creek

The

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...

that forms Octoraro Lake is on the main branch, just below the East and West Branch confluence, in Pine Grove. Below the dam is a filtration plant belonging to the Chester Water Authority. The main branch passes under

Pine Grove Covered Bridge The Pine Grove Covered Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the East Branch of Octoraro Creek on the border between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the longest covered bridge in Lancaster County. The bri ...

(Forge Road) before continuing generally southwestward. The creek passes under PA Route 272 at Kirks Bridge, less than three miles west of

Nottingham Nottingham ( , locally ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east of Sheffield and north-east of Birmingham. Nottingham has links to the legend of Robi ...

. As the creek nears the Pennsylvania - Maryland border it goes through a series of alternating loops. The final horseshoe-like loop, where the creek first crosses the border, gives the name to the

Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded ...

's Horseshoe Scout Reservation and the Chester County Council's

Order of the Arrow The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. The society was created by E. Urner Go ...

Lodge. The west-bound portion of that loop passes over Grays Hollow Ford, now replaced by an Army Corps of Engineers bridge. At this point the contrast of the BSA wilderness camp on the left bank with the active gravel mine on the right is apparent. The horseshoe loops back to the east, then briefly north up into Pennsylvania, all within the Reservation, before it swings back south into Maryland for good. The Scout Reservation contains the original Mason-Dixon Line mile-19 stone monument, along with the remains of a former grist mill along the old camp road.

Octoraro Creek in Maryland

In Maryland, Octoraro Creek winds generally southwest through a steep valley. The creek loops under the high tension lines from the Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant on their way toward

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

and passes by the site of a removed dam. The creek crosses under

U.S. Route 1 U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making ...

on that road's way from Philadelphia to the Conowingo Dam bridge and

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. The creek then passes the washed-out Porters Bridge at Richardsmere and passes one final time under the high tension lines. At Rowlandsville, the creek passes under Doctor Jack Road and two abandoned railroad bridges on a defunct spur. The Octoraro passes under the active Norfolk Southern Railway bridge and

Maryland Route 222 Maryland Route 222 (MD 222) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs from MD 7 in Perryville north to U.S. Route 1 (US 1) near Conowingo. MD 222 connects Perryville, Port De ...

(formerly

U.S. Route 222 U.S. Route 222 (US 222) is a U.S. Highway that is a spur of US 22 in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. It runs for from US 1 in Conowingo, Maryland, north to Interstate 78 (I-78)/Pennsylvania Route 309 (PA 309) in Dorneyville, Pennsylv ...

) before it reaches the Susquehanna River, below the Conowingo Dam. When the hydroelectric plant is not generating, along with a low tide (the Susquehanna experiences tides below the dam), the creek turns parallel to the river for a few hundred yards before joining. The six-foot rise in water when the hydroelectric plant is operating inundates this parallel stretch and can cause the Octoraro to reverse flow as far as the 222 bridge.

References

External links

U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stationsOctoraro Creek Watershed Ecological Study
{{authority control Rivers of Cecil County, Maryland Rivers of Maryland Rivers of Pennsylvania Tributaries of the Susquehanna River Rivers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Rivers of Chester County, Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers of Pennsylvania Protected areas of Chester County, Pennsylvania Protected areas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Protected areas of Cecil County, Maryland