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Using Science to Increase Fishing Success “Where are the fish?” The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is helping anglers answer this age-old question with a new online tool, “Click Before You Cast.” The tool provides a simple-to-follow, eight-step process to help anglers identify the best places to fish based on a number of scientific data Read the Rest…
Maryland Forester Brian Stupak Cited for Commitment to Citizens and Customer Service Maryland Department of Natural Resources employee Brian Stupak was honored by the Hogan Administration today with the Customer Service Heroes Award for July. Stupak, a project manager with the Maryland Forest Service, was presented a citation by Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford before the July 26 Read the Rest…
Program Open Space Acquisition Supports Economy, Environment and Recreation Chesapeake Forest Lands will increase by 1,664 acres following Board of Public Works approval today of a Maryland Department of Natural Resources conservation acquisition in Somerset County. The adjoining and contiguous parcel will be integrated into the Chesapeake Forest Lands sustainable forestry management plan and provide for Read the Rest…
Fair Hill International (FHI) is pleased to announce that it has been recommended by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to host the second CCI4* (4*) in the United States. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) for a final decision in the fall. The 4* is the pinnacle of the Read the Rest…
The Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (Montgomery DEP), and with input from the Maryland Department of the Environment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agency and technical partners on the Restoration Research Advisory Read the Rest…
Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were much better than average for early July, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 0.78 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the early July 1985-2016 average of 1.3 cubic miles. No anoxic zones (areas Read the Rest…
Hunters Can Apply by Aug. 31; Lottery Held Sept. 5 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for this year’s black bear lottery. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the four-day hunting season, taking place Oct. 23-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. The department will issue 750 hunting permits Read the Rest…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Exhibits in the Mosner Miller Building The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce its displays, exhibits and programs for the 2017 Maryland State Fair at the Timonium Fairgrounds (Aug. 25- Sept. 4), including the ever-popular Scales & Tales Program. Stop by the Mosner Miller building to check Read the Rest…
Reservations Now Being Accepted for the St. John’s Rock ORV Trail and Campground Off-road vehicle enthusiasts can get ready to take on a new trail as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources opens St. John’s Rock ORV Trail and Campground in Garrett County. Riders can now make advanced reservations for day use and overnight camping through Read the Rest…
Proficiency Necessary to Participate in Managed Deer Hunts The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has released the 2017-18 Shooter Qualification Schedule which includes more than 25 qualification sessions at 15 locations across the state. These events allow hunters to take the necessary proficiency test required to obtain a Shooter Qualification Card in order to participate Read the Rest…
Our friends at Eyes On The Bay have always had valuable information about bay conditions that help fishermen, ranging from information on water quality to satellite imagery. They now have added a wonderful new site called Click Before You Cast which uses a simple to follow, step-by-step process to help anglers identify the best places to fish based on the Read the Rest…
Thirty Acres Expected to Peak Late July to Early August The McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville is getting ready for a burst of color, as 30 acres of sunflowers are expected to bloom within the next two weeks. Ideal viewing times may begin July 22-23, and the peak time to see the sunflowers begins July Read the Rest…
Free Mobile Technology Enhances Enjoyment and Safety A new mobile app feature is available from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to alert boaters of speed limits and zones on state waterways. The new service on the department’s free AccessDNR app covers the Chesapeake Bay, coastal bays west of Ocean City, Potomac River and Deep Creek Lake.
