Natural Resources News
The Nature of Change
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day; a time to renew our commitment to the responsible stewardship of our environment. Maryland is fortunate to be home to countless natural assets, and our administration has made it a top priority to protect them. Read more…
Flow of Information: Surveying the Health of Maryland Streams
Gunpowder River by Tim Ray
Maryland has more than 10,000 miles of freshwater streams—an extensive system of waterways flowing downstream where (depending on their geography) they ultimately contribute freshwater to the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Coastal Bays, the Ohio River, or the Delaware River. The condition of these streams is vitally important to downstream waters. But these streams also possess significant inherent value. Read more…
Clear Sailing: Twenty Years of Maryland Clean Marinas
Somers Cove Marina by Stephen Badger
For more than 20 years, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Clean Marina Initiative has offered marina and boatyard operators an awards-based approach to protecting Maryland’s natural resources and the technical assistance needed to do so. Read more…
Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat While Sheltering in Place
Toad abode by Brenda Davis
Did you know? You probably have a lot of materials around the house and yard that can be repurposed to create backyard wildlife habitat. Don’t let quarantine hold you back from creating habitat! The following list contains some ideas on how to create habitat with limited supplies. Read more…
From the Field: Curatorship Program Manager Peter Morrill
From an early age, Peter Morrill has had a love for old buildings. Growing up in an 1870s-era Victorian house in Delaware City, Delaware, he developed this love as his parents restored the house throughout his childhood. His appreciation for cultural resources management and interpretation grew during years of seasonal work at Fort Delaware State Park until he headed south to the College of Charleston, where he obtained a degree in Historic Preservation and Community Planning. After graduation, he worked as a maintenance mechanic and carpenter with the National Park Service before making his way to Maryland to start a new job with the Maryland Historical Trust’s Preservation Easement Program. Read more…
Investing in Resilience: Trust Fund Shores Up a Successful Decade
Assateague shoreline site after restoration
For decades, environmental advocates have been working to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Recognizing the detrimental impact of impervious surface and forest loss on the watershed, this group of passionate scientists, engineers, fishermen, and others pulled together shoestring budgets and devoted hours to lay the groundwork for a restoration economy in Maryland. They worked to improve water quality and create better habitat for brookies. They worked to ensure future watermen and recreational anglers have a sustainable resource. They worked to save the largest and most productive estuary in the nation. Read more…
A Hunter’s Story: Novice Nabs Her First Turkey
The author after a successful hunt. Photo courtesy of Ann Marie Foster.
Oh, how I love to turkey hunt! Now I love to guide as well, having run my first paid guided turkey hunt. I’d been asked in the past and was always too busy with my own hunting, or scheduling other shooting and hunting events for my business. I decided I’d try it; after all, nothing pleases most hunters—myself included—more than turning others on to hunting and enjoying the great outdoors. I had no idea about the fantastic first hunt I would experience. Read more…
Restoration Update: Status Report on the Chesapeake’s Essential Bivalve
Spat-on-shell ready for planting
The 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement committed Maryland and Virginia to restore native oyster habitat and populations in 10 bay tributaries by 2025—five in each state. The five Maryland tributaries containing these sanctuaries are:
• Harris Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River, Talbot County
• Little Choptank River, Dorchester County
• Tred Avon River, Talbot County
• Upper St. Mary’s River, St. Mary’s County
• Manokin River, Somerset County Read more…
Restoring a Treasure: Maryland Makes Progress on Chesapeake Goals
Thomas Point Lighthouse by Stephanie Brown
The Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary, has been at the core of Maryland’s culture and economy since the dawn of history. Unfortunately, by the 1960s it became apparent that the health of our bay had fallen on difficult times. At first, there was little agreement on what the problems were, and much disagreement on what to do about them. But as science was brought to bear on the issue, it became clear that the primary problem was far too many nutrients and sediment running off of the land and into our waterways as a result of a growing and impactful human population. Still, how to solve the problem remained far less clear. Read more…
Planting for Success: Forest Service Helps Marylanders Get Trees in the Ground
Maryland Forest Service’s Francis Smith consults with landowner. By James Mackey, Jr.
