2025 Antietam Creek Watershed Report Card
On June 12, 2025 Antietam-Conococheague Watershed Alliance released the first Antietam Creek Watershed Report Card at a public reception and stewardship drop-in. Overall, The Antietam Creek Watershed scored 48%, a C grade, showing some areas of strength and other areas needing improvement.
Watershed report cards are powerful tools used around the world to describe ecosystem status, increase public awareness, and inform decision makers. This document assesses ecosystem health of the creek and watershed. The report card was developed by the Antietam-Conococheague Watershed Alliance (ACWA), Beaver Creek Watershed Association (BCWA), and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES).
The report card evaluates nine indicators in three categories; water quality, biota, and landscape. Overall, the highest scoring category was Water Quality (52%), followed by Biota (47%) and Landscape (45%). Overall, lack of tree canopy, poor trout populations, and high conductivity levels are concerning issues in the watershed.
LANDSCAPES INFLUENCE STREAM QUALITY
Activities on land directly impact water quality. Construction of roads, buildings, and warehouses create hard, impervious surfaces that water runs off, taking pollutants, grit, and heat into streams. Land use in the Antietam Creek Watershed varies dramatically by location. Impervious surfaces cover 7% of the Watershed, earning a moderate Impervious surface score of 42%. Most impervious surfaces are in the western half of the watershed, in the City of Hagerstown. Less than 40% of the Antietam Creek Watershed is forested, earning a poor Tree canopy score of 31%.
Beaver Creek is the largest subwatershed within the Antietam Creek Watershed and contains unique habitat and sensitive aquatic species. This subwatershed has just over 4% Impervious surface coverage, earning a good score of 60%. Approximately 50% of the Beaver Creek Watershed is forested, earning a moderate Tree canopy score of 51%.
The presence of riparian forest cover (100 feet on each streamside) is critical to maintaining healthy streams. The Chesapeake Bay Agreement has set a target of 70% riparian tree canopy coverage by 2025. In the Antietam Creek Watershed, Riparian Forest covers only 47% of the overall watershed. Riparian areas within Hagerstown are only 39% covered, while Beaver Creek measures 51% of forested riparian area.
Overall, actions to support natural landscapes are needed, including protecting and restoring forests and riparian areas, reducing impervious surfaces, and using green stormwater practices. This improves communities by reducing flooding, providing green space, and supporting recreation activities.
