The North Branch Potomac River flows from Fairfax Stone in West Virginia to its confluence with the South Branch Potomac River near Green Spring, West Virginia, where it turns into the Potomac River proper.

The North Branch of the Potomac River forms the border between Maryland and West Virginia from it's origin at the Fairfax Stone downstream to it's confluence with the South Branch of the Potomac. The following are descriptions of three management zones in the upper watershed beginning with the most upstream area.

The North Branch The source of the Potomac is generally considered to be the Fairfax Stone, located in Garrett County at the tip of Maryland's southwestern corner. The North Branch drains an historic valley that has recovered dramatically from the ravages of coal mining. Click on a marker or choose a site below for details.

From the Fairfax Stone, the North Branch Potomac River flows 27 mi (43 km) to the man-made Jennings Randolph Lake, an impoundment designed for flood control and emergency water supply. Below the dam, the North Branch cuts a serpentine …

4 days ago · Updated release information for both Jennings Randolph Lake and Savage River Dam can be obtained by calling 410 962 7687. Releases from Jennings Randolph Lake and Savage River Dam are made for...

Downstream of Oldtown, the waters of the South Branch Potomac meet the North Branch to form the true mainstream of the Potomac River. Before any planned float or paddle, always be sure to check that river conditions are safe.

The North Branch Potomac River and its tributaries are recovering from significant environmental degradation experienced in the 20th century. Riverbank communities flooded frequently, and river waters were adversely impacted by low pH, industrial effluents, municipal wastewater discharges, and …

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The Maryland Department of the Environment is proposing to change the stream designation of the North Branch Potomac River near Westernport extending to Dawson from a “Warm Water Aquatic Life” use to Maryland’s “Cold Water Aquatic Life and Recreational Trout Stocking” uses.

What is the North Branch Potomac? The North Branch Potomac River begins in the river’s headwaters in West Virginia at Fairfax Stone, only a few miles from the Maryland state line. Delineating the border between Maryland and West Virginia, it meets the South Branch Potomac near Oldtown, Md., where the two branches converge into the Potomac River.