Natural Resources News
Maryland Enacts Striped Bass Emergency Regulations to Increase Protections for the Spawning Population
Maryland Department of Natural Resources biologists survey and tag striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay as part of the annual survey of the population. Maryland DNR photo
Striped bass emergency regulations submitted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to bolster the species’ spawning population were approved today by the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review, and are effective immediately.
The emergency regulations extend periods of closure to recreational striped bass fishing in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay. Targeting of striped bass will be prohibited from April 1 to May 15, eliminating the Maryland striped bass trophy season. In the Susquehanna Flats, targeting of striped bass is prohibited through the end of May.
The Chesapeake Bay is the primary spawning and nursery area for 70% to 90% of the striped bass of the Atlantic coast. The emergency regulation is aimed at protecting the mature fish that travel up the Bay and return to the rivers where they hatched to spawn each spring. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – Resources for Birders in Maryland
Visiting the aviary at Tuckahoe State Park, photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The groundhog has emerged and says we will have an early spring. While the furry marmot from the north may lack meteorological training, it is true that spring arrives in a little more than six weeks, and we can start looking for its earliest signs in the coming weeks.
One of spring’s most enduring signs is the arrival of more birds in Maryland, returning from their migration or just becoming more present as their food supplies become widespread. One of my own favorite harbingers of spring is the return of the osprey. These graceful birds of prey migrate each year from their winter homes in South or Central America to different parts of the U.S. Each year, more than 10,000 osprey breeding pairs summer in the Chesapeake Bay.
However, birds are an important and fascinating part of Maryland’s wildlife scene all year. These animals bring a unique beauty to our diverse collection of wildlife and provide valuable insight into the health of our ecosystems and changes in climate. Read more…
Governor Moore Visits Maryland Department of Natural Resources In Support of Administration’s Efforts to Build Maryland’s Environmental Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
Gov. Wes Moore speaks to staff at Tawes State Office Building, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis. Photo by Joseph Andrucyk, Office of the Governor.
Governor Wes Moore today visited the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis. The governor met with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz, department leadership, and employees to hear first hand about the agency’s leadership in building Maryland’s environmental resilience in the face of climate change.
“Maryland’s culture is defined by the Chesapeake Bay and the moments we create while we enjoy it and its bounty,” said Gov. Moore. “I am proud to learn more about how Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is working across state lines and partnering with organizations to establish a stronger future for the Bay and its watershed – doing so will help Maryland move toward its goal of creating the greenest state in the country.” Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Offers Grants for Invasive Fish Removal
Anglers show their catch of large blue catfish at the 2022 Sharptown Catfish Tournament. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for invasive fish control grants of up to $5,000. This grant program seeks to support effective ways to remove invasive fish, particularly blue catfish and Northern snakeheads, from Maryland waters and identify sustained beneficial uses of caught fish. The application deadline is April 15, 2024, and awards will be announced in early May. Read more…
Midwinter 2024 Waterfowl Survey Results Released
Annual survey estimates number of wintering ducks, geese, and swans
Photo by State Park Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted their annual population estimates of ducks, geese and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay, tidal Potomac River and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 593,200 waterfowl which was lower than the 632,200 birds observed in 2023 but consistent with the most recent five-year average of 596,500 birds. Read more…
Shifting Sands: Maryland Keeps an Eye in the Sky on Vulnerable Areas
Drone mapping observes dune changes at Assateague Island
A Maryland Department of Natural Resources drone prepares to launch to survey Assateague Island’s sand movement. Maryland DNR photo
The impact of rising seas, stronger storms, and an eroding shoreline might leave the future of Assateague Island up in the air – and that’s exactly where the Department of Natural Resources is monitoring the coastal property with the use of aerial drones.
Unique among Maryland’s public lands, Assateague State Park comprises part of a barrier island that provides a peaceful beach respite to more than a million visitors a year. But the relaxed atmosphere belies the island’s tumultuous place protecting the mainland from the powerful forces of the Atlantic Ocean. Read more…
MyCoast Data Shows Impact of January Flooding
Community reports in MyCoast app reveal extent of flooding across the state
Flooding in Annapolis on Jan. 9. Photo submitted to MyCoast, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
On Jan. 9, Maryland was hit by a storm that brought intense rain, strong winds and high tides.
