Archive for May, 2021
Greenwell State Park
Greenbrier State Park
Gathland State Park
Gambrill State Park
Franklin Point State Park
Fort Frederick State Park
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Elk Neck State Park
Deep Creek Lake State Park
Dans Mountain State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park
Chapman State Park
Chapel Point State Park
Cedarville State Forest
Casselman River Bridge State Park
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Bohemia River State Park
Bill Burton Fishing Pier
Big Run State Park
Assateague State Park
Secretary’s Message – May 2021
May in Maryland – Time for Boats, Birds, and Cicadas! Spring weather means boating season — and I am among the thousands of Marylanders eager to get out on the water. Heavy traffic is expected again on our waterways as outdoor recreation continues to increase. Keep an eye out for our boater safety reminders this Read the Rest…
BOEM, Army Corps, and State of Maryland Enter Agreement for Sand Resources
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District (Corps) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have entered into an agreement allowing the Corps to use sand from the Outer Continental Shelf for scheduled beach nourishment as part of its Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project. The Read the Rest…
Maryland Fishing Report – May 5
This week holds the promise of fishing for a variety of species. The trout put-and-take areas have been generously stocked and blue catfish and northern snakeheads are very active. Chesapeake Bay anglers are excited to be able to fish for the large post-spawn striped bass as they exit the spawning rivers and head out of Read the Rest…
New Maryland Outdoor Recreation Ambassadors Named
Four Baltimore Organizations Help Promote Outdoor Recreation Two nonprofit organizations and two private businesses have been named Maryland Outdoor Recreation Ambassadors, recognized for their efforts to promote and expand access to the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities. Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz and Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio named the ambassadors during Read the Rest…
May is Boating Safety Month
Maryland’s Waterway Users Get Ready Maryland’s boating season is on the horizon, and the Maryland Natural Resources Police is encouraging Marylanders to take proper precautions to ensure waterway safety. In 2020, Maryland had 155 reportable boating accidents; 64 of those accidents caused injuries and six were fatal, resulting in a total seven deaths. These numbers Read the Rest…
Chesapeake Bay and Environmental Progress at the Conowingo Dam
Exelon Makes Initial Payments of More than $5.7 Million to Maryland under $200 Million Agreement Incorporated into Dam Relicensing Maryland has received the first payments, totaling more than $5.7 million, under an agreement that requires the owner of the Conowingo Dam to invest in environmental projects and operational enhancements to improve water quality in the Read the Rest…
Tracking the Blue Cat: Learning to Beat the Invasive Fish
Hidden below the surface of the calm waters of the Patuxent River lies a vast ecosystem. Over time, this aquatic environment has gradually changed, ebbing and flowing like the tide. However, along with natural change, this fragile ecosystem has been disturbed by human activity, very notably within the past century by the arrival and proliferation Read the Rest…
At Your Service: Natural Resources Professionals Are Standing By
A key function of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing the best information possible to the public we serve. To that end, the department provides a customer service email, [email protected], as well as dedicated phone lines, email newsletter subscription services, and social media platforms through which the public can contact the department. Questions Read the Rest…
Roots Run Deep: Wood and Water-based Industries Have Long Been Related
As boat building becomes a dying art, I was recently thinking about my ancestors, all of whom worked in some way with forestry, fisheries, or both. My mother’s father worked on the water as a commercial fisherman, was a farmer, cut pulpwood in his younger years, and built boats in his later years. My father’s Read the Rest…
Tools of the Trade: Radio Telemetry and GPS Collars for Tracking Black Bears
The Department of Natural Resources has monitored and researched black bears in Western Maryland since the mid-1980s. One of the most important tools used by Wildlife and Heritage Service managers to follow these bears has been the radio collar. By using both conventional radio collars and the more modern GPS (Global Positioning System) collar, researchers Read the Rest…
State Parks DIY: Park Quest and Create Your Own State Parks Programs Return for 2021
With the arrival of spring and summer, Maryland State Parks are again ready to welcome nature and outdoor enthusiasts throughout the state. The 14th annual Maryland Park Quest program runs from May 1 through October 31. The 2021 Park Quest theme is Spread Your Wings to Explore Maryland’s State Parks, and many of the quests Read the Rest…
Beyond the Call: Bhaskaran Subramanian, Chief of the Shoreline Conservation Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources employees take pride in the work they do—and they are noted for choosing their profession out of a love for protecting, conserving, and restoring our state’s natural treasures for the benefit of fellow Marylanders. Many DNR staff members go that extra mile to serve the people of Maryland who enjoy Read the Rest…
Freshwater Reefs: Fish Habitat Improvements Made in Maryland’s Lakes and Ponds
Habitat and water quality are the two pillars upon which healthy fish populations are built. If either becomes unsuitable, the foundation of the system is unstable, causing fish populations to tumble. Many people are familiar with the importance of clean, well-oxygenated water for fish, but an abundance of quality habitat is just as crucial.
Fulfilling the Promise
The State of Maryland makes a customer service promise: every state agency pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services.
Outside Perspective
As we continue to recover from the pandemic, I am more enthused than ever to welcome back spring. And the first full month of spring is dedicated to one of our most important resources: trees.
Update Regarding Maryland’s Opportunities for Outdoor Recreation
UPDATED May 14, 2021 Maryland is taking decisive action to address COVID-19. The Hogan administration’s highest priority is keeping Marylanders safe. Find the latest information on Maryland’s covidLINK website. For all outdoor activities, continue to follow CDC guidance.