Mallows Bay is a freshwater tidal ecosystem in the Potomac River. It's home to a unique habitat created by the remains of the Ghost Fleet. On this paddle tour, you will get to see some of the plants, animals, and habitats that make this such a special place. We will stop at some of the best spots to see all that Mallows Bay has to offer. Once you're in the virtual trail: Click or tap on the screen to navigate... read more

Known as the “fish hawk,” ospreys are mid-sized raptors, or birds of prey, that live near water. Ospreys stay with the same mate for life and often return to the same nest every year. Each year, their nests grow larger as they continue to add sticks and other materials. Ospreys live in the Mid-Atlantic region from March to August, which is their breeding season. At the end of the summer, they fly to Central and South America for the winter.... read more

While paddling past the row of pilings, it is common to see double-crested cormorants drying their wings. This common waterbird has less oil on its feathers than other waterbirds. With less oil, water soaks into their feathers instead of dripping off. The extra water they absorb makes them heavier, which helps them dive deeper and faster to catch prey. They are excellent divers and eat a wide variety of fish. You may also see wooden platforms on top of these... read more

The 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤 is home to two osprey nests. Ospreys like to build their nests in open areas, high off the ground so predators cannot get to them. They often build their nests at the top of trees, or on man-made objects like nest platforms, telephone poles, or shipwrecks like the 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤.   To view a 3D model of the vessel click here. read more

In the channel of the river, there is a real-time water quality testing buoy that is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Through its Eyes on the Bay program, data is collected every 15 minutes. The buoy collects data on water temperature, salt levels, pH, dissolved oxygen, how clear the water is, and chlorophyll, or the levels of algae in the water. This data is used to make decisions, check trends over time, and inform people of the... read more

The water quality buoy also uses an acoustic telemetry receiver that collects data on fish that have been tagged with a transmitter for research. Sanctuary staff collect and look at the data in partnership with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and the Mid-Atlantic Acoustic Telemetry Observation System. The data helps sanctuary staff and partners better understand what fish species are in the sanctuary, including any rare, endangered, or threatened species. Since 2019, the receiver has recorded 26,715 detections from 44... read more

𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 rests on top of 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘰𝘶, another U.S. Shipping Board wreck. The two ships together make for one of the most captivating sights in the Ghost Fleet. Half of the 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 rises out of the water and is filled with plant growth, despite being far away from the shore. Seeds spread by birds and the wind settled in the wreck and created an island. These plants support a variety of species, including an osprey’s nest on the back of the... read more

At the northernmost edge of Mallows Bay, the remains of several ships have created a landmass known as Grady’s spit. Over time, sediment got trapped in the hulls of the ships, creating a new landmass that changed the shoreline. Wetland plants began to grow as water currents and birds deposited seeds. Today, Grady’s spit offers a welcome landing spot for the tired paddler to get out and stretch their legs on a small beach. As part of a bacterial water... read more

The wreck sites of 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘢, and an unidentified vessel, are known as the “Three Sisters.” The ships sit near the shore and up against a bluff. This site also sits the furthest of all of the Ghost Fleet from the open water. Each ship is covered in lush plant life, such as common marsh plants like marsh tickseed and cardinal flower. The unidentified ship is known to have an active beaver lodge, which shows how these ships have turned... read more

These two unidentified ships are called "flowerpot" wrecks. They get their name from the plants growing inside the ships, much like how plants grow in a flowerpot. Rocks were put in their hulls to weigh them down and keep them from drifting. As time passed, sediment and seeds gathered inside, turning them into man-made islands. Today, they help to make the shores of Mallows Bay strong and stable. As land plants began to grow on these wrecks, the wetland area... read more

Look up, and you might see an eagle's nest high up in the pine trees. Bald eagles like to build their nests near water, and in older trees that can hold nests that weigh over 1,000 pounds. Bald eagles and ospreys are plentiful in the area and both like to eat fish. Thanks to the healthy waters, there are plenty of fish in Mallows Bay for both! read more

The shallow water near the shore is a great place for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), or underwater grasses, to grow. These grasses give food and shelter to fish, crabs, and other animals. When there are plenty of underwater grasses, it means the water is clean and healthy.  There are about a dozen different types of underwater grasses in this area. They can be found from late spring through early fall. The most common ones are water stargrass, coontail, and several... read more

Liverpool Cove provides an entrance to the upstream waters of Mallows Bay. This calm creek is full of aquatic plants like spatterdock, a type of water lily with yellow flowers. You might also see other freshwater marsh plants like green arrow arum (also called tuckahoe) and pickerelweed. This area provides habitat to lots of young fish, like striped bass, yellow perch, and American shad. It's also a habitat for birds and animals that like to live near water. read more

Going past the kayak launch and through the Burning Basin takes you into Marlow Creek. Like Liverpool Cove, this creek has many freshwater marsh plants such as tuckahoe and pickerelweed in the low marsh, and wild rice and cattail further back in the high marsh. In the late summer, you may also see the pink or white blooms of the swamp rose mallow, a marsh plant that may be where Mallows Bay got its name. read more