It resulted in the most active week yet for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ MyCoast MD app. The app allows users to submit reports and photos of flooding, as well as other environmental information. The storm brought in about 400 new users for MyCoast, along with 248 reports of flooding. Read more…
DNR Expands Successful Program for Agricultural Landowners to Protect Waterways Statewide
Tree plantings for a forest buffer, as seen on a Washington County CREP easement, are a key best management practice.” Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is expanding the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) permanent easement program statewide for the preservation of agricultural land and protection of waterways.
Previously these easements were available in nine Maryland counties; now, landowners across Maryland with existing federal CREP contracts can participate in this significant land conservation program. The expansion was approved Jan. 3 by the Board of Public of Works – Gov. Wes Moore, Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, and Treasurer Dereck E. Davis. Read more…
Maryland Forest Service Now Accepting Applications for the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund
Baltimore Ravens players helping plant trees in a city park in 2023. Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Forest Service is offering a new grant program to distribute $4.8 million in federal Inflation Reduction Act funds towards urban and community forestry projects during the next four years.
The Community Forestry Catalyst Fund expands resources for Maryland’s ambitious commitment to enhance its forest cover and tree canopy through the state’s 5 Million Trees for Maryland initiative and existing programs, like the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Urban Trees Grant Program. These programs prioritize tree plantings where they can provide the greatest benefits to people, such as heat island abatement, air quality regulation, and flooding reduction. Read more…
Baltimore County Resident Earns FishMaryland Master Angler Award
Tim Campbell is the fifth angler to receive the award, and second in a year
Tim Campbell caught and released this striped bass December 21, 2023, completing his list of ten different specie caught to earn a FishMaryland Master Angler award. Photo courtesy of Tim Campbell.
Tim Campbell of Phoenix, Baltimore County, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program.
The award recognizes recreational anglers who legally catch ten different species of fish in Maryland at trophy-size length. Campbell is the fifth Master Angler since the program began, and achieved the award with a confirmed catch of a striped bass on December 21, 2023. Read more…
Maryland’s Primitive Deer Hunt Days Run Feb. 1 – 3
Final Opportunity for Deer Hunters for the 2023-24 Season
Photo by Randall Gornowich, submitted to the 2022 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the state’s Primitive Deer Hunt will be open Feb. 1-3 statewide. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the hunting license requirement, may use primitive bows or muzzleloaders to hunt sika and white-tailed deer during these days.
Primitive hunting devices are defined as long bows, recurve bows, flintlock, or sidelock percussion muzzleloaders. Hunters may not use compound bows, crossbows, drawlocks, and telescopic or other electronic aiming devices. However, fiber optic sights are permitted on otherwise legal primitive bows or muzzleloaders. Read more…
Maryland Fifth Graders Invited to Submit Arbor Day Posters for 2024
Annual contest taking submissions until March 1, 2024
Addilyn Centineo, of Eldersburg, Carroll County won first place in the 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest, with a prize of 15 trees to her school for planting.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards invite all Maryland fifth graders in private and public schools to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.
The theme for 2024 is: “Trees Are Terrific…in All Shapes and Sizes!” to celebrate the importance of diversity of tree species within a community.
All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon on March 1, 2024. Read more…
Prescribed Burn Brings New Life to Frederick Forest
DNR oversees dozens of controlled fires annually to manage Maryland woodland areas
DNR forester Sean Weaver, left, walks along the fireline shortly after the start of a prescribed burn in Frederick. Photo by Joe Zimmermann
It was a chilly morning in the Frederick Watershed and the woods were quiet and peaceful. Without the sound of even a passing bird, a stillness filled the air between the nearly bare trees.
But at the intersection of two rocky roads deep in the watershed, there was a growing commotion. Red hats, yellow vests, and blue suits appeared through the vegetation. A fleet of pickups and fuel trucks and UTVs lined the forest edge. Dozens of people were gathering and prepping equipment for the day. They were about to set the woods on fire. Read more…
Friends of Maryland State Parks Provides Funds for Projects Through ‘Small Grants, Big Impact!’