Ah, springtime. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and foresters across Maryland are planting trees! Whether it’s through the Maryland Forest Service’s seedling giveaway program Backyard Buffers, or getting students and schools planting through Tree-Mendous, the Forest Service’s mission of getting trees in the ground never stops. With at least 72% of forests in Maryland owned by private landowners, our citizen woodland stewards are yet another valuable partner in tree-planting efforts. Here we take a closer look at several programs that help people plant trees. Read more…
Sailing into History: Department’s Largest Vessel Ready for Retirement
The J/M Tawes
For more than four decades, the waters of the lower Eastern Shore have had a large protector.
The J. Millard Tawes is the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ largest vessel at 100 feet long and 167 tons. The boat was originally commissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1942 under the name Barberry; the federal government surplussed the vessel and it was brought into the department’s service in 1972. Read more…
Department Accepting Submissions for ‘Wild Maryland’ Recipes
Anglers, Hunters Sought for Cookbook Contributions
Photo by Stephen Badger
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is putting out a call to all wildlife and cooking enthusiasts to submit their favorite recipes featuring Maryland species for possible inclusion in a cookbook. Read more…
Gov. Hogan Urges Congressional Leaders to Protect and Increase Funding for Chesapeake Bay Restoration
Governor Larry Hogan, chairman of the Chesapeake Executive Council, wrote to congressional leaders today calling for a reversal of proposed cuts to federal funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration. Maryland is urging an increase in funding to $90.5 million, while the Trump administration’s proposed FY21 budget cuts funding for these programs by more than 90 percent, to $7.3 million. Read more.
Department Urges Congress to Address Rules Hindering Market for Invasive Blue Catfish
Maryland DNR biologists catch blue catfish — a highly invasive species that ferociously consume native fish and crab species — to gain understanding of their impact on Maryland waterways.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is supporting a joint resolution proposed by the Maryland General Assembly that will move the state closer to controlling the invasive blue catfish population by commercial harvest.
A native of the Mississippi River basin, blue catfish were introduced to the mid-Atlantic in the 1970s. Since then it has exploded in population and range, and can now be found throughout Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River watersheds. Blue catfish are a significant threat to the ecosystem because of their rapidly increasing populations and capacity to consume significant amounts of native species, like crabs and striped bass.
House Joint Resolution 3 and Senate Joint Resolution 3 – Natural Resources – Fishing – Wild-Caught Blue Catfish urges the United States Congress to oppose certain inspection rules promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has drastically impeded the harvest and sale of blue catfish. Because of this, Maryland has been unable to adequately use the commercial harvest as a form of control over the invasive blue catfish. Read more…
Harriet Tubman Day Celebrated in March
Music, Games, and Learning Honor a Maryland Legend
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center invites everyone to participate in free, family-friendly programs March 7 to celebrate Harriet Tubman Day. This national observance has special significance in Maryland where the famed abolitionist and suffragette was born and raised; leading dozens to freedom from the Choptank River Region where the park is located.
The actual date of Harriet Tubman Day is March 10 — also the third anniversary of the state park’s opening — but since it falls during the week, events are held on the weekend to allow more people attend.
Visitors can enjoy live music, educational programs, and self-guided activities as the park honors the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, and the Year of the Woman in Maryland. Read more…
Golden Anniversary for Cunningham Falls Maple Syrup Festival
Due to ongoing efforts by the state of Maryland to contain the effects of the COVID-19 virus, both weekends of the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park have been cancelled.
Annual Event Takes Place March 14-15 and March 21-22
Turning sap into syrup
The public is invited to celebrate the 50th annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park this March. This popular event takes place during two weekends, March 14-15 and March 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day at the park’s William Houck Area.
