Natural Resources News
Maryland Fishing Report: August 22
Photo by Andrew Ashby
This past weekend, I happened to pull up behind a pickup truck at a traffic light and I could not help but notice something about the license plate that impressed me.
First off, there was a bumper sticker that said “Stress is caused by a lack of fishing” and there were several years’ worth of ramp passes stuck one on top of each other, but what impressed me most was the license plate.
It was an older Maryland plate and it looked like it had been attacked by a gorilla with a 5-pound ball peen hammer. That relayed to me that this guy had spent a lot of time hooking up a boat trailer by himself and the trailer tongue hit the license plate now and then signaling “far enough.” The plate showed years of this and that this guy spends a lot of time fishing out of his boat.
As he pulled away, I gave him a mental salute. Here was a guy who knows how to handle stress.
New Wildlife Management Area Slated for Queen Anne’s County
Upper Eastern Shore Location to Provide Environmental and Recreational Benefits
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquisition of 1,172 acres in Queen Anne’s County for the development of a new Wildlife Management Area that will provide conservation, habitat and recreation benefits, including birding, hiking, hunting and trapping.
The acquisition near Sudlersville will permanently protect agricultural fields, mature forested uplands and stream corridors that currently provide excellent water quality protection. The property functions as a headwater catch basin that drains into Brown’s Branch, a tributary of Southeast Creek on the Chester River.
$25 Million Approved for Rural Legacy Program
Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area Designated in Dorchester County; Five Other Areas Expanded
The Board of Public Works today approved 16 Rural Legacy Program grants – totaling over $25 million – that will provide dedicated state funding to permanently protect working farms and forests in designated areas across the state.
Working through local government and private land trust sponsors, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources acquires conservation easements from willing landowners to preserve large, contiguous tracts of open space that contain valuable agricultural, cultural, forestry or natural resources.
The approved item includes the designation of the 28,300-acre Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area in Dorchester County. Two million dollars will go toward the newly-designated area, which will protect the natural land- and view-scape evocative of Harriet Tubman’s life, legacy and work, and conserve lands containing and surrounding cultural and historic monuments and sites, including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center.
“Since taking office, we have invested over $600 million in Program Open Space and other land conservation and preservation efforts, and this year we are proud to be fully funding all of these programs as part of our historic $4 billion investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our Rural Legacy Program is a critical piece in our work to protect and preserve our land for the greatest benefit for our state and the people who live and work here, including establishing the Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area in Dorchester County, which will protect this culturally significant site for years to come.”
Six Coastal Resiliency Projects Approved by Board of Public Works
$380,000 to Design Restoration Projects in Four Jurisdictions
Photo courtesy of Carlos Bautista, Underwood & Associates
The Board of Public Works today approved funding for six Coastal Resiliency Grant Program projects, selected through a competitive solicitation, to help Maryland’s communities enhance their resiliency to the effects of climate change, erosion, flooding and extreme weather.
In year two of the program, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will help design six shoreline restoration, stormwater and wetland enhancement projects in four jurisdictions across the state to demonstrate the protective benefits of nature-based solutions. These approved projects will complement six resiliency projects already underway. Read more…
2018-2019 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Class Announced
Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Jobs Training Program Provides Young Adults with Employment Opportunities in Environmental Fields
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Class
Today, the Chesapeake Bay Trust celebrated the newest class of its Chesapeake Conservation Corps, a green jobs program created by the Maryland Legislature to educate and train the next generation of environmental stewards. The program matches young people ages 18-25 with nonprofit and government organizations for paid, one-year terms of service, focused on improving local communities and protecting natural resources.
During their year of service, Chesapeake Conservation Corps members gain valuable on-the-job experience as they work to advance environmental conservation, K-12 education, energy efficiency programs, sustainable agriculture practices, and a host of other environmentally-focused initiatives. Read more…
Maryland Environmental Trust Protects 50 Acres in Talbot County
Easement Allows for Expansive Natural Vistas from Trail
The Maryland Environmental Trust is now permanently protecting more than 50 acres in Talbot County.
The Eastern Shore property in the San Domingo Cove community is being preserved through a recent conservation easement. Read more…
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program Offers Wing-Shooting Workshop
Hunting Skills Training in Garrett County Sept. 28-30
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a unique opportunity for a dozen women to take to the field Sept. 28-30 for a fun weekend of sporting clays, a shotgun skills clinic and an optional upland bird hunt.
The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program, run in partnership with Calibered Events and Wild Wings Hunting Preserve, provides an opportunity to learn the basics of using shotguns by practicing on the range, as well as being able to try their hand at five-stand sporting clays.
