Natural Resources News
Maryland Stream Data Shows Hidden Effects of Management Practices
US Geological Survey study shows that management can have positive and negative impacts
DNR staff holds a bluegill during a stream survey. A new study looks at the effects management practices are having on fish and other stream life. DNR photo
Many management practices aim to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution entering the watershed, and a new study looked at what unintended effects these practices are having on Maryland streams.
The study, led by scientists with the United States Geological Survey using data from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Maryland Biological Stream Survey, assessed the effects that urban and agricultural management practices in the state could be having on the living things in streams, namely fish and benthic macroinvertebrates—aquatic animals including insect larvae and crustaceans. Read more…
New Hydrilla Infestation Detected at Deep Creek Lake
The location (in red) of hydrilla in the Meadow Mountain Cove area of Deep Creek Lake.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Maryland Park Service Lake Management Office at Deep Creek Lake has recently identified a new location of hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant, within Meadow Mountain Cove of the lake. This discovery is a significant concern as hydrilla poses a serious threat to the lake’s ecosystem by outcompeting native plant species and disrupting the natural balance of the environment.
Since 2014, the Lake Management Office has successfully eradicated hydrilla from all previously affected areas of Deep Creek Lake. The office remains committed to protecting the lake’s health and is already taking action to address this new infestation. The new site will receive an initial treatment and be incorporated into the ongoing management plan. While the first three treatment dates for 2024 have already passed, the next scheduled treatment is set for August 20. Further details regarding the management plan and treatment schedule will be shared with the public as soon as they are finalized. Read more…
Anglers Report Multiple Sightings of Tarpon in Maryland Waters of Chesapeake Bay
Usually associated with warmer areas, the legendary sport fish is a rare sight in the state
Blurry shapes just below the surface of the Chesapeake Bay, multiple tarpon school together in waters near Hoopers Island Lighthouse on Aug. 1. Credit: Tom Weaver
Scouting for red drum near the Hoopers Island Lighthouse on Aug. 1, Capt. Tom Weaver saw something roll in the flat, calm waters a couple hundred yards away.
He looked for the wake and followed a disturbance in the distance. When he got close and shut the motor off, he saw huge shapes under the water. The fish looked familiar—and Weaver soon realized he recognized them from his years fishing in the Florida Keys.
“When you run out of Annapolis, you don’t expect an hour and a half later to be running across a tarpon,” Weaver, who runs a charter business Fish With Weaver, said. “My brain took a few minutes to process.” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – August 7
Angler Jerome Ries caught and released this 45.5″ Red Drum in the Chesapeake Bay.
Opportunity is often described as a favorable or promising combination of circumstances. This certainly describes what is available for anglers in Maryland this time of the year. Hot days and the cooling effects of water with the bonus of catching fish, it’s hard to get better than that.
Board of Public Works Approves $6 Million for Recreation and Land Preservation
Funding includes $4 million for the Rural Legacy Program as well as support for projects in Howard and Cecil counties
Nanticoke Rural Legacy Area, Dorchester County, contains a significant amount of the the state’s wetlands. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources requests for $6 million in funding to local governments and land trusts to preserve and protect land and provide recreational opportunities for Marylanders.
A total of $1.8 million in Program Open Space – Local funding was approved for five projects. These include a Cecil County project to provide pickleball courts at Brantwood Regional Park, and renovations of Howard County’s East Columbia Library Park, which includes basketball courts, fields and a playground. Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities.
Secretary’s Message: We’re Making Progress on New Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy
DNR Sec. Josh Kurtz paddles a canoe at Tuckahoe State Park during a visit to the park in 2023.
It has been one year since Gov. Wes Moore announced that Maryland was shifting its Chesapeake Bay cleanup strategy to align with the latest science that recommends focusing water quality improvement efforts on increasing shallow water habitat and living resources, such as populations of fish and crabs.
