How The Cox Creek Facility Became Crucial To Baltimore's Wetlands

This Patch article is sponsored by the Cox Creek Facility.

The Cox Creek facility, on the south side of the Patapsco River downstream of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, is a placement site for sediment that has been cleared from shipping channels in the Baltimore Harbor.

Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s, Cox Creek was used as a dredged material placement site by private industry until 1984. In the '90s, the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MPA) bought the site, strengthened the dike and raised its elevation to meet the surrounding land area.

Cox Creek began receiving material dredged from the Baltimore Harbor in 2006. After Hart-Miller Island stopped receiving inflow of dredged material in 2009, the capacity available at Cox Creek became critical for harbor-dredging operations serving the Port of Baltimore. Cox Creek is now one of just two sites that is available to contain dredged material from the harbor; the other is Masonville in Baltimore City.

How has the Cox Creek facility improved nearby wetlands and beaches?

The development and operation of the Cox Creek facility included environmental improvements to the neighboring Swan Creek wetlands and beach area. The tidal connection to the wetland was restored and reef balls were installed offshore to improve aquatic habitat and prevent beach
erosion. School groups use Swan Creek for ecological studies and field trips. The wetland has become a major bird habitat with over 216 species identified and draws birding enthusiasts from the greater Baltimore area and beyond.

What makes Cox Creek and Swan Creek special?

Cox Creek is the Maryland Port Administration’s active Dredged Material Containment Facility in Anne Arundel County, where dredge material from the Baltimore Harbor channels has been placed since 2006. The facility has a long history before that between private industry and the Corps of Engineers. This site helps keep ships moving through the Baltimore Harbor safely through clear channels, delivering goods to the Port of Baltimore, which generates a significant number of jobs for the region.

Adjacent to Cox Creek, the MPA has led environmental improvements to the Swan Creek, protected wetlands and beach area, restoring the tidal connection to the 11 acres of wetlands and helping draw for both migratory birds and birding enthusiasts.

What types of birds might people expect to see at Swan Creek?

If you enjoy birding, you should absolutely join us for the guided bird walk with Tim Carney (make sure to register!) Swan Creek is the No. 1 birding site in Maryland for three consecutive years! Over 250 bird species have been found here including purple finch, herons, blue grosbeaks, the Baltimore oriole and so many more. Make sure to bring sturdy footwear.

What does the future of Cox Creek look like?

Cox Creek has a total placement capacity of 6.4 million cubic yards, of which approximately half has already been filled. The MPA is in the process of expanding Cox Creek by vertically raising the dikes and building onto the MPA-owned property upland. The expansion also involved demolishing old industrial buildings. Some acreage will be used to facilitate the beneficial use and innovative reuse of dredged material.

The expansion will provide an additional 11.3 million cubic yards of capacity. Construction for the expansion began in September 2018.

Does Cox Creek have any special events coming up?

Yes! There will be an open house October 26. The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) invites you to explore the expansion of the Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility (DMCF).

Learn about the Port of Baltimore and our dredging program, tour our new operations and maintenance building, explore the Swan Creek wetland, meet our partners and enjoy fun, interactive activities.

Click here to learn more about the event

For more information, including public tours and access to the Swan Creek wetlands, visit our website or email us.