Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Dynamic river conditions influence canal environments
Big Hunting Creek provides recreational opportunities.
The C&O Canal is greatly influenced by the adjacent Potomac River. The Potomac River floodplains, scoured bars, and exposed rocky surfaces along the park house many rare, threatened or endangered species 
. Both the Potomac and the Canal are highly impacted by increased amounts of dumping 
, nutrient 
and sediment 
inputs (from houses, agricultural fields, industry, roads), and the rapid spread of invasive species 
. The Canal experiences accelerated filling by sediments 
carried by surface run-off.
. Both the Potomac and the Canal are highly impacted by increased amounts of dumping , nutrient and sediment inputs (from houses, agricultural fields, industry, roads), and the rapid spread of invasive species . The Canal experiences accelerated filling by sediments carried by surface run-off.Forest edges are both highly valuable and vulnerable
Bridge over C&O Canal and towpath.
Photo: NPS
The diversity of park neighbors 
, multiple rights-of-ways 
and narrow shape add to the complexity of managing C&O Canal National Historical Park. The health of the riparian buffer forests is critical to preserving high quality water resources 
. Stretching from western Maryland to the nation’s Capital, the park provides important movement corridors 
for a variety of forest- dwelling species. The long stretch of forest edge habitat also promotes the proliferation of human-tolerant and shade-intolerant species such as white-tailed deer 
and many invasive plants .
, multiple rights-of-ways and narrow shape add to the complexity of managing C&O Canal National Historical Park. The health of the riparian buffer forests is critical to preserving high quality water resources . Stretching from western Maryland to the nation’s Capital, the park provides important movement corridors for a variety of forest- dwelling species. The long stretch of forest edge habitat also promotes the proliferation of human-tolerant and shade-intolerant species such as white-tailed deer and many invasive plants .