At the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we’ve made significant strides during the past 12 months to shift from a strategy that I’ve often referred to as “restoration by opportunity” to a more directed approach that also prioritizes environmental co-benefits such as habitat creation, shoreline resilience, and climate change mitigation.
Monkton Angler becomes 12th FishMaryland Master Angler
Ben Halfpap, of Monkton, poses with a blue catfish he caught. Halfpap was the 12th person to become a Maryland Master Angler. Submitted Photo/ DNR
Ben Halfpap is first to nab all three invasive species in pursuit of designation
Ben Halfpap, of Monkton in Baltimore County, has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Halfpap is the 12th Master Angler since the program began in 2019.
Natural Resources Police To Join National Night Out in Communities Across Maryland on Aug. 6
Maryland Natural Resources Police will participate in National Night Out activities in 17 counties across the state on August 6.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers will visit communities throughout Maryland on Tuesday, Aug. 6 in support of National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign promoting partnerships between the police and the neighborhoods they serve.
The National Night Out campaign was established in 1984 and has grown to include more than a million community members in all 50 states. Maryland’s community events include block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and public safety demonstrations.
Maryland’s Oyster Fishery Experienced Robust Harvest in the 2023-2024 Season
Watermen harvested 430,000 bushels of Maryland oysters
A waterman harvests oysters in Fishing Bay, Dorchester County. Photo by William Whaley, winning entry in 2017 Maryland DNR Photo Contest (second place, winter category).
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources estimates that over 430,000 bushels of oysters were harvested commercially in Maryland from October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024. This was the fifth season in the past 30 years when the harvest surpassed 400,000 bushels. Read more…
Maryland Releases Habitat Connectivity Network Map
Clopper Lake in Seneca Creek State Park, photo by Chowdhury Shams, submitted to the 2021 Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Chesapeake Conservancy recently partnered to produce an updated mapping of Maryland’s Habitat Connectivity Network.
The data improves the state’s understanding of where the most important natural habitat areas in the state are currently located, how these areas are connected, and how these areas have changed through the past two decades. Read more…
Maryland Conservation Corps Class of 2023-24 Graduates 39 Members
Members of the 2024 class of Maryland Conservation Corps graduates posed for a photo at the Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area during the graduation event on Aug. 1, 2024. Credit: Winn Brewer/ Maryland DNR
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 39 members of the 2023-2024 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program at Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area. The August 1 ceremony capped the members’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work, and stewardship with the Maryland Park Service. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 31
Claire Toth is all smiles with her first catch of white perch. Photo by Kevin Toth
The excitement of seeing a young angler catch their first fish is enough to warm the heart of anyone, much less a veteran angler. Bluegill sunfish and white perch often fit the bill for this first fishing adventure.
The Chesapeake Bay striped bass season reopens August 1, and although it is legal to fish for striped bass, anglers are urged to practice the most careful catch-and-release practices possible. Water temperatures are in the low 80s this week and low dissolved oxygen levels tend to be at cooler depths, making it difficult for fish to recover effectively. The Department of Natural Resources website provides a good overview of catch-and-release practices.
The Potomac River striped bass fishery (managed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission) remains closed to recreational fishing through Aug. 20. Virginia waters of the Chesapeake Bay remain closed to recreational striped bass fishing through October 3 and the Virginia fall season opens on October 4.
Underwater Grasses Are Key to Chesapeake Bay Health
Underwater grasses in the Susquehanna Flats, which has seen considerable submerged aquatic vegetation growth in recent years. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Across the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, below the water’s surface, ribbons of green sway in the current.
They are stems of pondweed, eelgrass, widgeon grass, stargrass, and a number of other species. Together they make up the underwater grasses that form a crucial habitat for Bay life, help clean the water, and mitigate effects of climate change.
For such fragile blades, the grasses carry a lot of weight in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, and Brooke Landry, program chief of Living Resource Assessment at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said underwater grasses are sometimes overlooked for their critical role.
