Historic Harris Creek in Canton Baltimore,Maryland 21224

Harris Creek no longer is visible,but it still lies under the area in Canton between the Safeway and the American Can Building and presents Tidal Flow from the Baltimore Harbor to Patterson Park. It has tremendous Historical Value in that the Boat Yards here were instrumental in building "wooden sailing boats" that became protective of our Young Nation.The Constellation,many Clipper Ships and the Monitor came out of these Yards. Even though Harris Creek is no longer visible,we should be quite Proud of this Historic Sight.

It is with this Thought in mind that we are undertaking the Harris Creek Watershed Project which is designed as a Stormwater Management Strategy to Clean up the Trash and Pollution coming from the 20 Neighborhoods in this Watershed. The Plan is to engage the Stakeholders in these Neighborhoods to put into place Best Management Practices to reduce Stormwater runoff as well as to Educate citizens to reduce Trash and Pollution on the streets. It is a long term Process that we will begin to carry out. The Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association will be joined in this Effort by the Department of Public Works,the Parks and People Foundation and the Center for Watershed Protection. Training sessions,Workshops,Touring the Watershed etc will soon be taking place. The End Product will be a Stormwater Watershed Plan for the Harris Creek Watershed.

In order to promote this Effort in Canton, the Base of this Watershed,a Brochure has been prepared that explains the History of this Area and the past location of this Creek with a Walking Tour highlightening the Historic Points of Interest. These Brochures have now been distributed to the majority of Businesses in the Canton Area in an attempt to create Awareness of the Historic Harris Creek in the past and to show the Need to prevent Trash from the Watershed going into the Baltimore Harbor.

The Brochures were packed 50 at a time into an attractive plastic holder and offered to all the Businesses in the Canton Area (O'Donnell Square, American Can Complex,Lighthouse Point,Captain James,Sip and Bite,Brewer's Hill,Dockside,Della Rose,Bay Cafe,Bo Brooks etc Surprisingly,every one of the Businesses welcomed the Brochure on the History of Harris Creek,the Self Walking Tour and the Information on the Harris Creek Watershed (246) Project. It is hope that this Free Exchange will provide future volunteers and needed contributions to carry this Watershed Project to a Successful Conclusion. Ray Bahr MD BHWA

The Project has been presented to the Board and the Public Meeting of the Canton Community Association and will be presented next month to the O'Donnell Street Businesses.