Within the Reserve, a calm, freshwater tidal creek winds through marsh and bottom land forest before flowing into the Bush River on the upper western shore of the Bay. The forest is overgrown with huge sycamores, river birch and black willow. The understory is filled with elderberry, sassafras, and stands of jewelweed. In the low marsh, sweet flag and cattails edge the lagoons while large expanses of spatterdock spread on stretches of open water. In the upland forests, mountain laurel is shaded by large oaks, Virginia pines and red maples.
Wildlife fills the forest and water.
Wood ducks feed and nest along the water's edge, osprey and eagles soar above, and great blue herons and egrets slowly wade the shallow waters near the shore. Black rat snakes, northern water snakes and snapping turtles share the wetlands with leopard frogs, toads and salamanders while crayfish hide in the small streams. Otter Point Creek flows through a densely developed portion of the lower eastern end of Harford County. Construction, deforestation and runoff occur throughout the Creek's watershed. The critical location of the Reserve not only protects a major portion of tidal freshwater marsh but offers a unique opportunity for estuarine research and education .