Maryland Reports Steady Underwater Grass Abundance in Chesapeake Bay for 2023
Eelgrass (Zostera marina). Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Underwater grass abundance–a key indicator of water quality and habitat–remained steady in 2023 in the state’s portion of Chesapeake Bay, reaching 37,770 acres, according to data released this week by the Chesapeake Bay Program and Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Overall, an estimated 82,937 acres of underwater grasses, also called submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), were distributed throughout Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries in 2023, a 7% increase over 2022 acreage.
In Maryland, all or part of four rivers surpassed their restoration goals. These include the Northeast River at 109%, the Upper Chester River at 432%, the Honga River at 138%, and the Wicomico River at 270%. An additional three segments reached 75 percent or more of their restoration goals, including the Northern Chesapeake Bay that encompasses the Susquehanna Flats at 86%, the Bush River at 83%, and Mattawoman Creek at 98% of their goals. Read more…
Maryland Budgets $47 Million to Expand and Enhance Access to Recreation and Open Space
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Governor Wes Moore’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes more than $47 million for local grants through Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playgrounds Program, to expand and enhance public access to recreation and open space throughout Maryland.
“Maryland is a leader in land conservation, and supporting these important programs is a high priority of the Moore-Miller Administration” said Maryland Department of natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “We will continue to work in partnership across all levels of government as well as with the nonprofit and private sectors to preserve our landscapes and provide access for all Marylanders to our state’s open space.” Read more…
Waterfowl Hunting Schedule Set for Deal Island and Fairmount WMA Impoundments
Canada geese at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has posted permit applications and the 2024-25 schedule for waterfowl hunting at Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area (WMA) impoundments.
The schedule and permits are designed to reduce crowding and maintain the quality of waterfowl hunting opportunities during the regular duck season. At both locations, hunting is allowed only on the following days during the regular duck season: Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 24
Young Logan Ortel is all smiles with this large blue catfish he caught. Photo by Tim Ortel.
Maryland anglers are always able to adjust to conditions, if it involves catching fish. During the current striped bass closure in effect through July 31, many anglers are focusing on blue catfish. The action tends to be non-stop.
As a reminder to all Maryland anglers, please participate in the Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Angler Surveys. This allows citizen scientists to contribute valuable data to the monitoring and management of several important fish species.
Record $21.5 Million in Maryland Waterway Improvement Fund Awards go to Public Boating Access, Navigable Waterways, and Safety
Upgrades to Sweden Point Marina in Smallwood State Park are among the many projects funded for Fiscal Year 2025. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will provide $21.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund allocations to communities and projects throughout Maryland in Fiscal Year 2025, which began July 1.
The funds will support new and improved public boating access facilities, dredging of navigable public waterways; emergency vessels and equipment for local first responders; and other important infrastructure and initiatives. Read more…
Maryland Releases Whole Watershed Proposal Criteria
Criteria to help identify eligible watersheds for pilot restoration program
Little Blackwater River watershed in Dorchester County. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Whole Watershed Restoration Partnership has released a preliminary list of watershed criteria, along with available data sets, to aid local governments, non-governmental organizations and project sponsors to assess local watersheds for proposed restoration and funding.
The Whole Watershed Act (SB 969/HB 1165) establishes a highly collaborative, science-based approach to watershed restoration across the state to promote innovative, science-based solutions to waterway restoration efforts. The legislation will use existing state funds to create a new Whole Watershed Fund that will support a five-year pilot program targeting five Maryland watersheds that best represent the state’s diverse land uses, geographies, and impairments. Read more…
Looking at Maryland’s Stream Health Over Time, DNR Report Finds Mixed Results
Temperatures and non-native fish species have increased, while acidity has lessened
Maryland Biological Stream Survey staff conduct electrofishing in Frederick County. DNR photo
A Maryland Department of Natural Resources report found mixed results for the health of the state’s non-tidal streams, with some conditions getting better, others worse, and some remaining the same.
