Double Pipe Creek, sometimes calledPipe Creek, is a majortributary of theMonocacy River inCarroll County andFrederick County inMaryland, located several miles north and west ofWestminster. The creek is only 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long,[1] but is formed by the confluence of two much longer streams, Big Pipe Creek and Little Pipe Creek.
The creek's watershed extends as far east asManchester, Maryland, and includes the towns ofUnion Bridge,Taneytown,New Windsor and Westminster. The main stem of the creek is formed from theconfluence ofBig Pipe Creek, 31.6 miles (50.9 km) long, with headwaters near Manchester; andLittle Pipe Creek, 24.9 miles (40.1 km) long, with headwaters in Westminster.[1] From the confluence, nearDetour, Maryland (39°36′04″N77°16′13″W / 39.6012°N 77.2703°W /39.6012; -77.2703), Double Pipe flows west for 1.6 miles (2.6 km) to its mouth at the Monocacy, which drains to thePotomac River. Thewatershed area of Double Pipe Creek is 192.6 square miles (499 km2).
Tributaries include Bear Branch, Big Pipe Creek, Little Pipe Creek, Meadow Branch and Sam's Creek. Double Pipe Creek, the portion of Little Pipe Creek west of Union Bridge, and the western section of Sam's Creek form part of the legal boundary between Frederick County and Carroll County.
TheMaryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has identifiedwater quality violations for Double Pipe Creek and tributaries, specifically forsediment, nutrients (nitrogen andphosphorus), andbacteria. The principal sources of bacteria appear to be failingseptic tanks from residences and/or businesses, pet waste and waste from farm animals (livestock).[2][3] The pollution sources for sediment includeagricultural runoff andurban runoff.[4] (Although agriculture is the predominant land use in the watershed, tributaries of Double Pipe Creek flow through portions of Westminster, Taneytown, New Windsor and Union Bridge.)
Since the 1970s, Carroll County commissioners have been proposing a dam or reservoir, defeated in 1976 by petition and raised again under the title of a proposedUnion Mills Reservoir.
Before the battle broke out atGettysburg,General Meade hadplanned a defensive position for theArmy of the Potomac at Pipe Creek, making use of its broad slopes and open fields of fire. In thealternate historyGettysburg, by Gingrich and Forstchen,General Lee seizes Pipe Creek ashis defensive line.
39°36′04″N77°16′13″W / 39.601211°N 77.270262°W /39.601211; -77.270262