🛶 Where the Water Takes Us

A SUP Frederick Dispatch on Adventure, Ecology & Reverence for Our Local Waterways

The hush of the morning mist over Lake Linganore. The mirrored surface of Pinecliff Park’s Monocacy stretch. The wide embrace of the Potomac at Nolands Ferry or Point of Rocks. For those who crave movement, community, and mindfulness, our waterways offer a rare kind of luxury: one that’s wild, lush, and exquisitely local.

As the summer sun arcs high over Frederick County, the rivers and reservoirs call louder than ever. Whether you’re brand new to the board or one of our distance mile-chasers training for the 32-miler this August, SUP Frederick exists because of a shared love for our local waters, and a responsibility to protect them.

🌿 Why Our Waters Matter

Did you know that the Monocacy River is one of the largest tributaries feeding the Potomac? It’s also on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which means the ripples we make here in Frederick carry downstream impact all the way to the Atlantic. Our reservoirs like Hunting Creek Lake (in Cunningham Falls) and Lake Linganore play vital roles in local drinking water, biodiversity, and temperature regulation during our sweltering July days.

Fun Fact: Turtles love sunning themselves on logs along the Monocacy’s banks not just because they’re cute, it’s part of their health. Sunlight helps regulate their metabolism and shell strength. So paddle slow, observe, and give them space.

⚠️ Water Watch: Hazards to Know

• Algal Blooms: Some reservoirs and stagnant creek spots experience harmful algal blooms in late summer. Avoid green, scummy water and check for signage at state park sites.

• High Bacterial Loads: After heavy rains, urban runoff can temporarily raise bacteria levels in the Monocacy and Carroll Creek. Use the Maryland Healthy Beaches or Riverkeeper sites to check safety levels.

• Fishing Lines & Debris: Bring a knife or safety shears, entanglement hazards exist, especially in popular fishing zones.

Pro Tip: When paddling near Lilypons or Buckeystown, bring polarized sunglasses; you’ll see more fish, less glare, and sometimes even freshwater mussels, which are indicators of healthy water!

🧼 Local Guidelines That Keep Our Water Clean

The health of our rivers doesn’t happen by accident. A few things you may not know that make Frederick County’s waterways some of the most accessible and beautiful in the Mid-Atlantic:

• No Gas Motors allowed on many local reservoirs (like Hunting Creek) = quiet paddles, low pollution.

• Storm Drain Markings throughout Frederick City remind us that every sidewalk trickle ends up in our rivers.

• Volunteer Stream Cleanups: We partner with local organizations for pop-up paddle cleanups. Stay tuned on our Instagram or Substack for upcoming dates… even though we know that every paddle is a river cleanup paddle!

Want to be a River Steward? Carry a mesh trash bag when you paddle, tag us @SUPFrederick when you haul something out and we’ll feature you!

🌊 Bring Your Friends, Respect the Flow

This isn’t just about working out or getting the perfect GoPro shot (although, tag us in those too). Paddleboarding lets us engage with the water on the water’s terms. That’s rare in a world built to control and contain nature.

We hope you invite a friend who’s never paddled before. We hope you linger under a heron’s shadow. We hope you fall in love with the science behind stream health, as much as the sensation of standing strong and still in the middle of a moving river.

Keep paddling!

—The SUP Frederick Crew

Get your nature on!