For this report on potential changes in stream conditions, the department’s Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) staff sampled hundreds of stream sites across the state, then compared what they found to data from those same sites 14 or 20 years earlier.
While the results highlight ongoing challenges for streams in the state, Scott Stranko, the department’s director of monitoring and nontidal assessment, said the report also demonstrates the importance and efficacy of work to protect Maryland’s streams.
Thousands of Invasive Fish Removed from Maryland Waters at Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam stretches across the Susquehanna River between Cecil and Harford counties. Fish lifts built onto the structure help migrating species move upriver, but also catch invasive species. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
Thousands of invasive fish have been removed from the Chesapeake Bay watershed at the Conowingo Dam earlier this year and donated to local food banks through a continuing partnership between Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Conowingo Dam owner Constellation Energy, environmental consulting firm Normandeau Associates Inc., and local seafood wholesaler J.J. McDonnell and Co. Inc.
The fish lift at Conowingo Dam is essentially a water-filled elevator that collects migrating anadromous fish species, such as American shad, during their spawning run and transports them above the dam into the upper Susquehanna River and their traditional spawning areas. When invasive fish enter the lift, technicians remove them by hand and send them out for beneficial use.
During the 2024 season, which ran from March to June, more than 18,000 pounds of invasive fish were removed from Maryland waters. Species prevented from passing upstream of the dam include 2,106 Chesapeake Channa, also known as northern snakehead; 746 flathead catfish; and 36 blue catfish. The number of Chesapeake Channa removed at the dam was more than double the amount removed in any year since the program began in 2021 (see chart below). Read more…
Natural Resources Police, Special Olympics Maryland Host Safety Training Event
Officers from multiple agencies joined Special Olympics Maryland athletes and coaches for the unified training on July 17 at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions. Maryland Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services photo by Ben Giroux.
The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) teamed up with Special Olympics Maryland to teach survival techniques for an active shooter scenario to Special Olympics athletes at a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions program in Sykesville on July 17.
NRP’s training division presented its Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course as part of a “Unified Leadership opportunity,” for Special Olympics athletes and staff. The Unified Leadership model teaches instructors to value and learn from people with intellectual disabilities. Read more…
NOAA Announces $10 Million Grant for Oyster Sanctuary Reef Construction in Maryland
Project marks future phase of oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay
Oyster shells laid out for a 2016 planting at an oyster restoration sanctuary. Maryland DNR photo
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that it has recommended awarding $10 million to fund new reef construction for a Maryland Department of Natural Resources oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay.
The four-year grant will provide infrastructure funding for building reef bases on about 50 to 75 acres within an existing oyster sanctuary, as well as ground-truthing to assess the area before construction. NOAA awarded the funding as part of its Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.
“This is an exciting time for oysters in the Chesapeake Bay,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “Just as we’re finishing the tributary phase of sanctuary construction and seeding, this $10 million award will help us with future oyster restoration throughout Maryland.”
Maryland Fishing Report – July 17
Adam Krauss holds a large Chesapeake Channa (northern snakehead) caught in Dundee Creek.
Sly and the Family Stone sang about “Hot Fun in the Summertime” back in 1969, and it seems very appropriate at the moment. As the temperatures stay high, summer fishing and crabbing is in full swing – freshwater, tidal, and Atlantic fish are providing plenty of exciting action!
The striped bass season in Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay is now closed and will reopen August 1. The purpose of this annual summer closure is to reduce striped bass catch-and-release mortalities. Water temperatures in the Bay are generally running in the 86-degree range and are rising due to the continued heat. Striped bass suffer in these warm water conditions and the added stress of catch and release can be too much for them to recuperate.
The extremely warm water also fuels bacterial and fungal growth in Bay waters that are burdened with too many nutrients. The slime layer on fish is their protection from bacteria and fungi, and any disturbance of that layer can invite infections in warm water conditions.
