While the Inner Harbor deploys booms and ingenious trash boats to police the floating effluents of Jones Falls, Middle Branch is left to flush itself out, which it does poorly. The hardy beachcomber can also find an assortment of balls, including a surprising number of cheap footballs, and an abundance of urban driftwood. There are upsides to this eyesore. The neglect that turned Middle Branch into an aquatic dump has, incongruously, allowed it to become a wildlife refuge and fish hatchery. The little fish, in turn, attract all sorts of predators.
Huge carp thrive in Middle Branch.
Ducks, which eat practically anything, live there year-round. White egrets and other wading birds are a common sight, mincing their way across the litter-strewn mud, prowling for minnows. People too plumb these dubious waters for cheap protein. It was destined for the soup pot. Several years ago, Middle Branch caught the eye of an environmental engineer named Margaret Martin as she rode the light rail across it en route to work.