Didn’t know Black Hill is more than just a name? It is a regional park with a story that runs deep. Black Hill Regional Park spans over 2,000 acres. It offers many outdoor activities and places for families to gather.
Black Hill and Little Seneca Lake form Germantown’s northern border. It is a popular recreational spot, especially during the summer. The lake serves as an emergency water supply for several major authorities. These include the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and the Fairfax County Water Authority in Virginia.
Little Seneca Lake is fed by Little Seneca Creek. Its tributaries include Ten Mile Creek and Cabin Branch. Native Americans used these waterways for fishing. They also had hunting camps in the nearby hills. Early European settlers built mills along the fast-flowing streams.
In 1873, the arrival of the train brought summer vacationers from Washington to hotels in the area. One such hotel, the High View Hotel, still stands as a county historic site. It was not affected by the lake’s creation because of its high location.
The park’s story began in the 1960s. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission started buying land. This was to protect watersheds and manage county resources. In 1968, with help from the Soil Conservation Service, they surveyed creeks and streams. A plan was developed. The Seneca Creek watershed was identified as particularly sensitive. A 1974 study showed Ten Mile Creek had high species diversity.
A Master Plan for the Seneca Creek watershed was developed in 1977. It included a multi-purpose reservoir. This coincided with a major water shortage in the Washington, DC area in the mid-1970s. In 1978, the county and the WSSC agreed to enlarge the lake. It would serve as an emergency water supply for the WSSC Potomac River intake.
After public approval, about 1,680 acres of land were acquired. Construction of the dam began. Twenty-one families were displaced. Four dairy farms were lost. Route 121 was redirected. A new bridge was built over the forming lake. Historic sites were lost.
Little Seneca Lake provides recreation and flood control. It reduces sediment and creates a new tax base. The dam, completed in 1984, regulates water temperature. Cold water released from the lake’s bottom allows trout to survive in the summer. Wildlife thrives in the park, including beaver, deer, eagles, and waterfowl.
The lake’s surface area is 505 acres. It can be 68 feet deep. It holds about 4.5 billion gallons of water. The lake is stocked for fishing. Fish include largemouth bass, tiger muskie, channel catfish, sunfish, and crappie.
The emergency water supply was used once during the 1999 drought. Today, Black Hill Regional Park offers picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and playgrounds. You can rent canoes, kayaks, or rowboats. Explore the Black Hill Water Trail.
Discover nature programs at the Visitors Center. Take a naturalist-led tour on the Kingfisher pontoon boat. Spend an afternoon fishing off the pier. Black Hill Regional Park has over 20 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. A dog park lets pups run free. Black Hill is accessible to all ages and abilities.
Black Hill offers scenic views of Little Seneca Lake. It is a place where nature, recreation, and history come together. Take a moment to appreciate the story beneath your feet.