A common summer bacterial infection is called mycobacteriosis. These infections can manifest themselves as one or two red lesions or sometimes an entire fish covered with them. Anglers should release diseased fish when caught, and take precautions when handling fish to avoid infection. In many cases these fish can recuperate when water temperatures cool in the fall, at which time anglers may notice scrambled lines on a striped bass indicating an area that has healed. More information on Mycobacteriosis is found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Board of Public Works Approves $500,000 for Recreation and Land Preservation
Funding includes 100-plus acre conservation easement in Cecil County
Fair Hill Rural Legacy Area in Cecil County
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resource items for more than $500,000 in grants to local governments and land trusts to preserve and protect land, and provide recreational opportunities for Marylanders.
The board approved $444,782 in Rural Legacy funding for the Cecil Land Trust to obtain an easement on a 102-acre property in the Fair Hill Rural Legacy Area. The conservation easement will protect agricultural and forested lands, including 3,300 linear feet of forested buffer along North East Creek and its tributaries. Read more…
Boating Accidents Trend Down, Arrests Up During Operation Dry Water 2024
Newly enacted ‘Nick’s Law’ increases penalties for boating while impaired
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Natural Resources Police reported a statistically safer weekend than years past during the July 4 weekend this year.
Despite being the busiest boating holiday, no boating fatalities were recorded on Independence Day weekend. Nine boating accidents occurred on Maryland’s waterways, down from 12 in each of the previous two years.
NRP officers made nine Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol (OUI) arrests during the agency’s “Operation Dry Water” heightened enforcement period from July 4-6. This was the highest number of arrests NRP recorded since making 12 arrests during Operation Dry Water in 2018. Read more…
Maryland Opens Grants Gateway to Fund Community Projects for Climate Resilience, Boating Access, and Education
Maryland DNR Accepting Grant Applications for Fiscal Year 2026
A crop of saltmarsh hay fills the shoreline at Franklin Point State Park. Photo by Joe Zimmermann.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the Grants Gateway application is open for local governments and organizations for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1, 2025.
Through this process, funding is available for projects that restore local waterways, increase communities’ resilience to climate change and storm impacts, strengthen local economies, develop the next generation of environmental stewards, and foster sustainable development and use of Maryland waterways with projects that benefit the general boating public.
Applications Now Open for 2024 Maryland Black Bear Hunt Lottery
Photo by Mitch Adolph, submitted to Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Hunters can now enter the lottery selection process for the annual six-day black bear hunt in Western Maryland. The cost to enter the lottery is $15 and applications can be purchased from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) now through August 31.
The 2024 bear hunt will take place Oct 21-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties. The bear hunt is an important part of managing Maryland’s expanding black bear population. Read more…
Maryland’s Summer Closure of Striped Bass Fishing Begins July 16
Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff conduct the annual juvenile striped bass survey, to monitor the annual reproductive success of the species. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds recreational anglers that targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is prohibited from July 16 through July 31.
This closure is necessary to protect the species, because when water and air temperatures rise in the hottest part of summer, fish are more vulnerable to dying after being caught and released. Read more…
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Provides $35.8 Million for Ecological Restoration Projects
Tree planting and streamside buffers are among the many best practices funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is awarding $35.8 million from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to 34 ecological restoration projects encompassing 122 sites throughout the state for Fiscal Year 2025. The projects were selected to improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed while building local resilience to climate impacts.
These projects deploy best management practices including streamside tree buffer plantings, reforestation, stream restoration, stormwater management, and wetland creation. The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund targets the most cost-efficient and effective non-point source pollution reduction projects. DNR selected the recipients from applications for outcome-based funding through the department’s online Grants Gateway. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 10
Ron McClain loves taking his granddaughter Savannah fishing and she has earned the nickname “Rockfish Barbie,” as evidenced by this keeper-size striped bass. Photo by Ron McClain
It is time for summer vacations. Our youngest anglers are off from school and many parents and grandparents are creating lifetime memories with them, often through fishing together.