Range practice and sporting clays will take place Sept. 28 and 29. For those wanting to take the next step, an optional hunt will be offered Sept. 30 for an additional fee. Read more…
Suspect Charged in Spree of Boat Break-ins and Kayak Thefts
Pennsylvania Man Charged with Drunken Boating
A Glen Burnie man was arrested on multiple counts of burglary and theft from marinas and private piers after a joint investigation by the Maryland Natural Resources Police and Anne Arundel County Police.
Daniel Francisco Bohle, 19, was charged with 40 counts, including felony and misdemeanor theft and burglary, destruction of property, trespassing and destroying serial numbers. He turned himself in Aug. 10 and was released on his own recognizance. Read more…
Trapper Education Course Offered in September
Registration Required by Sept. 14
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is holding a trapper education course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22, 2018, at the Casselman Valley Sportsman’s Club in Garrett County (8751 National Pike, Grantsville).
Anyone interested in trapping furbearers, under the authority of a Furbearer Permit, must first obtain a Certificate of Trapper Education from the department.
Maryland Fishing Report: August 15
Travis Long was enjoying catch-and-release fishing for large red drum in the Chesapeake Bay recently and holds up a prize caught while jigging, before slipping this big girl back into the bay waters. Photo courtesy of Travis Long
One of the fun and exciting things about fishing is you just never know what surprises await when you cast your fishing line into the water. Some have been surprised with a record-breaking catch, a novelty catch or just a fun encounter with a fish to help round out a peaceful day. Enjoying the outdoors tends to be that way; you never can be sure what is around the next bend in a trail, or what a day out on the water has in store for you.
Lifeguards Compete to Showcase Skills, Build Camaraderie
Annual Competition Demonstrates Expertise, Tenacity
Photo of lifeguard chair by Richard Dos Santos
Six teams of lifeguards from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources put their skills to the test in a competition held Aug. 7 at Hart-Miller Island State Park in Baltimore County.
The Maryland Park Service hires more than 120 lifeguards each year to protect summer swimmers and waders at the state’s beaches, lakes and pools. They continually complete strenuous skills training to maintain peak physical condition to guarantee the best protection available for state park patrons.
2018 Photo Contest Deadline Approaches
Submissions Accepted Through End of August
Photo by Stephanie Somers
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for its 15th annual photo contest until Aug. 31. Photographers of all skill levels can enter online or by mail for a chance to win cash and other great prizes.
This year is shaping up to be a banner year for submissions, with more than 300 photographers already entering their original work.
Contest categories include birds, flora, insects, outdoor recreation, nature in action, scenic landscapes and wildlife. First, second and third place winners for each season, as well as one grand prize winner, will be selected by a panel of judges. An additional “Fan Favorite” winner is selected by popular vote on Facebook. Read more…
National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebrated Sept. 22
Free, Family-Friendly Event in Washington County
Anglers, conservationists, hunters and others interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in the annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 22.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Izaak Walton League of America will host a free, family-friendly event – rain or shine – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 12759 Independence Road, Clear Spring in Washington County.
Featuring exhibits from various sportsman clubs, conservation organizations and small businesses, visitors will enjoy educational and interactive activities and programming, including spin-casting and wildlife identification, as well as instructor-led archery and target shooting. Read more…
Maryland State Parks Offer View of Perseid Meteor Shower
Stargazing Events Light up August Weekends
Photo by Konstantinos Mamalis
Several Maryland state parks will offer opportunities to observe the Perseid meteor shower and other celestial vistas in August.
Commonly referred to as “the Perseids,” this spectacular display of meteors is one of the most popular astronomical events of the year. At peak Aug. 11-13, between 60 and 70 meteors per hour might be seen from the ground, depending on location and weather.
The darker the location, the better the chance for the shooting stars to be visible, making state parks – areas devoid of light pollution – ideal locations for viewing. And this year, the dark “new moon” arriving Aug. 11 should make viewing even better. Read more…
Late July 2018 Hypoxia Report
Heavy Rainfall and Sustained Winds Helped Produce Best Recorded Results Ever
Due to extreme summer weather, dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were the best ever observed in late July, reports the Maryland Department to Natural Resources. The department tracks hypoxia throughout the summer during twice monthly monitoring cruises.
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/L oxygen) was 0.26 cubic miles.*
Maryland Fishing Report: August 8
Poppy Lewis is all smiles with her white perch that she caught all by herself. Photo by Keith Lockwood
It is often said that summertime is for kids, and truer words could not be spoken this month.
