Natural Resources News
Somerset County Celebrating Arbor Day
Students to Join State, County Officials for Tree-Planting
Somerset County government, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will hold its first Arbor Day celebration with a tree planting event on April 24. The event begins at 10 a.m. next to the Board of Education Building, 7982A Tawes Campus Drive, Westover.
Local and state officials will join school students to plant more than 10 container-sized trees on the grounds. Trees are being supplied by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ TreeMendous Maryland and Gift of Trees programs. A second planting will also take place later in spring on the property, with the county planting 12.6 acres of seedlings for forest conservation mitigation. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – April 17
Matt Beam holds up a striped bass caught this past weekend during the catch-and-release season. Photo by Travis Long
Saturday, April 20, marks the much-anticipated opening day of the 2019 trophy striped bass season. Captains and crews have been working overtime getting their boats ready for this weekend, from the largest charter boats to private boats parked on trailers in driveways. Good luck to all but be patient — many post-spawn striped bass are still making the journey downriver from their spawning sites.
Fort Frederick State Park Hosts Annual Market Fair
Eighteenth Century Comes Alive April 25-28
History buffs of all ages are invited to experience an authentic colonial market fair at Fort Frederick State Park April 25-28. The annual Fort Frederick Market Fair features top artisans, craftspeople, entertainers and sutlers together with an 18th century military encampment alongside the park’s historic 1756 stone fort. Read more…
Maryland Striped Bass Trophy Season Opens April 20
Annual Rite of Spring Lasts Through May 15 in Most Areas
Photo: “Rockfishing” by Roy Julie
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the state’s trophy striped bass season will begin April 20 and last through May 15.
Anglers may catch one striped bass per day, with a minimum size of 35 inches, in the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Virginia state line. Read more…
Queen Anne’s County Residents Can Get Free Trees
Partners to Provide Free Seedlings April 23-26
White oak seedlings at the state nursery
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Queen Anne’s County Forestry Board will hold their annual tree seedling giveaway program the week of April 22. These seedlings are available to the citizens of Queen Anne’s County as an educational effort promoting the planting of trees, in celebration of national Arbor Day on April 25. Read more…
Maryland Releases Draft Chesapeake Bay Restoration Plan
Public invited to comment on draft Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan
Photo by James Phelps
A draft plan for continued progress in restoring Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay is now available for public review and comment.
The draft Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan represents the next step in Maryland meeting its commitments as part of a multi-state bay restoration effort. Maryland developed the draft plan to meet targets by 2025 using a locally driven, stakeholder process to identify achievable pollution reduction strategies that balance responsibilities across wastewater treatment plants, urban stormwater runoff, septic systems and farms. Read more…
Kent County Arbor Day Celebration Set for April 23
Partners to Name Poster Contest Winners, Provide Free Seedlings
Photo: “Budding Red Bud” by Ashley Stubbs
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is partnering with Kent County Commissioners and the Kent County Forest Board for the annual Arbor Day celebration, at 1:15 p.m. April 23 in the Kent County Courthouse Courtyard, 103 N. Cross St., Chestertown.
As part of the event, partners will celebrate Chestertown’s 38th anniversary as a Tree City USA participant and announce the winners of the county’s 2019 Arbor Day Poster Contest. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – April 10
Five year old Emmett Jackson got to go trout fishing on the Patapsco River with his older brother Hunter and dad recently. Emmitt proudly holds up some of the trout he caught. Photo by John Jackson
The generous stocking of trout by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources hatchery program has brought countless smiles to the faces of trout fishermen, young and old. These fish are being stocked in waters near you.
Maryland Environmental Trust Hosts Annual Conference and Symposium
Regular Registration Ends April 22
The 2019 Maryland Land Conservation Conference will be held May 16-17 at the Maritime Conference Center, 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum. This annual event brings together land trusts, conservancies, local and state government agencies, heritage organizations, members of the agricultural community and other partners for a comprehensive discussion about the future of land conservation in our region. Read more…
Statewide Spring Turkey Season Set to Open
Youth Hunters Get First Opportunity This Weekend
Photo by Maureen Koncen
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that the statewide spring turkey season will kick off Saturday, April 13 with Junior Turkey Hunt Day. All hunters can try to bag a bird during the regular statewide spring turkey season, April 18-May 23.
For the first part of the regular hunting season, April 18-May 9, hunting is allowed from one half-hour before sunrise until noon. Throughout the rest of the season, May 10-23, hunting hours are one half-hour before sunrise until sunset. Read more…
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