Sugarmakers will demonstrate the traditional way of simmering sap to syrup starting every half hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. For an additional cost, guests can enjoy Maryland-made maple syrup served over a hot pancake and sausage breakfast. Live bluegrass music will fill the heated tent with familiar tunes while kids can join in nature-based crafting.
Every hour of the festival, guests can take a hayride through the park’s Maple Grove to see exactly how rangers collect sap for the syrup. And as part of the festival’s 50th anniversary, the park will have an antique tractor display. Read more…
2020 Maryland Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners Announced
Carroll County Youth Awarded Grand Prize
Standing with the winning 2020 Arbor Day poster art, from left to right: Tree-Mendous Maryland Coordinator Anne Gilbert; Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Acting State Forester Kenneth Jolly; First Lady Yumi Hogan; and Urban and Community Forestry Supervisor Marian Honeczy. Photo by Joe Andrucyk, Office of the Governor
The judging is complete for the annual fifth-grade Arbor Day poster contest sponsored by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Three schools in Maryland that are home to the top winners will benefit with tree plantings this spring. The poster contest is judged annually by a panel of forestry experts and special guest judge, Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan.
Lola Lugard of Sykesville, Carroll County was awarded First Place, and her school will receive 15 trees for planting.
Second Place, with a prize of 10 trees, was awarded to Angela Webb of Easton, Talbot County. Third Place honors went to Annelie Kolbe of Hancock, Washington County. Her school will receive five trees. Read more…
Free Seedlings for Kent, Queen Anne’s County
‘Backyard Buffers’ Available to Riparian Homeowners
Loblolly pine seedlings growing at John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree seedlings to help improve water quality in targeted Eastern Shore communities.
Landowners in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream, or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffer program. Read more…
Youth Fishing Rodeos Scheduled for 2020
Program Rounds Up Next Generation of Anglers
More than 4,000 children and young adults will have the opportunity to catch their first taste of fishing thanks to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and partner organizations throughout the state. From early spring to fall, the state will host 41 youth fishing rodeos in 14 counties. Read more…
Maryland Hunters Harvest nearly 80,000 Deer during 2019-2020 Season
Final Harvest Numbers Higher than the Previous Season
Photo by Steve Edwards
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that deer hunters harvested 79,457 deer during the combined archery, firearms, and muzzleloader seasons, from Sept. 6, 2019 through Jan. 31, 2020.
The statewide harvest included 29,233 antlered and 46,777 antlerless white-tailed deer, plus 1,552 antlered and 1,895 antlerless sika deer. The harvest was 3% higher than the 2018-2019 total of 77,382 deer.
Hunters harvested more than 5,000 deer on Sundays. Hunting deer on Sunday is only permitted during certain weeks in 20 of Maryland’s 23 counties. Read more…
Department Builds Fish Habitat at Cunningham Falls
Reused Materials Restore Spawning and Feeding Areas
Staff deploy fish habitat made from recycled materials into Hunting Creek Lake.
Crews from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources this winter helped expand fish habitat in Cunningham Falls State Park’s Hunting Creek Lake.
Staff joined with the Maryland Conservation Corps to help construct the artificial habitat using upcycling debris and recycled materials found around the park, including PVC tubing, rubber garden hoses, wooden pallets, and five-gallon buckets filled with cement.
“These habitat structures attract baitfish, which in turn attract larger fish,” Ranger Travis Watts said. “They can be very productive locations for anglers.” Read more…
Striped Bass Conservation Regulations Set for Spring 2020
Maryland Spring Trophy Season Begins May 1
Photo courtesy of David Redden
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced new striped bass conservation measures for the Spring 2020 fishing season to meet a coast-wide conservation target.