Program in its fourth year and supports more than 20 projects statewide
An innovative approach to litter prevention at Janes Island State Park is among the Maryland Park Service initiatives funded by ‘Small Grants, Big Impact!’ Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Friends of Maryland State Parks recently awarded 24 grants totaling $41,798 to Maryland State Parks statewide through the advocacy organization’s program, “Small Grants, Big Impact!”
These funds will enable staff to collaborate with community partners to provide information on Maryland’s cultural history, replace unsafe bridges and puncheons, provide water safety resources, and promote recycling and stewardship on our public lands. Read more…
Harford County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Rock Bass
Long-standing record is tied with 1.0-pound fish caught in Susquehanna River
Photo courtesy of Thomas Over.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recognizes Thomas Over Jr. of Darlington as a new state record holder for rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) in the Chesapeake Division. Over caught a 1.0-pound rock bass January 6 in the lower Susquehanna River.
Over was fishing with a light spinning rod and jigging for yellow perch when he hooked the large rock bass. Read more…
Maryland to Plant 41 Acres with Juvenile Oysters in Anne Arundel County with Mitigation Funds from 2022 Ever Forward Ship Grounding
Photo courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will plant about 147 million oyster spat, or juvenile oysters, on 41 acres in Anne Arundel County waters with mitigation funds from the 2022 grounding of M/V Ever Forward on an upper Chesapeake Bay oyster bar.
On March 13, 2022, the 1,095-foot Ever Forward container ship ran aground inside Natural Oyster Bar 4-2. The bow of the ship, which draws 40 feet of water, became stuck at a depth of 18 feet. The Ever Forward was refloated on April 17, 2022, after a month of intensive dredging and multiple extraction attempts.
Last year, the state required the ship’s owner, Evergreen Marine Corporation, to pay DNR $676,200 to fund oyster bar seeding mitigate the event’s impacts. DNR has now selected the first area that it will target with this funding. Read more…
Maryland Holding First Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day on March 23
Young angler with a trout, photo by Christopher Wike.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering the state’s first-ever Youth-Only Trout Fishing Day for children under 16 years of age on March 23, one week before opening day for all trout anglers. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – January 2024
Welcoming a New Year to expand on our successes at the Department of Natural Resources
Photo by by Erin Pant, submitted to the Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
We’re kicking off 2024 on a hopeful note at the Department of Natural Resources thanks to positive signs in two important indicators for the health of the Chesapeake Bay–dissolved oxygen and oysters.
One of the primary indicators of the Bay’s overall health is the annual hypoxia measurement – conducted by the Department of Natural Resources and our counterparts in Virginia. Scientists monitor what is called the “dead zone,” which are areas of the Bay with dissolved oxygen levels so low that underwater life such as crabs, fish, and oysters can’t survive. In 2023, hypoxic water in the Bay was measured to be about 0.52 cubic miles, nearly half the historic average of 0.97 cubic miles, and the smallest on record since Bay-wide monitoring began in 1985. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay 2023 Fall Oyster Survey Records Outstanding Spatfall
Strong oyster reproduction observed in Maryland waters
DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz joins Fishing and Boating Services staff analyze to oyster spat during the fall survey. Photo by Robert Bussell, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Fall Oyster Survey recorded a remarkable year for juvenile oysters in Maryland waters, finding both prolific numbers and a widespread distribution throughout many regions of the Chesapeake Bay.
The survey’s spatfall intensity index, a measure of reproductive success and potential population growth for oysters, was 86.8 spat, or juvenile oysters, per bushel, nearly four times the 39-year median of 23.6 spat per bushel and the fifth highest in that timeframe.
“We have not recorded this extent of oyster spat recruitment in the fall survey in a generation,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “Both the quantity and the wide distribution of spat throughout the Bay, including several areas where our biologists have rarely observed spat in nearly 40 years of results, are outstanding. We plan to build on these natural spatsets by continuing oyster restoration efforts and promoting aquaculture to bolster the overall oyster population.” Read more…
DNR Asks Residents to Share Flood Photos on MyCoast Maryland
Easy-to-use app helps government officials understand extent of flooding and then plan response and mitigation efforts
Ewell Methodist Church and Parsonage on Smith Island
A rain storm’s a-brewing and Maryland needs your help to document flooding.
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently launched the new MyCoast Maryland app that enables people to easily upload photos of flood conditions in their neighborhood during or after major rain events and tidal flooding.
