Mallows Bay- National Marine Sanctuary

Mallows Bay-Potomac River This stretch of the Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary also includes traditional lands of protects a diverse collection of Native American tribes, historically significant shipwrecks Revolutionary and Civil War and cultural heritage resources battlescapes, remnants of the dating back nearly 12,000 years. commercial ferry boat era, and Jointly managed by NOAA, the generations of history and culture state of , and Charles of local communities. Collectively, County (Maryland), the sanctuary the national significance of this helps protect these fragile historic area was recognized through its Photo: Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing/Duke University assets while promoting recreation listing on the National Register of A vessel’s hull emerges from the and tourism, economic Historic Places. Potomac River at low tide. development, and education and The Ghost Fleet was partially research partnerships. In dismantled through three separate September 2019, it became the shipbreaking and metal salvage first national marine sanctuary periods from the 1920s through designated since 2000. the 1940s. Nearly a century of Maritime heritage natural processes have gradually The sanctuary is most renowned transformed these ships into for the remnants of more than 100 ecologically valuable habitats. The wooden steamships, known as the overgrown wrecks now form a “Ghost Fleet.” The ships were built series of distinctive islands, for the U.S. Emergency Fleet intertidal habitat, and underwater Corporation between 1917 and structure critical to fish, beaver, Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA 1919 as part of the U.S. and birds such as osprey, blue The sanctuary provides a space engagement in World War I. Their heron, and bald eagles. Although to learn about local history and construction at more than 40 the sanctuary does not manage or ecologically significant species. shipyards in 17 states reflected a regulate these natural resources, massive national wartime effort the unique blending of history and that drove expansion and ecology attracts and captivates economic development in visitors. communities nationwide.

Photo: Stephen Badger/MDNR Office of Communications Kayakers explore the islands and passageways shaped by the skeletons of historic shipwrecks.

Photo: Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing/DukeUniversity Time and vegetation have transformed the shipwreck fleet into a unique habitat. sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/ Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

Location In Maryland, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River

Protected Area 18 square miles

Designation September, 2019

Habitats Tidal river

By the Numbers 142 known shipwrecks 118 WWI-era wooden steamship wrecks

Find Us Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1440 Wilson Landing Road Network of marine protected areas Nanjemoy, Maryland 20662 Encompasses more than 600,000 square miles Established October 1972 On the Web Paul Orlando On the Web Regional Coordinator sanctuaries.noaa.gov Office of National Marine Sanctuaries www.facebook.com/NOAAOfficeofNationalMarineSanctuaries Phone: 240-460-1978 Instagram: @noaasanctuaries Email: [email protected] Twitter: @sanctuaries Tumblr: @noaasanctuaries

Photo: National Archives Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA The SS Congaree is among the Fishing and boating are popular The shipwrecks at Mallows Bay shipwrecks at Mallows Bay-Potomac activities at Mallows Bay-Potomac provide shelter for many bird species, River National Marine Sanctuary. River National Marine Sanctuary. including ospreys.

sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/