The 2018 benchmark stock assessment for striped bass indicated declines, so the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has determined that conservation measures are needed for the 2020 fishing season. ASMFC is a management entity comprising 15 member states on the East Coast, including Maryland. Read more…
New Clean Marinas Certified in Kent County
Facilities in Rock Hall Meet Award Standards
Two marinas in Rock Hall recently passed inspection by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to earn the Maryland Clean Marina Award. Gratitude Marina and Osprey Point Marina met the award criteria, bringing the total number of Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners to 151 — about a quarter of the marinas in Maryland. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: February 2020
Black History Month Offers Lessons From Maryland’s Past
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, and Deputy Secretary Charles Glass visited Patuxent River State Park with Ranger Shea Neimann
In my home county, we are very proud of the legacy that Talbot County native Frederick Douglass left for our region, our state, and our nation. We are equally proud of the fact that we are the home of “The Hill,” which dates to 1790 and is the oldest known community of freed African Americans in the entire country.
In our neighboring county of Dorchester, there are many tributes to one of their natives, Harriet Tubman, including the Harriet Tubman State Park and Visitor Center and the Harriet Tubman mural just outside of Cambridge. And while the Eastern Shore is rich with African American history, so is the rest of our state. Read more…
Midwinter Waterfowl Survey Shows Rise in Bird Count
Annual Survey Estimates Number of Wintering Duck, Geese, and Swans
Photo by Orietta Estrada
In early January, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources made visual estimates of the ducks, geese, and swans along most of the state’s Chesapeake Bay, Potomac River, and Atlantic coast shorelines. This year, the teams counted about 627,000 waterfowl, which was higher than the 566,300 birds observed during 2019, but lower than the five-year average of 738,440 birds. Read more…
Suspect Charged with Illegal Hunting in State Park
K-9 Ruckus Helps Track Down Clues
Maryland Department of Natural Resources K-9 Ruckus locates a loaded weapon on the ground.
Following an investigation of illegal hunting and baiting in Patapsco Valley State Park, Maryland Natural Resources Police charged a Glen Burnie man with 17 infractions, including several weapons-related violations.
On Nov. 25, officers responded to a report of deer stands and bait within the park. With the help of a tip, they located three subjects, including Richard Brown Sr., 38, near an ATV at the hunting site. Read more…
State Forest Work Plans Open for Public Comment
Input on 2021 Plans Accepted Through Feb. 28
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the proposed fiscal year 2021 work plans for the following state forests: Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River. The comment period concludes Feb. 28.
Annual work plans help the department identify priorities within the scope of the forests’ long-range management. They address composition, establishment, growth, health, and quality along with construction and maintenance projects. Read more…
Upgrades Coming to Maryland Park Service Reservation Site
Brief Interruption to Service While Work is Done
The Maryland Park Service is upgrading its online reservation system with new features that will make it easier for customers and park staff to use. The new version of the online reservation system will be available to customers Feb. 13.
The online reservation system will be unavailable Feb. 6-12 while the upgrade is completed. The work is scheduled during the least busy time of year for the system. Also, the updates will not affect customers’ existing reservations, account information, or history.
The online reservation system on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website is used by customers to reserve campsites, cabins, pavilions, and other amenities at dozens of parks around the state. Read more…
Tree-Mendous Offerings Ready for Spring Planting
Native Trees and Shrubs Available for Public Spaces
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources aims to expand tree cover on public lands across the state, offering affordable and attractive trees for planting on community lands and open space through its Tree-Mendous Maryland program.
Offerings through Tree-Mendous are high-quality, native shrubs and trees, which are grown and provided by American Native Plants in Baltimore County. Church, civic, community and school groups, homeowners associations, local governments, nonprofits, and others are eligible to purchase plantings from the program, as long as the shrubs and trees are planted on community and public land with prior approval from the landowner.
