Deer Creek is a 52.9 miles (85.1 km) river in
MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
that flows through the scenic areas of
Harford CountyHarford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
and empties into the
Susquehanna RiverThe Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, roughly halfway between the
Interstate 95Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
bridge and
Conowingo DamThe Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium height, masonry gravity type dam...
. It serves as a divider between the agricultural and urban/suburban areas of Harford County.
Deer Creek rises in
ShrewsburyShrewsbury is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,823 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shrewsbury is located at ....
in
York County, PennsylvaniaYork County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, and flows southeast, soon entering Maryland. It cuts across the northeastern corner of
Baltimore CountyBaltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
and into Harford County, where it runs through
Rocks State ParkThe Rocks State Park, originally known as Deer Creek State Park, is a state park located in Deer Creek Valley near Pylesville in Harford County, Maryland. The park, located near the junction of Maryland Routes 24 and 165 is near the Mason-Dixon Line, and about a one-hour drive from Baltimore...
and
Susquehanna State ParkSusquehanna State Park is a state park on the lower Susquehanna River north of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The main park area is on the west bank of the river, but it also manages land on the river islands and east bank....
, passing north of the Bel Air area.
Deer Creek supported the last known population of the
Maryland darterThe Maryland darter is freshwater fish species that has been found only in Deer Creek, Maryland. It is now a thought to be extinct. It was long known only by two specimens until it was rediscovered in 1962. From 1965 to the 1980s, it was only confined to a single riffle in Deer Creek. The species...
, the only endemic
vertebrateVertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
in Maryland
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/mddarter.asp.