The flood photos that residents share on the app help scientists at DNR and other government agencies in Maryland understand the extent of flooding in certain areas, compare pre-storm or pre-high tide flooding estimates with actual effects, and plan long-term mitigation projects to reduce flooding. Read more…
Maryland Hosts Waterfowl Hunting Day for Youth, Veterans, and Military on Feb. 3
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland’s youth hunters, veterans, and military personnel can experience the excitement of this season’s second special waterfowl hunting day; Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. A previous hunting day was held in November. Read more…
Maryland’s 2024 Winter Turkey Season Opens Jan. 18
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland hunters who did not harvest a turkey during the fall will have another chance to do so during winter season, which runs statewide from Jan. 18-20. Hunting hours are from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex. Read more…
More Than 4,000 People Hit the Trails for Maryland’s First Day Hikes
Marylanders begin 2024 enjoying the great outdoors
Hikers trek the trail at Assateague State Park on New Year’s Day 2024. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
A total of 4,248 people hiked about 10,691 miles during First Day Hikes in 40 different Maryland state parks on New Year’s weekend, according to data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Between Dec. 31, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024, park rangers led 47 scheduled hikes and other programs with an additional 15 self-guided opportunities that were available on state public lands across Maryland. Read more…
Maryland Pursuing Actions to Control Invasive Catfish after Federal Fisheries Disaster Declined
Signs help identify the Chesapeake Bay’s invasive catfish. Maryland DNR photo
Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce notified Maryland Gov. Wes Moore that it has declined Maryland’s request for a federal commercial fisheries disaster declaration that was sought to help address the economic and ecological damage caused by the spread of invasive catfish and snakeheads in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Maryland made the unique request in March as a way to highlight and mitigate the harm that invasive Chesapeake blue catfish, flathead catfish, and snakehead have on economically important Bay species such as blue crabs and menhaden, which the invasives eat. Under federal law, fishery disaster requests can be granted after a state experiences a large, sudden, and unexpected decrease in fish stock that causes a significant loss in a commercial fishery. Commerce ruled that blue catfish have not had sufficient impact on commercial fishery revenues to qualify for fisheries disaster aid.
In the letter notifying Maryland of its decision, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo wrote that NOAA Fisheries recognizes the challenges invasive species have created in the Bay ecosystem and offered to discuss potential opportunities in the future with Maryland. Read more…
Grant Awarded to Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Partners to Restore Freshwater Mussels
During a 2018 restoration project, biologists from the department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service place tagged mussels from Deer Creek into the Patapsco River to reestablish the species. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland DNR.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and partners have been awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Watershed Investment for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) program to restore freshwater mussels in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
The grant funds will support a comprehensive conservation strategy that includes restoration of mussel communities, scientific research, and public outreach. Read more…
Maryland Nears Half a Million Trees Planted Toward 5 Million Goal
Maryland Forestry Service looks at exciting developments ahead in 5 Million Trees Initiative
Students from Allegany College’s Forestry Program participate in a tree planting at Dans Mountain State Park. Maryland DNR photo.
At the start of the new year, the 5 Million Trees Initiative is approaching a milestone, with nearly half a million trees planted.
More than 180,000 trees were planted in Maryland in 2023 as part of the initiative, bringing the total number to 471,890 trees, according to Maryland Department of the Environment data.
“It’s exciting to already be at nearly 10 percent of the state’s goal after just the first two years of the initiative,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “A massive tree planting effort like this one requires coordination between tree nurseries, volunteers, and dozens of partner organizations. We believe the infrastructure and partner development is now in place to begin accelerating our planting efforts and make sure Maryland reaches its 5 million tree planting goal by 2031.” Read more…
Ladies of Light: Chesapeake Lighthouses and the Women Who Kept Them
Turkey Point; photo David Mielcarek
At a time when water was the most efficient mode of transportation, the lighthouse stood alone, often in isolation in remote, far-off locations. Eighty-two once marked the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, 45 of them in Maryland. Their sole purpose was to guide boats, goods and people to safety.