“Now is the time to prepare for spring planting,” acting Maryland State Forester Kenneth Jolly said. “The state is proud to provide affordable, attractive, and beneficial greenery suitable for every public property and space.” Read more…
Winter Turkey Season Sees Harvest Increase
Maryland Hunters Bagged Birds in 22 Counties
Photo by Lori Bramble
Hunters reported taking 82 wild turkeys during Maryland’s 2020 winter turkey season, which was open statewide Jan. 23-25.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports turkeys were harvested in 22 of the state’s 23 counties, with St. Mary’s and Garrett counties reporting the highest numbers.
The harvest was higher than the 73 turkeys taken last year. Adult males, or gobblers, comprised 42% of the harvest with the remainder being adult females and juveniles. Seventy-three percent were taken with a shotgun, but some hunters harvested their bird with a crossbow or vertical bow. Read more…
Winter Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day Feb. 8
Great Opportunity to Mentor Young Hunters
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters of all ages that Feb. 8 is a Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day. This is a great chance for qualified mentors to take a young or aspiring waterfowler into the field to teach hunting skills, reinforce the safety lessons of hunter education classes, and to create memories that will last a lifetime. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – Jan. 29
Photo by Gregg Salsi
Even though it’s winter, periodic warm spells and days when there is little wind and plenty of sunshine afford fishermen a chance to wet a line. The pre-season trout stocking program is well underway and trout management waters are being stocked every week.
January through March is the time of the year when many attend outdoor shows to view or purchase new fishing tackle, or even book that fishing trip to a dream destination. The department’s Fishing and Boating Services will have staff present at the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg from Feb. 1-9 at Maryland FishHunt booth 2521 in Fishing Hall. We hope you’ll come see us!
Many anglers have questions about what is going to happen in regards to management decisions and new regulations concerning striped bass. The entire striped bass fishery of the East Coast is impacted by the need to meet conservation targets established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. In Maryland, commercial quotas are being cut 1.8 percent and there are several proposals concerning the recreational fishery. You can follow the most recent regulation changes and proposals and find up-to-date questions and answers on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Department Honors Maryland’s First Class of Climate Change Professionals
State Developing Leaders to Address Climate Challenges
Photo by Joe Andrucyk
The Hogan administration today recognized 40 professionals as Maryland’s first class of Climate Change Professionals, an international credential administered by the Association of Climate Change Officers, during the meeting of the Board of Public Works.
These professionals earned their certifications by participating in six days of training provided through the Maryland Climate Leadership Academy, the nation’s first state-sponsored climate change training institution. The academy was established to specifically offer training and continuing education for state and local government officials on the matter of climate change. Read more…
Board of Public Works Approves 200-Acre Land Acquisition in Central Maryland
Property Adjacent to Rosaryville State Park will Expand Recreation
The Board of Public Works today approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ acquisition of nearly 200 acres in Prince George’s County. The property is adjacent to Rosaryville State Park and its acquisition will expand the park’s offerings including equestrian opportunities and an expanded trail network.
Without the department’s acquisition, the property might otherwise have been slated for extensive development. Read more…
Public Comment Sought for Hunting and Trapping Seasons
Input Taken Beginning Feb. 3; Public Meetings Scheduled
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources in February will accept public comment on proposed changes to the 2020-2022 hunting and trapping seasons. Included in the proposals are concepts related to the 2020-2021 Migratory Game Bird Seasons.
Through the past several months, the department has presented a variety of management concepts to internal and external stakeholders representing a diverse group of staff, citizens, and advisers. Read more…
Natural Resources Careers Camp Accepting Applicants for July 2020
Annual Weeklong Program Offered for Grades 9-12
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites high school students with an interest in forestry, fisheries, wildlife, or parks management to participate in a Natural Resources Careers Camp, July 19-25 at the Hickory Environmental Education Center in Garrett County.
A partnership with Allegany College of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources offers high school students an opportunity to learn from industry professionals and develop contacts that could lead to future employment and a career in natural resources. Read more…
Department Begins New Survey of Mason-Dixon Line
Effort To Document Remaining Original Markers
The Maryland Geological Survey, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, will lead professional surveying societies of Maryland and Pennsylvania in a new survey of monuments along the Mason-Dixon Line. This will be the first complete survey in 40 years of the line, which was marked in a 1760s survey that defined the Maryland-Pennsylvania border.