As a reminder, all striped bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay will be on hold from July 16-31 , in order to protect the fishery during what is statistically the hottest part of the year. But even when it is legal to catch one keeper-size striped bass per day, the Department of Natural Resources advises following our Striped Bass Forecast Advisory and avoiding catch-and-release fishing for striped bass on hot days.
Anglers should also be aware of Myobacteriosis, an infectious disease often seen on striped bass when fish are more stressed by high water temperatures. Infected fish may show visible signs of disease including skin ulcers and severe muscle loss. Anglers should release diseased fish when caught, and take precautions when handling fish to avoid infection. Washing hands or using waterless hand sanitizer after handling diseased fish is advised. More information on Myobacteriosis is found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Avid Kayak and Shore Fisherman from Solomons becomes Eleventh FishMaryland Master Angler
New Master Angler Eric Packard fishes more than 200 days a year
Eric Packard holds a hickory shad. Photo courtesy of Eric Packard
Eric Packard of Calvert County has earned a Master Angler Milestone Award under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) FishMaryland program. The award recognizes recreational anglers who catch ten trophy-sized fish of different species in Maryland. Packard is the eleventh Master Angler since the program began in 2019. Read more…
Secretary’s Message: Maryland is Stronger with Planned Climate Resilience
Ground is broken for the Hanover Street Wetlands, part of the Middle Branch Resilience Initiative, which is adding wetlands, natural shorelines, boardwalks, and fishing areas in South Baltimore. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The recent dry spell notwithstanding, the Atlantic hurricane season is underway. NOAA National Weather Service forecasters’ outlook for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, predicted an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.
Maryland’s 3,190 miles of shoreline – including land abutting its rivers, bays, and the Atlantic coast – have always put us in the crosshairs of flooding from major storms and events. We don’t even need to suffer a direct hit, as we regularly suffer flooding from storm surges and “sunny day flooding” caused when exceptionally high tide breaches the land. Climate change, sea level rise, erosion, and subsidence all are working against us to make this problem worse unless we act.
In Maryland, we are continually developing the tools of resilience, combined efforts to identify and protect our lands and communities from flooding and extreme weather. Through the Maryland Commission on Climate Change’s Adaptation and Resiliency Work Group, the state developed the Next Generation Adaptation Plan that will guide adaptation actions over the next 10 years. You will read more about this plan in the coming months. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 3
Rich Watts holds up what every crabber is looking for, a heavy jumbo blue crab. Photo by Rich Watts
It’s the Fourth of July – time for family gatherings and barbecues, and steamed blue crabs will be on the most wanted list for many. Blue crab catches have been good recently, so we wish all our recreational crabbers the best of luck.
On July 4, unlicensed anglers are free to fish anywhere in the state without a fishing license – so feel free to take someone fishing.
Board of Public Works Approves $6.3 Million for Park Improvements and Land Conservation
Funding approved for DNR’s Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure and Rural Legacy programs
Agricultural Security Corridor Rural Legacy Area will expand with the addition of two properties in Caroline and Talbot counties. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Board of Public Works today approved Maryland Department of Natural Resources items totaling $6.3 million in grants to local governments and land trusts to improve parks and protect land with perpetual conservation easements.
A total of $480,000 in Program Open Space – Local was approved for four projects including a Washington County project to provide new access to and parking for the Antietam Creek Waterway Trail. Program Open Space – Local provides funding for county and municipal governments for the planning, acquisition, and development of recreational land or facilities.
