Patapsco

There are several logs creating a river wide strainer between Donut Bend and Ilchester Rd. On 4/4 at around 1,600 cfs, it was passable on river right. On 4/10 at around 400 cfs, more wood had piled up on RR, and it was a mandatory portage.

As of 5/9/2022 Use caution running Bloede rapid, as there is BSW (Big Scary Wood) aout 100 yards below the treeless area that you would normally take out at for walking back to Ilchester Road on river right. If anyone swims Bloede you’d want to not get in that, and it was in play even at high water levels.

Also as of 5/9/2022, there's a large tree in the leftmost tunnel going under Old Ellicott City from river right to halfway across, in play at under 2000 cfs. Take the left side of tunnel 1 (first tunnel river left going downstream)

As of 2021, the removal of the Bloede Dam is complete and the river is now runnable through Bloede Rapid. There's a hole/wave river right named Godzilla at the start of the 1/4 mile rapid. When taking out here, please use LNT, give the saplings space to not compact the soil or damage them, and walk uphill to the fence on separate paths to avoid making visible social trails.

During the pandemic there's even more No Parking signs everywhere near the walking bridge at Ilchester Road for doing the full run through Bloede Rapid, meaning the closest legal parking we have found is on Jeans Way, which is a quiet suburban neighborhood. Rec that you get together under the bridge area on Ilchester, consolodate vehicles and coordinate shuttle plans, then drop select car(s) for take-out shuttle and proceed to put-in with remaining car(s).

Jeans Way Parking details: Parking is at the dead end of Jeans Way or on the right side of the road where there are no houses (avoiding of course the fire hydrant). Do not to park directly across from any driveways or too close to the intersection with Ilchester as the homeowners do not like people utilizing this public roadside parking for Patapsco State Park access. At least one someone will need to hump it up the steep roadway at the end, ditch the drysuit prior because it's as much as an 18% grade, and plan to be high vis if running a late lap.

A major flood occurred in Ellicott City the evening of May 27, 2018. Several vehicles and other debris have been swept into the Patapsco River below Ellicott City. Also, sewage spills are likely at the flood site. It is suggested that this stretch of the Patapsco be avoided during June 2018. Even after that, assume that the river has changed, particularly the 'Doughnut Bend' rapid immediately below Ellicott City.

A major flood occurred in Ellicott City the evening of July 30, 2016. As of August 1, 2016 there are 20 or so vehicles and other debris in the Patapsco River below Ellicott City. Also, according to the Baltimore Sun, there is an ongoing 5 million gallon a day sewage spill at the flood site. I would suggest that this stretch of the Patapsco be avoided during August 2016. Even after that, assume that the river has changed, particularly the 'Doughnut Bend' rapid immediately below Ellicott City.