Two Howard County men have been charged with multiple counts of illegal trapping and animal cruelty for activities over a two-year period, the Maryland Natural Resources Police reported. Eugene William Iager, 70, and Terry Lee Altman Jr., 28, both of Fulton, maintained as many as eight traps at a time at Maple Lawn Farm in Read the Rest…
Department’s Launch Steward Program Successfully Interdicts Aquatic Invasive Species For the second consecutive year, Deep Creek Lake State Park launch stewards successfully interdicted zebra mussels – an aquatic invasive species of shellfish – before they entered Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. On the evening of July 9, a launch steward was conducting a standard and Read the Rest…
Living History Highlights Historic Event July 15-16 Fort Frederick State Park invites citizens to experience what life was like at the fort more than 250 years ago during Pontiac’s War, as it presents “Repair to the Fort” July 15-16. Visitors will get a firsthand look at what life was like for Western Maryland settlers who came Read the Rest…
Applications Taken and Lottery Begins Aug. 1 The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will soon allow the state’s resident hunters to apply for a 2017-18 waterfowl blind site license. Beginning Aug. 1, applicants will be entered into a lottery for a chance to select their blind sites. Each site license is assigned to a designated Read the Rest…
Fishing is one of those activities that is often so much better when shared with family and friends; memories of those adventures together can last a life time. Recently Jonathan and Daniel Irons got to go fishing with their grandparents that were visiting from Pennsylvania and with dad at the helm they had a rewarding Read the Rest…
Dissolved oxygen conditions in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem continued to be near average in late June, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 1.05 cubic miles, which is slightly below the late June 1985-2016 average of 1.09 cubic miles. No anoxic zones (areas Read the Rest…
At the height of Thursday’s strong storms, a Maryland Natural Resources Police officer responded to a call for boaters in distress just north of Kent Narrows. Three men – all wearing life jackets – were in the water, waving for help. The officer pulled all three aboard his patrol boat and then corralled their capsized canoe Read the Rest…
Maryland’s first 20-person wildland fire crew of 2017, MDS #1, has been dispatched to battle wildfires in the Rocky Mountain Area of Colorado. The fully trained, certified and equipped crew was mobilized at the Madonna Ranger Station in Harford County July 8. They will join other crews from the mid-Atlantic region in Colorado over the Read the Rest…
Nation’s First Monument to George Washington Rededicated The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently joined local dignitaries, officials and reenactors at Washington Monument State Park July 1 to celebrate Boonsboro’s 225th birthday.Representatives of the Maryland Park Service and Boonsboro Historic Society provided remarks during the ceremony, which included a re-dedication of the monument.
Partners with U.S. Coast Guard for Operation Dry Water For the second consecutive year, the Fourth of July holiday ended without a boating fatality, the Maryland Natural Resources Police reported. Statewide there were 15 boating accidents, an increase of three over 2016, and officers arrested 12 boaters for operating under the influence of alcohol, the Read the Rest…
New Law Took Effect July 1 Any Maryland veteran who has received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained defending our nation now qualifies for a 50 percent discount on Maryland hunting and fishing licenses. The new discounted rate went into effect July 1, 2017. Purple Heart recipients will join disabled veterans and former prisoners of Read the Rest…
The holiday weekend is but a memory now and I hope your memories are good ones. It was a scorcher in many areas of Maryland and people flocked to the water for relief. It did my heart good to see fishing rods peeking out through mini-van windows or in the back of pickup trucks as Read the Rest…
Teaching the Next Generation of Stewards School may be out for summer, but education is always a priority for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. One of the great pleasures of my work is seeing the knowledge and passion about our state’s natural bounty pass from one generation to the next.
History, Nature and Free Fishing Offered Throughout the Old Line State It’s our nation’s birthday and the Maryland Park Service is ready to celebrate. Maryland’s rich history and natural beauty is on display throughout the park system and many of the events planned this weekend provide a perfect way to enjoy Independence Day with the Read the Rest…
Today the Chesapeake Bay Trust in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the City of Baltimore Office of Sustainability announce $843,486 in funding for the Chesapeake Bay Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns Grant Program.
For many it seems hard to believe that the 4th of July holiday is upon us, for others it probably seemed like it would never get here. One thing is for certain, the kids are out of school and ready to have some vacation adventures with their parents or smaller outings which are often more Read the Rest…
Industry, Scientists and Stakeholders Approve Plan Following weeks of scientific review and discussion among key stakeholders, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is making modest but important changes to the commercial harvesting of Chesapeake Bay female hard crabs later this season. Harvesting will close Nov. 20, and bushel levels for the month of November will Read the Rest…
Public Comment on Project Accepted Until July 7 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District has opened a public comment period ending July 7 for an environmental assessment for a navigation improvement project at Rhodes Point in collaboration with Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Somerset County. The Corps’ Baltimore District proposes to realign Read the Rest…
Maryland Natural Resources Secretary and Mayor Help Dedicate 64th Street Boat Ramp Maryland Governor Larry Hogan joined Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan today to officially open the public 64th Street Boat Ramp. This free facility, located at the base of the water tower, is operational 24/7, Read the Rest…
Focus on Development, Diversity, Outreach, Research and Training The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Morgan State University, a doctoral public urban research university in Baltimore City, signed a new educational agreement today that seeks to promote collaborative research, community outreach, economic development and opportunity, and workforce training. This first-of-its-kind agreement between the two state institutions was signed Read the Rest…
Dissolved oxygen conditions in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were near average in early June.