Today, 24 lighthouses and one replica remain standing in the state. Some are in better shape than others, and many owe their longevity to historians and volunteers, who work tirelessly to preserve these cultural and historic beacons. Read more…
Maryland Park Service Rangers Bring Bald Eagles to the White House
Rehabilitated eagles are ambassadors for environmental action and the Endangered Species Act
Ranger Sarah Milbourne displays rehabilitated Scales & Tales eagle Mo in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Maryland DNR photo
Two winged representatives from the Maryland Park Service attended the White House this month.
Rehabilitated bald eagles Buck and Mo, along with a contingent of Maryland Park Service Rangers, were invited to the White House to celebrate the anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which was signed into law 50 years ago this week. Read more…
Firearm Hunting for Deer Resumes in Maryland Jan. 5
Season open first weekend of 2024 in most counties
Photo by Sizhu Liu, submitted to the 2019 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will open the January firearm deer hunting season on Jan. 5, 2024 in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this season.
The season is open Jan. 5-6 in all of Region B. The season is also open through Sunday, Jan. 7 on private and designated public lands in Cecil, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, and on private lands only in Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, and Washington (Zone 1) counties. Shooting hours end at 10:30 a.m. in Kent, Montgomery, Talbot, and Wicomico counties. Read more…
Youth and Veteran Waterfowl Hunt Event Scheduled for Feb. 3
Applications to participate being taken through Jan. 7
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in partnership with the Maryland Sportsmen’s Foundation, is offering a special hunting opportunity for all military veterans and youth hunters aged 11-16.
Participants will be able to hunt select properties in three regions of the state under the guidance of an experienced waterfowl hunter. This special event coincides with the statewide youth, veteran and military waterfowl hunting day on Feb. 3, 2024, and is part of DNR’s efforts to increase recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters in Maryland. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Winter Preview 2023-24
Black sea bass are a popular cold-weather species, and can be caught in Maryland waters through December 31. Photo by Monty Hawkins
With the start of winter and the end of some fishing seasons, Maryland’s anglers can rest assured that there is plenty of good fishing to be found this season if you know where to look!
Nominations Accepted for 2024 Sport Fisheries Achievement Award
Recognition for conservation, education, and sportsmanship
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award plaque at Tawes Building in Annapolis is engraved with each year’s winner. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission are seeking nominations for the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award, a celebration of conservation, education, and sportsmanship.
This prestigious honor recognizes an individual who has provided sustained efforts in habitat management, conservation, education, research, or other meaningful contributions that benefit fish and recreational fishing in Maryland. Read more…
Cold-Stunning Threatens Aquatic Wildlife – Marylanders Asked to Help
Lethargic sea turtles and marine mammals should be reported to 800-628-9944
A sea turtle that had been cold-stunned but was rescued and rehabilitated is returned to the water by Natural Resources Police in 2020. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks those visiting the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic Coast to be vigilant of sea turtles who exhibit signs of cold-stunning, a condition that causes animals to become debilitated and experience hypothermia-like symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures.
Cold-stunning typically occurs in late autumn and early winter when water temperatures begin to fall or when temperatures drop rapidly in a 24-hour period. Lethargic and unresponsive animals can be a danger to themselves and potentially to boaters. Cold-stunning can ultimately be lethal to certain species, and Stranding Network members respond to thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles along the Atlantic Coast annually. Read more…
Maryland Deer Hunters Conclude Successful Fall Firearm Season
Hunters take 28,236 deer during two-week season
Photo by Olivia Wiley, submitted to the 2019 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that hunters harvested 28,236 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 25 through Dec. 9. The firearms season harvest was 3% lower than last year’s official count of 29,160 deer. Read more…
Annapolis Solar Site Produces Green Energy at Location of Former Landfill
DNR points to project as example for renewable projects in the state
Arrays of solar panels capture up to 12 megawatts of electricity at the Annapolis site. Photo by Joe Zimmermann.
Off Route 450, just outside of Annapolis, there’s an unassuming side road that cuts through a forest.
For almost 40 years, city trash trucks hauled up and down the winding road to a landfill on top of the hill. Then, in 1989, the landfill reached its capacity and was covered, and the site sat quietly for nearly three decades, hidden away behind a stretch of trees.
