02 - Middle Chesapeake Bay






The Middle Chesapeake Bay, from the Bay Bridge to the mouth of the Potomac, is characterized by the mixture of fresh water from the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers and the salt water from the Atlantic Ocean. Eastern Shore rivers are languid, tidal rivers extending far into the flat farming lands of the DelMarVa penninsula. The Western Shore has higher banks and long stretches with significant rivers.




The salinity varies from 5 to 18 parts per thousand and as fresh water from the Susquehanna declines during the summer months, the salinity at a location can double or triple. Because of the salinity, the water supports an annual jellyfish bloom starting in July that can make swimming the rest of the summer out of the question.

The following are trip reports for the Middle Chesapeake.

ReportRiverRampDateType
MD - Chesapeake Main Channel - 2001/11/14 to 2001/11/15 - 65.9 milesMain ChannelTidewater Grill11/23/2001Flat Water
MD - Choptank River - 2001/06/11ChoptankMartinak07/23/2001Flat Water
MD - Choptank River - 2002/05/03 to 2002/05/04ChoptankNew River Landing05/02/2002Flat Water
MD - Choptank River & Tuckahoe Creek - 2001/06/12 - 30.2 mile roundtripChoptankMartinak07/23/2001Flat Water
MD - Eastern Shore - 2002/09/17 to 2002/09/21ChoptankMartinak09/28/2002Flat Water
MD - Half Delmarva - 2004/06/16 to 2004/06/27 - 316 milesMain ChannelTidewater Grill07/06/2004Flat Water
MD - Kent Island - 2002/08/19ChesterMattapeake Landing08/28/2002Flat Water
MD - Mallows Bay - 2009/10/02 - 20.5 milesPotomacSweden Point Marina10/03/2009Flat Water
MD - Mattawoman Creek - 2009/10/01 - 14.6 milesPotomacSweden Point Marina10/03/2009Flat Water
MD - Nanjemoy Creek - 2009/08/15 0 8.0 milesPotomacFriendship Farm Park08/10/2009Flat Water
MD - Patapsco River - 2010/05/30 - Middle ForkPatapscoBroening Park05/31/2010Flat Water
MD - Patuxent - Hallowing Point south - 2006/12/19 - 11.0 milesPatuxentHallowing Point12/20/2006Flat Water
MD - Patuxent - Jug Bay - 2006/12/17PatuxentSelby Landing12/20/2006Cold
MD - Patuxent River - Jug Bay - 2006/06/15PatuxentJackson's Landing06/22/2006River
MD - Rhode River - Carrs Wharf - 2006/12/23 - 9.6 milesRhodeCarrs Wharf12/24/2006Flat Water
MD - Severn River - 2001/11/10 SevernGlen Burnie Boat Yard11/25/2001Flat Water
MD - Severn River - 2008/02/24Severn02/25/2008River
MD - Severn River - 2009/05/09 - 6 milesSevern05/09/2009Flat Water
MD - Smith Island - 2009/07/31 to 2009/08/03 - 28.0 milesChesapeake BayCrisfield08/04/2009Flat Water
MD - Thomas Point Lighthouse - 2008/08/10 - 12.4 milesSevernJonas Green State Park08/11/2008Flat Water
MD - Wye River - 2005/10/29 - 15 milesWyeWye Landing10/31/2005Flat Water


Sp





Forum





EVEN THE BEST BOATERS CAN FIND THEMSELVES IN SERIOUS TROUBLE ON THE MILDEST OF DAYS IN THE OCEAN. PARTICIPATION IN THIS SPORT IS A STRENUOUS ACTIVITY. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY SUCH ACTIVITY. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT EACH BOATER TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OR HER OWN SAFETY, AND IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE DANGER LEVEL AND ACCEPTING THE CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATING IN THIS SPORT.

Copyright on original material by Sea Kayak Chesapeake Bay TM 2001 through 2012. All rights reserved.


S