Surveyors will document and photograph the remaining monuments to create a thorough collection, with the intent of entering the markers into the National Registry of Historic Places. The project is slated to begin in February and continue through August 2021. Read more…
Celebrate Black History Month at Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
Weekends in February Offer Inspiring Programs
In celebration of Black History Month, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center invites everyone to free, family-friendly programs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in February.
The park, located near Harriet Tubman’s birthplace in Dorchester County, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and houses an exhibit hall, immersive displays, a gift store, and an information desk. Throughout the month, the park’s expert staff known as “Team Tubman” will lead special programs to honor the life and legacy of the abolitionist and suffragette. Read more…
Programs and Funding Bolster Maryland Forest Products Sector
State, Partners Working on New Market Strategies
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Commerce, and other state agencies are working with partners across the state to direct grants, programs, and strategies for building new markets for Maryland’s forest products industry.
Overall market decline and sudden losses such as the closure of the Verso paper mill in Luke have prompted action by the state to bolster markets for this important sector of Maryland’s natural resource economy. Read more…
Maryland Climate Leadership Academy Offered in Annapolis
Anne Arundel County Classes Start in February
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces open enrollment for Maryland Climate Leadership Academy courses in Annapolis, which will be starting in February. Registration is open until Jan. 31, but classes are capped at 75 participants.
The free class will be taught in three segments: Feb. 20-21; March 23-24; and May 14-15. This series is designed to prepare anyone interested in seeking Certified Climate Change Professional credentials. The specific location of the class will be announced after registration is complete. Read more…
Firewood Permits for Sale at Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks
Gathering Low-Cost Wood Helps Remove Hazards from Public Lands
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering firewood cutting permits at Cunningham Falls and Gambrill state parks in Frederick County, providing a great opportunity for the public to pick up some easily accessible firewood. The $20 permit allows citizens to remove downed trees from the park in designated wood-cutting areas.
In addition to getting an economical source of winter heat for their homes, firewood cutters are also helping our state parks remove the hazard of downed trees. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: January 2020
2020 is the Year of the Woman
As we begin a New Year, it is a good time to sit back and reflect on the successes we had in 2019. While there are too many to name in one article, a few rise to the top, including the designation of Mallows Bay as a National Marine Sanctuary (the first one in nearly a decade), the opening of Wolf Den Run (our newest state park), celebrating 20 years of the Rural Legacy program with more than 100,000 acres protected, and celebrating our 50th anniversary as a department. We also honored the 90 veterans employed at DNR in keeping with Governor Hogan’s proclamation that 2019 was the Year of the Veteran.
With the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment approaching, Governor Hogan has proclaimed 2020 the Year of the Woman in Maryland. I was honored to join the governor, my fellow female cabinet members, and other prominent women leaders to kick off this initiative in December. Read more…
Winter Turkey Season Opens Jan. 23
Another Chance to Bag a Hen or Gobbler
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the opening of the winter turkey season, which runs statewide from January 23-25 for hunters who did not harvest a turkey during the 2019 fall season.
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…
Board of Public Works Approves $18.8 Million in Rural Legacy Program Grants
Funding Will Protect 4,500 Acres Statewide
Piney Run Rural Legacy Area in Baltimore County
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved recommendations of more than $18.8 million in Rural Legacy Program grants for conservation easements in 18 counties. Funding from these grants will permanently protect more than 4,500 acres of working farms, forests, open space, shorelines, and wetlands — plus cultural and historical resources — throughout the state. The recommendations also include six Rural Legacy Area expansions, which provide the opportunity to protect more than 172,039 expansion acres.