But now, the hill has a new purpose. Sitting atop the buried landfill are 55,000 solar panels, making up a solar site with an output capacity of 12 megawatts. Read more…
Maryland Forest Service Awards Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants for 2023
Funding provided to 52 volunteer fire departments in 17 counties
Volunteer Fire Assistance grants provide funding for local fire departments to purchase certain types of equipment and training to combat wildland fires. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants to 52 volunteer fire departments across the state to enhance wildland fire protection in rural communities.
For 2023, the Maryland Forest Service awarded grant funds totaling $149,325 in match funding for $390,502 in total project costs. Generally the grants cover 50 percent of project cost, with a maximum grant award of $3,500 per department. The grants include federal funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Wildland firefighting projects and purchases that receive awards include personal protective equipment, fire hoses and related equipment, power tools such as chainsaws or leaf blowers, fire engines and pumping units, utility and all-terrain vehicles, and certain types of training. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – December 2023
Building a team for Maryland’s future
Members of the Secretary’s staff and DNR senior leadership visiting Patapsco Valley State Park, photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
As I conclude my first year at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, I am grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead for developing a sustainable future. I appreciate Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller and the entire administration for their support of our mission: To follow the science to protect and enhance our environment so we can improve the quality of life for all Marylanders.
When I started at the agency in January, my first priority was to get to know DNR’s professional staff whose research drives our knowledge and whose efforts put those solutions into action. During the past year, I’ve been continually impressed with their dedication to the protection and restoration of Maryland’s natural resources.
Guiding them at DNR is a senior leadership team that provides management, counsel, and wisdom built up from their long experience at DNR and elsewhere in the public and private sector. Several of our unit directors are historic choices who will fulfill our administration’s goals for diversity and equity. They also bring new voices and important perspectives to our work. Read more…
Preseason Trout Stocking Begins Early in Maryland Waters
Early winter stocking to make room at state’s hatcheries
Maryland DNR photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun “preseason” stocking with the first of about 290,000 trout in Maryland waters statewide.
This stocking will help coldwater hatcheries reduce overcrowded fish densities caused by record drought conditions this year. The first preseason stockings will be allocated to impoundments, special management, and delayed harvest streams providing ice fishing and catch-and-release fishing opportunities through winter and into the spring. Read more…
First Day Hikes Scheduled for 2024 New Year’s Weekend
First Day Hike at Patapsco Valley State Park, photo by Maryland DNR
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites all Marylanders to take a First Day Hike — the annual tradition for a fun, healthy way to welcome the New Year.
Maryland State Parks will be offering First Weekend hike opportunities across the state from December 31, 2023 – January 2, 2024. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities to kick off the year. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – December 6
Chain pickerel, photo by Eric Packard
Welcome to December, there are some wonderful fishing opportunities to be found this week for many anglers fishing close to home. The chain pickerel stands out for pure fun and excitement.
This will be the final weekly Maryland Fishing Report for 2023. We will be checking in with occasional winter reports and look forward to starting again weekly in spring. On behalf of all of us at DNR, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a healthy and happy 2024!
As a reminder, striped season in the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries closes Saturday, December 10. Look for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ announcement of seasons and limits for 2024 sometime over the winter. In response to five years of below average spawning success for striped bass, DNR is submitting emergency regulations to help bolster the species’ spawning population. We all share the goal of making sure striped bass fishing is available for future generations of Marylanders.
Maryland’s Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Resumes December 16
Photo by Ranger Elena Gilroy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The second half of Maryland’s muzzleloader deer hunting season will reopen Dec. 16 and run through Dec. 30. The first half of the split season was held in October. Hunters may use muzzleloading firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this time. Read more…
Four Living Shoreline Projects Enhance Climate Resilience in Anne Arundel County
Projects funded through the Department of Natural Resource’s ‘Resiliency Through Restoration’ Initiative
Deale Beach living shoreline, photo by Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently helped complete four living shoreline projects in Anne Arundel County that are designed to protect communities from erosion and flooding. These projects represent small and large scale restoration efforts through the department’s Resiliency through Restoration Initiative. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Graduates Class of 2023
The newest members of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, graduates of the 64th Basic Recruit Class. Photo by Fran Gower, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police (NRP) welcomed 14 new officers following graduation of its 64th Basic Recruit Class on November 30.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz addressed the 14 new officers at their graduation ceremony at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel.