August will be gone in a flash so don’t delay getting any youngsters you know out or near the water to enjoy some fun fishing.
Two fish that are always ready to accommodate our young anglers are bluegill sunfish and white perch. Kids need plenty of action to keep them interested and these two species can provide that if you take the steps to ensure success.
It is pretty hard to beat worms and a bobber for bluegills at a local pond or fishing under a dock with grass shrimp and a simple one-hook bottom rig for white perch.
Eastern Shore Waterfowl Hunting Applications Now Being Accepted
Permits for Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Areas
Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area and Fairmount Wildlife Management Area impoundments in Somerset County.
Applications to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources must be received by Sept. 10.
Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based on a hunter’s stated preference for area and date.
Harford County Woodland Protected by Conservation Easement
61-Acre Monk’s Creek Property Preserved in Perpetuity
Monk’s Creek
A scenic Harford County property has been permanently protected under a conservation easement between the Harford Land Trust and Maryland Environmental Trust, a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Harford Land Trust gifted the easement on the 61-acre woodland to ensure the protection of its unique ecological resources and scenic viewshed along Willoughby Beach Road in Edgewood. Read more…
First Confirmed Longhorned Tick Found in Maryland
State Urges Marylanders to take Precautions to Protect Livestock, Pets, and Humans
Photo of East Asian tick courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture
A National Veterinary Services Laboratory test has confirmed the presence of the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, also known as the East Asian tick, the longhorned tick, and the bush tick, in Maryland. This is the first confirmed sighting of this tick species in the state. The longhorned tick was found on a white-tailed deer in Washington County and was confirmed on Friday, July 27.
The state’s Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources are working together to inform the public about this new, invasive species and to urge Marylanders to take the necessary precautions to protect livestock, pets, and family members, and report any unusual ticks or a high concentration of tick bites to the University of Maryland’s Assistant Professor of Entomology Dr. Megan Fritz. Read more…
Impaired Boater Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer
A Queen Anne’s County man was arrested July 28 for impaired operation after a vessel stop in the area of Kent Narrows.
Jeffrey Riter Pike, 64, of Chester, was charged with second-degree assault, obstructing and hindering a police investigation and two counts of impaired operation and possession of marijuana.
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers saw his boat operating in Kirwan Creek without navigational lights shortly before 9 p.m. When they began speaking with Pike, they noticed a strong odor of alcohol.
While still on his boat during the initial contact, Pike grabbed and yanked an officer. Read more…
Maryland Wildfire Crew Heads to Northern Rockies
Team Battling Tenmile Fire in Montana
Members of MDS #2
Maryland has assembled and mobilized its second crew of wildland firefighters to battle raging wildfires in the Western United States, as part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Maryland State (MDS) #2 has been dispatched to battle the Tenmile Fire, which is burning about 372 acres (zero percent contained) in the Kootenai National Forest in Northwest Montana.
Maryland Conservation Corps Honors 32 Graduates
Award-Winning Program Enhances Maryland Public Lands
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 32 members of the 2017-2018 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program July 31. The ceremony commemorated the students’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work and stewardship with the Maryland Park Service.
Members from across the country, all between the ages of 17 and 25, completed 1,700 hours of service. This year’s crews planted thousands of trees, bay grasses and native plants; treated trees against harmful insects and diseases; and taught environmental education programs to more than 34,000 people. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: August 1
Photo by Kevin McMenamin
Recent heavy rains caused a lot of changes to our Chesapeake Bay waters. Large volumes of water coming down from Pennsylvania necessitated the opening of more than 20 gates at Conowingo Dam, causing high water levels in the lower Susquehanna River and floating debris entering the bay.
Boating will be difficult in the upper and middle bay, and water contact should be kept to a minimum. Boaters should report any navigation hazards to the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888, or the U.S. Coast Guard at 410-576-2693.
One positive side effect of the water release is that the striped bass in the upper bay got a break with cooler temperatures and mixing of oxygenated water.
Belvedere Yacht Club Certified as Clean Marina
Marks 150th Clean Marina and Partner in Maryland
Mark and Diane Hagerty of Belvedere Yacht Club
An Anne Arundel County yacht club recently passed inspection by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to earn the Maryland Clean Marina Partner Award.
Belvedere Yacht Club in Arnold has met the criteria, which brings the total number of clean marinas and partners to 150, or roughly a quarter of the marinas in the state. In Anne Arundel County, 50 of the estimated 165 marinas are certified.
