An Overview of Maryland's Rivers, Lakes & Coastal Bays
Largest and Most Notable Rivers & Lakes
Maryland’s hydrology centers on the Chesapeake Bay, fed largely by the Susquehanna River to the north and the Potomac River along the western and southern border. Key tributaries include the Patuxent, Patapsco, Monocacy, Gunpowder (Big & Little), Severn, South, Magothy, Bush, Elk, Northeast, Bohemia, Sassafras, Chester, Choptank (with Tred Avon & Wye), Nanticoke, Wicomico, Pocomoke, and Manokin. Major lakes and reservoirs include Deep Creek Lake (largest), Liberty, Loch Raven, Prettyboy, Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge (Patuxent), Jennings Randolph, Savage River Reservoir, Little Seneca, Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap), Centennial, Lake Elkhorn, Lake Kittamaqundi, Broadford, Blairs Valley, Greenbrier, St. Mary’s Lake, and Needwood.
Water Sources & Flow
Snowmelt and rainfall from the Appalachian highlands feed western rivers like the Youghiogheny, Savage, and North Branch Potomac. Central Maryland relies on reservoir systems for Baltimore–Washington water supply, while the Coastal Plain hosts low‑gradient, tidal tributaries and marshes. Atlantic‑side coastal bays—Assawoman, Isle of Wight, Sinepuxent, and Chincoteague—are separated from the ocean by barrier islands.
Navigation, Flooding & Shoreline Change
Deep‑draft channels on the Chesapeake and the C&D Canal support shipping. Flood risk arises from tropical systems, nor’easters, and riverine events; coastal communities manage erosion and sea‑level‑rise impacts with living‑shoreline and resilience projects.
Recreation
Sailing and crabbing on Chesapeake Bay; bass & walleye fishing on Deep Creek and Jennings Randolph; paddling the Patuxent, Severn, Gunpowder, Monocacy, and Eastern Shore rivers; whitewater on the Youghiogheny and Savage.
Maryland Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Bays and Water Features
Chesapeake Bay, MD
Susquehanna River (MD reach), MD
Potomac River (MD reach), MD
North Branch Potomac River, MD
Monocacy River, MD
Antietam Creek, MD
Conococheague Creek, MD
Catoctin Creek (Potomac trib.), MD
Patuxent River, MD
Patapsco River, MD
Gwynns Falls, MD
Jones Falls, MD
Gunpowder River (Big & Little), MD
Bird River, MD
Bush River, MD
Back River (Baltimore Co.), MD
Middle River, MD
Severn River, MD
South River, MD
Magothy River, MD
West River, MD
Rhode River, MD
Elk River, MD
Northeast River, MD
Bohemia River, MD
Sassafras River, MD
Chester River, MD
Corsica River, MD
Wye River, MD
Choptank River, MD
Tred Avon River, MD
Miles River, MD
Tuckahoe Creek, MD
Nanticoke River, MD
Marshyhope Creek, MD
Wicomico River (Salisbury), MD
Wicomico River (Potomac trib.), MD
Pocomoke River, MD
Manokin River, MD
Honga River (tidal), MD
Fishing Bay, MD
Tangier Sound (MD), MD
Pocomoke Sound (MD), MD
Youghiogheny River (MD reach), MD
Casselman River (MD reach), MD
Savage River, MD
Deep Creek (Youghiogheny trib.), MD
Bear Creek (Garrett), MD
Georges Creek, MD
Assawoman Bay, MD
Isle of Wight Bay, MD
Sinepuxent Bay, MD
Chincoteague Bay (MD), MD
Ocean City Inlet, MD
Deep Creek Lake, MD
Liberty Reservoir, MD
Loch Raven Reservoir, MD
Prettyboy Reservoir, MD
Triadelphia Reservoir, MD
Rocky Gorge Reservoir (T. Howard Duckett), MD
Jennings Randolph Lake, MD
Savage River Reservoir, MD
Little Seneca Lake, MD
Lake Habeeb (Rocky Gap), MD
Centennial Lake, MD
Lake Kittamaqundi, MD
Lake Elkhorn, MD
Lake Needwood, MD
Lake Frank, MD
Broadford Lake, MD
Blairs Valley Lake, MD
Greenbrier Lake, MD
Cunningham Falls Lake (Hunting Creek), MD
Piney Run Reservoir, MD
St. Mary's Lake, MD
Tuckahoe Lake, MD
C&D Canal (Chesapeake & Delaware Canal), MD
Susquehanna Flats, MD