“Congratulations to the hard-working men and women who have diligently trained to reach this point,” Secretary Kurtz said. “As Natural Resources Police Officers, they are now officially part of the team that ensures the wildlife, fish, and the public lands we enjoy are conserved and protected for generations to come.” Read more…
Maryland’s Deer Firearm Season Opens with 7% Increase in Harvest
Cooler weather prevails in opening weekend of two-week hunt
Sika deer in the marsh, photo by Earl Blansfield, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Hunters reported harvesting 10,864 deer on the opening weekend of the 2023 Maryland firearm season from Nov. 25-26, according to data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The overall deer harvest was 7% higher than last year’s official opening weekend harvest of 10,159 deer.
The harvest total included 5,617 antlered and 4,880 antlerless white-tailed deer, and 193 antlered and 174 antlerless sika deer. The two-week deer firearm season runs through Dec. 9. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – November 29
Black sea bass, photo by Monty Hawkins.
The weather is getting colder but if you bundle up there is plenty of good fishing to be had throughout Maryland. One example is fishing offshore of Ocean City, where anglers are catching limits of hefty black sea bass.
In response to five years of below average spawning success for striped bass, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is submitting emergency regulations to help bolster the species’ spawning population. This includes extending closure dates during the 2024 season. These changes, if formally approved, will close the May trophy season. While recent research has suggested that environmental factors, such as warm winters and low water flows, are significant factors influencing spawning success, DNR scientists and fishery managers believe it is critical to take additional measures to reduce fishing mortality associated with harvest along with fish that die after being caught and released. We all share the goal of making sure striped bass fishing is available for future generations of Marylanders.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Presents Emergency Regulations to Increase Protections for Maryland’s Striped Bass Spawning Population
DNR biologists survey and tag striped bass in the northern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay as part of the annual spring survey of the spawning population. Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is submitting striped bass emergency regulations this week in an effort to bolster the species’ spawning population. These Maryland-specific actions will complement additional actions that will be implemented coastwide in 2024 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay 2023 Final Hypoxia Report
This summer’s dissolved oxygen levels in the Chesapeake Bay were much better than previous years
Water monitoring data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were much better than average for May-October 2023.
The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/l) oxygen — averaged 0.52 cubic miles during May-October 2023, compared to the historical average (1985-2022) of 0.97 cubic miles. This year had the lowest average hypoxic volume since monitoring began 39 years ago. Read more…
Maryland Forest Service Wraps Up Successful Seed Collection
Thousands of pounds of seeds will help grow next generation of Maryland trees
Frederick County Girl Scout Troop 37025 displaying the chestnut oak acorns they collected. Photo by Katie Hager.
The Maryland Forest Service and the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery have completed a successful seed collection to grow the next generation of native trees and shrubs in the state.
The collection brought in thousands of pounds of seeds, berries and nuts, from white oak to witch hazel, for planting in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ state nursery in Preston, Caroline County. The nursery grows those seeds into bare-root tree seedlings, which are then used in tree plantings across the state.
With new staff hired under Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative and an effective outreach campaign, the Forest Service was able to ramp up this year’s effort to support the state nursery. The campaign inspired a considerable public response, and community volunteers were critical to the success of the project.
Maryland Fishing Report – November 22
Herb Floyd took a break from fishing for striped bass and enjoyed some great chain pickerel action. Photo courtesy of Herb Floyd
The Thanksgiving holiday gives us all a chance to reflect on all the things we are grateful to have. Family and friends always top the list, and for many of us they are followed by the opportunities we have to enjoy the outdoors.
FishMaryland Master Angler Award Presented to Jason Paugh of Garrett County
FishMaryland Master Angler Jason Paugh with a largemouth bass. Photo courtesy of Jason Paugh
Jason Paugh, of Red House, this month became the fourth Master Angler awarded under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program. The highest award in the program recognizes the skill and determination required to catch ten trophy-size fish species in Maryland that all meet the minimum award sizes.
Paugh reached this milestone award by catching a largemouth bass (21.25 inches), smallmouth bass (20 inches), crappie (16.75 inches), northern pike (47.25 inches), chain pickerel (25.25 inches), rock bass (10.75 inches), yellow perch (14.25 inches), carp (38 inches), bluegill (11 inches), and wild brook trout (12.25 inches). Read more…
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