As we all know Sunday was Father’s Day, and sons and daughters made every effort to be with dad and to share in some time together. Dads usually get to pick what they wish to do on Father’s Day, and when they team up with their sons and daughters it is a heartwarming sight to Read the Rest…
Team Honored for Creating First Regional Ocean Action Plan A team of ocean experts, including Gwynne Schultz of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, received the prestigious Peter Benchley Ocean Award for more than three years’ work developing the first Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Action Plan. Schultz, director of the Office of Coastal and Ocean Management, Read the Rest…
It’s hard to imagine a time when there were no state parks. Most of Maryland’s were created between 1945-1975, though even by 1960 there still weren’t very many. Under the direction of Gov. J. Millard Tawes, the state began acquiring property and creating several new sites.
In the United States, we are fortunate to have access to vast public lands, from local parks and state-managed assets to national monuments and other cultural sites for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. The Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone. These household names instantly call to mind dramatic, inspiring and somehow familiar Read the Rest…
What IS that?!” an Advanced Placement biology student from Broadneck High School exclaims, squinting into the microscope eyepiece. “Ooooh…” squeals another. “Check out this thing! It looks like a segmented hair, but it’s totally moving on its own!” This can only mean one thing: it’s plankton identification lab time at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary!
Sharks are an important component of Maryland’s marine and estuarine ecosystems, and some are highly sought-after as gamefish. There are four main areas where anglers actively pursue sharks in Maryland: the Atlantic coast surf, nearshore Atlantic waters, offshore Atlantic waters and the Coastal Bays. This article provides a primer on how to responsibly fish for Read the Rest…
Where are the fish? It is an age-old question Chesapeake Bay anglers ask when searching countless tidal creeks, rivers and bays stretching over 4,500 square miles and averaging 21 feet deep. We all understand that fish are influenced by food, shelter and water conditions. So where do we find this information? The answer is just Read the Rest…
Welcome to Somers Cove in Crisfield, Maryland—the largest single marina on the Chesapeake Bay and the only one owned and operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources! We offer 515 magnificent slips that can accommodate boats up to 150 feet, as well as the best fuel prices and least expensive, annual, semiannual and transient Read the Rest…
Republished with permission from Herald-Mail Media. Visitors at Williamsport’s Riverbottom Park might be doing a double-take once the National Park Service completes its next multimillion-dollar attraction next to the Cushwa Basin.
The warm days of late spring and early summer provide many opportunities throughout the state’s natural areas to see a wide variety of blooming flowers, shrubs, trees and vines. From the low-lying coastal plains to the rocky meadows in the mountains, Maryland is in full bloom. Unfortunately, within these diverse and colorful landscapes, scientists and Read the Rest…
Few people would consider allowing a family member or friend to ride on the hood of their moving car. Yet every summer, boat operators permit their passengers to ride on the bow—legs dangling over the front—or perch along the sides, or sit on the stern. The practice, called bow riding, is dangerous and sometimes deadly. Read the Rest…
It all started with a phone call over the weekend this past January. There was a small deer—most likely a button buck—roaming the Bel Air neighborhood of Glenwood with a clear plastic jug stuck on its head.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers on surveillance at the Nanticoke River Oyster Sanctuary charged a Wicomico County man with illegal harvesting and public health violations.
Department Program Assists Planning for Coastal Hazards The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will provide $125,000 total to three communities to reduce the impact of tidal flooding. These competitive Community Resiliency Grants will help local governments prepare for weather-related hazards, including flooding, sea level rise and storm events. CoastSmart Communities is a department program dedicated to Read the Rest…
Reenactments Highlight Historic Weekend June 24-25 Fort Frederick State Park invites Marylanders to experience what life was like at the fort during the American Revolution, as it presents “To Garrison the Fort” June 24 – 25. Living historians and members of the Maryland Independent Rifle Company will demonstrate hearth cooking, military drills, musket firings, and Read the Rest…
Department of Natural Resources Offers Funds for Improved Access to Open Spaces The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant applications from cities and towns seeking to build, enhance or rehabilitate local parks and playgrounds. Funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program can be used to restore existing areas and features or to develop and expand Read the Rest…