The projects were recommended by the Rural Legacy Board, which consists of the Secretaries of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and the Maryland Department of Planning. The Board of Public Works includes Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and Treasurer Nancy Kopp. Read more…
Department Offers Free Environmental Seminars for Marinas
Clean Marina Program Explained in February Meetings
Owners and managers of marinas, boatyards, and yacht clubs are invited to attend a free seminar to learn about becoming certified Maryland Clean Marinas. The program will provide details on commonly needed permits and plans, and an informative session on the impacts of plastic marine debris on Maryland’s waterways. Read more…
Monkton Angler Sets Record with Big-scale Pomfret
First-time Entry for Species in Maryland’s Atlantic Division
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has officially recognized Jeff Rosenkilde of Monkton as holding the first official state fishing record for big-scale pomfret. Rosenkilde caught the 22.1-pound fish Dec. 28 in the Atlantic Ocean canyons off the coast of the Delmarva peninsula.
Rosenkilde and four friends were deep-drop fishing for swordfish and tuna out of Ocean City, about 75 miles offshore, when he knew something took his whole squid bait nearly 1,000 feet below the surface.
Read more…
Record Participants Hike in New Year Across Maryland
First Day Hikes Kick Off 2020
Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford joins a First Day Hike at Patuxent River State Park, Jan. 1, 2020. Photo by Joe Andrucyk
About 5,000 hikers took advantage of sunny and mild weather New Year’s Day, joining the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the state’s annual First Day Hikes initiative. Hikers logged more than 10,000 miles on trails in parks and public lands all across Maryland.
Park rangers, staff, and volunteers guided hikers of all experience levels ringing in the new year on the trail. With 43 hikes at more than 30 locations, the Maryland Park Service registered 3,834 hikers participating in guided hikes, while 1,152 people hiked 1,516 miles on their own — a grand total of 4,986 hikers, not counting many who didn’t check in with a ranger. Even more people hiked in Maryland’s state forests, wildlife management areas, and other public lands. Read more…
Firearms Hunting for Deer Reopens Jan. 10
Hunters in Most Counties Have Another Opportunity
Photo by Lori Bramble
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the winter portion of the firearm deer hunting season opens Jan. 10, 2020, 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. 10-11 in all Region B counties. The season is open Sunday, Jan. 12, as follows:
On private and designated public lands – Cecil and St. Mary’s counties.
On private lands only – Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Washington (Zone 1), and Worcester counties. Shooting hours end at 10:30 a.m. in Kent and Montgomery counties. Read more…
Native Animal Profile: Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing by Jacob McGinnis, Flickr CC by NC 2.0
Often heard and not seen, the lovely Cedar Waxwing can be found year-round throughout Maryland. Cedar Waxwings sport a pale brown, crested head with a sleek black mask that runs from their bill and around their eyes. The mask has white outlines which help accentuate it. Waxwings have a brown chest that fades into a gray on the wings and light yellow on the belly. Most waxwings have bright red tips on the end of their wings and a bright yellow swatch at the tip of their tail. Male and female Cedar Waxwings look the same. Juveniles look similar to adults but have a heavily brown-streaked breast. Read more…
Calling all Bird Enthusiasts! Join the Maryland-DC Breeding Bird Atlas
If you have seen the recent news, you may have heard that the number of birds in the United States and Canada has declined by three billion, or almost 29%, over the last 50 years. Unfortunately, Maryland is not exempt from this decline.
With changes in habitat and climate over the years, it is crucial to know what species are still utilizing Maryland to breed. One important population survey method is a breeding bird atlas which covers a large geographic area. By tracking bird populations, distributions and the timing of their breeding, researchers can understand how an ecosystem’s health is changing over time. Maryland is fortunate to have breeding bird atlas data from 1983-1987 and 2002-2006. The majority of the data collected during these efforts was from volunteers. Beginning this year, the third Maryland – District of Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas (MD-DC BBA3) project and will run through 2024, and you can join in the effort! Read more…
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