“It is inspiring to see the dedication and passion these boatyard and marina operators and owners bring to achieving and maintaining this ‘green’ certification,” Program Manager Donna Morrow said. “Belvedere Yacht Club is a great example of Maryland’s boating community stepping up for the bay and their customers.”
Secretary’s Message: August 2018
A Bright Future for Conservation
Secretary Mark Belton addresses Conservation Jobs Corps graduates at North Point State Park.
For many Marylanders, August means last-minute vacations, season-ending camps, and – of course – the dreaded yet wonderful back-to-school preparations.
At the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, class has been in session all summer long for our next generation of environmental advocates and stewards.
Three recent ceremonies capped off a season of hard work for hundreds of young people in three of our premier conservation programs – the Conservation Jobs Corp, Maryland Conservation Corps and Natural Resources Careers Camp. Read more…
Conservation Jobs Corps Celebrates Graduation
Program’s Largest Class Recognized for Public Service and Stewardship
More than 400 young Marylanders celebrated their graduation from the Conservation Jobs Corps Friday after six weeks of job training, conservation education, hard work and fun.
The ceremony was held at North Point State Park in Baltimore County with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton featured as the keynote speaker.
“Not many teenagers get to be quite so immersed in conservation work as these young people,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Belton said. “As the next generation of environmental stewards, a passion for protecting and preserving the natural world will follow these graduates wherever they may go.”
Public-Private Partnership to Prevent Invasive Species at Deep Creek
Maryland Natural Resources, Deep Creek Watershed Foundation and Brookfield Renewable Partner
An initiative was announced today to assist with efforts in keeping the troublesome invasive species known as zebra mussels out of Deep Creek Lake.
The unique partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Deep Creek Watershed Foundation and Brookfield Renewable will bring forward a robust zebra mussel monitoring plan, which will utilize a combination of water quality sampling to assess zebra mussel suitability and visual surveys to look for the possible presence of zebra mussels at Deep Creek Lake. Read more…
Fort Frederick Presents ‘The American Soldier through the Ages’
History Falls into Formation Aug. 4-5
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites everyone to Fort Frederick State Park 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 4 and 5 to experience what life was like for the American soldier through history, from the founding of Maryland to the 20th century.
The military history of Fort Frederick spans the 18th and 19th centuries. Building upon that legacy, “The American Soldier through the Ages” program will provide visitors with an up close and personal look at historical military gear, uniforms and weapons. Read more…
Early July 2018 Hypoxia Report
Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem improved in early July, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The department tracks hypoxia throughout the summer during twice monthly monitoring cruises.
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 1.05 cubic miles, nearly 0.6 cubic miles less than in late June, and 0.33 cubic miles less than the early July average. No additional hypoxic volume was observed in Virginia’s portion of Chesapeake Bay, and no anoxic zones (areas with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen) were detected in the mainstem. Read more…
Cambridge Man Charged under Poaching Restitution Act
Hagerstown Woman Charged with Burglary at Greenbrier State Park
A Cambridge man faces fines in excess of $10,000 on charges he illegally killed six white-tailed bucks in a single evening.
Acting on complaints of gunfire in the area July 16, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers found Bryan Edward Nabb Sr., 53, in a field with a rifle and other hunting equipment. Read more…
Department Actively Monitoring Situation at Conowingo Dam
Record Water Flow to Impact Chesapeake Bay Health and Marine Life
Photo of Conowingo Dam from Susquehanna State Park
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is advising commercial and recreational anglers, boaters and watermen to avoid the Susquehanna River and Upper Chesapeake Bay over the next few days due to the heavy water flows and swells downstream of Conowingo Dam.
Recent summer rain storms in the mid-Atlantic region have dumped record amounts of rain in the watershed producing historic flows at the dam ( over 300,000 cubic feet per second) not seen since Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.
“It is vitally important that anglers and boaters avoid the area downstream of the dam as heavy flows and accompanying marine debris – both submerged and superficial – can pose a serious threat to people and vessels,” Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton said. “We expect the issue to continue through the weekend and ask that people steer clear of the Upper Bay until it is safe to navigate and recreate.” Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: July 25
Jane Millman made time to go fishing with friends off Ocean City and holds up a beautiful blueline tilefish she caught. Photo by Kevin Thomas
We all face daily challenges that tug at how we spend the dear time that is given to us. All anglers and outdoor enthusiasts know how hard it is to follow their favorite pursuits.
Summer is fleeting, make time.