Also approved was $2.6 million from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program for three projects in Prince George’s County. The county will use the funds to replace playgrounds at Lane Manor Park and Bladensburg Waterfront Park and construct improvements at Park Berkshire Park including a loop walking trail, ADA-compliant pedestrian access, renovation of athletic fields, and playground improvements. The Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program was funded in FY 2022 and FY 2023 to provide grant funds primarily to local governments for park and recreation projects. Read more…
Certification Recognizes Maryland State Forests as Sustainable
Maryland state forests recently completed their annual recertification process
A mix of tall, mature trees as well as a developed underbrush in Chesapeake Forest Lands, showing a diversity that forest managers say is important to biodiversity and resiliency. MD DNR photo
Independent auditors recently reviewed the Pocomoke State Forest and Chesapeake Forest Lands, two state forests on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and recertified them as sustainable, meeting international standards for forest management.
Twenty-one years ago, the Chesapeake Forest Lands became the state’s first certified forests, a recognition now shared by 214,000 acres of state forest land in Maryland. The third-party audits consider ecological, social, and economic benefits of a responsibly managed forest.
Maryland Waterfowl Hunting Blind Site Lottery Opens July 15
Licensing process offers chance to secure hunting locations for a season
Photo courtesy of Jake McPherson, Ducks Unlimited
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is again offering an online process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2024-2025 waterfowl blind site license. From July 15 through July 29 at 11:59 p.m., hunters and riparian landowners may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing. Read more…
Summer Waterway Users Should Follow Safe Swimming Practices
Swim near a lifeguard, stay sober on the water
Visitors to public swimming areas should observe signage for when locations and conditions are dangerous, such as this red flag at Assateague State Park. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
As we reach the height of summer, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents and visitors to swim near a lifeguard, wear a life jacket, and to always swim and boat sober. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Conducting ‘Operation Dry Water’ to Combat Boating Under the Influence
Boaters should expect increased patrols and vessel checks
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
This holiday weekend, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) anticipates more boaters on the water, and subsequently an increase in boating incidents and fatalities.
Because of the high volume of activity during the July 4 holiday, it’s statistically one of the most dangerous times on Maryland’s waterways. Boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs remains a major issue not just in Maryland, but nationwide. In response, in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, NRP will once again participate in the national Operation Dry Water, which includes heightened awareness and enforcement from July 4-6. Read more…
Grants Announced for Youth Outdoor Science and Watershed Education
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Two Maryland nonprofits will receive Youth Outdoor Science and Watershed Education grant funding to develop and enhance environmental education in the state. Read more…
Maryland Awarded $1.2 Million in First Cohort of the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Six community-based and local government organizations in Maryland will receive a combined $1.2 million over the next two years as part of a federal Inflation Reduction Act-supported grantmaking program.
The Maryland Forest Service received and forwarded 22 applications statewide for the inaugural round of awards to the Community Forestry Catalyst Fund, which aims to expand the reach and capacity of tree and forest-based initiatives in underserved communities. Requested funds totaled $6.6 million. Read more…
Public Lands Visitors Urged to Practice Vehicle Safety And Theft Prevention
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
As visitation at state parks climbs during the busy summer season, it unfortunately also brings an increase in reported criminal activity. Vehicles parked in Maryland state parks and other public lands can often be susceptible to theft. Criminals target cars parked at trailheads and parks as they are typically in remote areas, where the owner is likely to not be near, and may have valuables stowed inside.
In 2023, more than 50 thefts were reported from vehicles in Maryland state parks, state forests, wildlife management areas, fishing management areas, natural resources management areas, and other Department of Natural Resources managed lands. Most occurred during peak season, primarily during the summer months of June, July, and August. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 26
Blue catfish, photo courtesy of Chandlier Dominick
It is now officially summer, but with this heat we didn’t need a calendar to tell us that! The early mornings and evenings offer some relief for anglers — wading or an overhead canvas, T-tops, or the simple shade of a shoreline tree, or wading can offer a cool and peaceful place to fish. July 4 is coming up and provides a license-free fishing day in Maryland – a great opportunity to introduce someone to fishing for the first time.
For anglers who catch striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, remember that summer heat can be deadly for fish that are not keeper sized and must be released. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides a weekly striped bass fishing advisory forecast during the hottest months, using “warning flags” to let anglers better plan their fishing to help protect our state fish.
Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – May 2024
Lower oxygen conditions this spring consistent with yearly forecast model
Graph of comparative dissolved oxygen levels in the Chesapeake Bay
Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show that May 2024 dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were worse than average. The results are from samples collected during regular monitoring cruises conducted aboard research vessels.
The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.42 cubic miles during the 2024 mid-May monitoring cruise, compared to the May average (1985-2023) of 0.18 cubic miles. This May ranks as the sixth largest volume of hypoxic water on record for the respective time period. No anoxia – areas of water with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was observed in the May 2024 monitoring cruise. Read more…
Dr. Ray Morgan Named 2024 Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award Recipient by the Department of Natural Resources
Dr. Ray Morgan
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources are proud to recognize Dr. Ray Morgan as the 2024 recipient of the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award. The commission and department recognize Dr. Morgan for his longstanding commitment to Maryland fisheries as an educator, researcher, and for his strong stewardship of our aquatic resources.
Dr. Morgan is Professor Emeritus with the Appalachian Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. His inquisitive nature led to his research on aquatic ecology, pollution ecology, and fisheries genetics. In particular, he is nationally recognized for his research on the genetics of brook trout. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Strongly Disagrees with Virginia’s Decision to Reopen Long Closed Blue Crab Winter Dredge Fishery
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Today, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission by a 5-4 vote repealed the longtime prohibition on dredging for blue crabs during the winter near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources strongly disagrees with Virginia’s decision.
Summer Waterway Users Should Be Alert for Marine Wildlife
Public asked to report stranded marine mammals and sea turtles
Photo by Paige Finley, submitted to the Maryland DNR Photo Contest.
Summer is here and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources would like to remind people that marine wildlife — dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, whales, and others – are making their seasonal return to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, as well as the Atlantic Ocean and coastal bays.
Anyone who sees a marine mammal or sea turtle in Maryland waters is urged to report it to the state Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Response Program at 800-628-9944. Anglers, boaters, and beachgoers should especially be on the lookout for stranded, dead, sick, injured, or entangled animals. Read more…
Climate Resilience Projects Throughout Maryland Funded with $2.9 Million in Grants
Crews constructing a living shoreline for flood mitigation in 2021, photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced more than $2.9 million in competitive grants for 12 climate resilience projects to help communities design and construct solutions to withstand flooding and other weather-related events.
The selected projects will reduce risk for vulnerable communities, incorporate climate change data into existing plans and policies, and develop nature-based or natural solutions to help control flooding.
Funding is provided by the state’s Resiliency Through Restoration Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 19
John Miller celebrated Father’s Day with his son Garret and father Jack, three generations of anglers doing what they love. Photo by Jack Miller.
Father’s Day was a wonderful day for people to spend time with family – and many chose to go fishing and enjoy the day together. As summer officially begins this week, we can look forward to many more opportunities to join friends and family in the great outdoors.
For anglers who catch striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay, remember that summer heat can be deadly for fish that are not keeper sized and must be released. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides a weekly striped bass fishing advisory forecast during the hottest months, using “warning flags” to let anglers better plan their fishing to help protect our state fish.
At Another Key Juncture for Blue Crabs, Scientists Look Back at Two Decades of Management
Lessons learned from past management give hope for new stock assessment
Regulations that focused on female crabs starting in 2008 helped bring a back the population of the iconic crustacean in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Stephanie Kendall
In the late 2000s, the outlook for blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay was grim.
Known for its ups and downs, the blue crab harvest was going through a long stretch of almost all downs. The crab population steeply declined after 1997 and remained at record low harvests for a decade. The region lost nearly 4,500 crab-related jobs between 1998 and 2006.
Determined to save the crabbing industry—the most profitable fishery in the Bay—and increase the population of blue crabs, officials from Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission took action, enacting a spate of bold regulations that changed the way the species was managed. Read more…
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