Spring Ephemerals along the C&O Canal at Sharpsburg!

Join the Maryland Biodiversity Project for a half-day field trip along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to observe Maryland wildlife. The Potomac River Gorge (including the C&O Canal) is an important refuge for native plants and animals in an increasingly urbanized region and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park hosts many species of spring ephemeral plants. In April, we expect to see lots of plants, fungi and insects as well as some birds and, hopefully, amphibians. 

This will be a casual walk along the C&O Canal. We will focus on observation and the use of iNaturalist to document biodiversity. We will meet at a parking lot along the C&O Canal and spend the morning along the Tow Path, returning to the parking lot about 12 noon. If you would like to remain in the area after the field trip, access to this section of the Tow Path is free and there are several natural and historic areas to explore in and around Antietam National Battlefield.

We will meet at a parking area with designated handicap parking spaces and this section of the C&O Canal has packed gravel along the tow path making it accessible to folks with mobility challenges. If you have concerns about accessibility, please contact the trip leader, John Hall, for additional details.

Field Trip Details
To register, email John at jdhall2 at gmail dot com
Date
April 16
Time
8am – 12pm
Location
We will meet at the overflow parking for Lock 38 near Sharpsburg, MD
Coordinates: 39.433874, -77.795223
Maximum number of participants
15
Timeframe
4 hours
Amenities
Designated handicap parking
COVID-19 related protocols
Fully vaccinated only
Trip leader notes
None
Trip leader(s)
John Hall