This is one of ten caches placed for Cache Across Maryland 2022. You must find all ten caches prior to the picnic held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 in order to receive a free Maryland Geocaching Society CAM geocoin.
Make note of the attribute symbol found inside each cache container. You must enter all the symbols into an online decoder in order to print a claim form and receive your geocoin at the picnic. More info on CAM is available here.
Anita Leight Estuary
Anita Leight Estuary is located at 700 Otter Point Road in Abingdon, Maryland, known as the "Harford County's Doorway to the Chesapeake Bay"; and located on Otter Point Creek, this 600+ acre portion of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers public programs including the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers public programs including canoeing, nature hikes, and children's activities. Anita C. Leight is home to one of the few remaining large freshwater tidal marshes in the upper Chesapeake Bay accessible to the public. The Estuary Center is contiguous to a 260-acre “National Estuarine Research Reserve” which is one of four National Estuarine Sanctuaries established by NOAA in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.
While on the trail, take note of the auditory child's center and the number of markers identifying the various trees and other plants in the are.
The area is also contiguous to the Izaak Walton League’s Melvin G. Bosely Conservancy of 370 acres at the mouth of Winter’s Run and Otter Point Creek, which Harford Land Trust subsequently expanded in 2019. All of these properties together total more than 700 acres of contiguous land and water now preserved along the Bush River.
The seller of the acquisition, the Victor B. Hirshauer Revocable Trust, had owned most of the land since 1931. For members of the Hirshauer family in the 1930s and 1940s it was a place for outdoor recreation. Since the 1950s two modest residences on the property had been rented. Harford Land Trust’s pre-aquisition labors included planning and financing, demolition, and complete cleaning of the site of all of the dilapidated houses.
In late 2015, Harford Land Trust purchased a 22 acre property, zoned for high-density residential (allowing 14 units per acre) with frontage on Abingdon Beach Road and Otter Point Road. The purchase price was $345,000 and the funding was made possible through Harford Land Trust’s partnership with Aberdeen Proving Ground. This diverse property, some of which is located in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, mostly consists of mixed deciduous forest with a wide variety of evenly distributed tree and shrub species. Several areas show reforestation after sand and gravel extraction years ago.
This diverse property, some of which is located in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, mostly consists of mixed deciduous forest with a wide variety of evenly distributed tree and shrub species. Several area show reforestation after sand and gravel extraction years ago.
A strip of property owned by BGE bisects the property creating an open space in the forest. Small disturbances like these usually come hand-in-hand with invasive plants, yet there is a noticeable lack of invasive species at this site. The resulting early successional plant species at the site actually increase the overall biodiversity of the property, and a variety of both woody and herbaceous species can be found throughout, along with their associated wildlife. This site has tremendous diversity of vegetation, sensitive habitat including vernal pools, and presence in a significant migratory bird corridor. Protection of this property provides a much needed refuge for species in the highly developed coastal plain of Harford County, protection of the Bush River and Chesapeake Bay and abundant green space for residents in a highly developed area.
The Estuary Center is the research and education facility of the Otter Point Creek component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Abingdon, Maryland. They are dedicated to increasing appreciation and understanding of estuaries. The Estuary Center and surrounding Leight Park offers many opportunities to explore and learn about the Chesapeake Bay. Check website for calendar of events. Part of the Otter Point Creek Alliance which is the “friends of” volunteer group that helps make good things happen at the Estuary Center. The support the staff create programs, grounds, exhibits, and trails fun, educational, accessible, and safe.
The cache you seek is an ammo can. It is located off of the yellow trail. The trail maps at Anita Leight Estuary can be found here.
Access / Hours
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Free Admission
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Open Dawn to Dusk
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No collecting of plants or animals
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Dogs MUST be on a leash and must be cleaned up after.
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Do NOT disturb marked research sites