Fishing Loaner Program at Janes Island State Park
New Opportunity to Enjoy Lower Eastern Shore Destination
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources now offers visitors to Janes Island State Park in Somerset County free use of fishing gear and tackle as part of a new pilot project between Fishing and Boating Services and the Maryland Park Service.
The state park in Crisfield is a well-known fishing destination on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore, and provides boating and fishing access to Annemessex River, Daugherty Creek and Tangier Sound. The park also has a fish cleaning station in its marina, making it an ideal location for this innovative department program. Read more…
Hogan Administration Announces Additional Funding for Bay Oysters
Dedicates $2 Million a Year for Oyster Fishery and Recovery
Governor Larry Hogan signs the new oyster funding agreement. Photo by Joe Andrucyk.
Governor Larry Hogan announced today that the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Department of Natural Resources have entered into a new agreement that will provide millions of dollars for ongoing oyster activities in Chesapeake Bay.
“Our administration has invested more than $4 billion to enhance, protect, and restore the health and vitality of our cherished Chesapeake Bay,” said Governor Hogan said. “As the chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, I am proud the progress we’ve made and our shared commitment to take on tomorrow’s challenges.”
The new four-year agreement will provide $2 million annually from the Transportation Trust Fund to the Department of Natural Resources for ongoing and future industry efforts, including dedicated funding for equipment, labor, material, supervision and support. Read more…
Black Bear Lottery Applications Now Open
Apply by Aug. 31, Drawing Sept. 4
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for this year’s black bear hunting lottery.
Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the five-day hunting season, taking place Oct. 22-26 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. The department will issue 800 hunting permits that can be used anywhere in those four counties.
Anglers Urged to Help Protect Maryland’s State Fish
Rockfish Face Added Stress in Summer
Photo by Roy Julie
Fishing for striped bass in Maryland is an annual rite of summer, but anglers are advised to follow a few basic measures to help protect the iconic species during the hottest part of the season.
Seasonal high water temperatures and low oxygen can cause fish to become sensitive and stressed, with increased mortality during catch-and-release. Larger striped bass – 24 inches or larger – will have the most difficulty with these conditions.
Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Dates and Locations Announced
Applications Taken and Lottery Begins Aug. 7
Resident hunters will be able to apply for a 2018-2019 waterfowl blind site license starting Aug. 7. On opening day, applicants will be entered into a lottery for a chance to select their sites.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources assigns each blind site license to a designated location in state waters where hunters can anchor their boats to hunt waterfowl. Read more…
Charles County to Manage Section of Chapel Point State Park
Lease Agreement Enhances Public Access and Recreation Opportunities
The Board of Public Works today unanimously approved a lease agreement between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism allowing the county to manage approximately 50 acres of Chapel Point State Park for public recreation.
The area includes access roads and approximately 3,000 linear feet of shoreline, extending from the existing boat ramp and parking area north of Deep Point southward to Chapel Point.
The 25-year lease agreement will enable the county to oversee the area along Port Tobacco River, while providing for enhanced collaboration with the department on the development of a master plan and implementation of various projects that will enhance recreational access, opportunity and services. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: July 18
Sandy Point State Park
We’ve all learned in our lives that nothing ever stays the same, and this certainly holds true for the Chesapeake Bay. She started out as a river valley and became flooded after the last ice age to become the largest estuary in the United States.
The view from a drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge shows how much this treasure means to so many people — bulk carrier ships anchored and waiting to pick up their cargo, fleets of sailboats off the mouth of the Severn River, commercial crab boats tending their strings of traps, anglers fishing near the piers and throngs of people enjoying Sandy Point State Park.
More than 18 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The bay has had a difficult time putting up with us, but she always promises hope and keeps showing us that she is resilient.
Police Arrest 14 Impaired Boaters During Independence Day Holiday
Cite Somerset County Man for Illegally Dumping Dead Crabs on Wildlife Management Area
The extended Independence Day holiday resulted in the arrest of 14 people on charges of operating a boat while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The largest number of arrests – 10 – occurred on the first holiday weekend, which coincided with Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign against impaired boating. The highest blood alcohol content registered was 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit.
Blue Catfish a Prize Catch for Anglers and Scientists
Department Biologists Learning More about Voracious Invasive
Reaching up to nearly a hundred pounds, blue catfish is the largest species of catfish in North America, and due to its size and strength has quickly become a favorite catch for anglers.
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 cats” are considered an invasive species in Maryland as they threaten the local ecosystem.
McKee-Beshers Sunflower Fields at Peak Bloom
Thirty Acres Planted for Wildlife Nourishment
The sunflower fields at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville are now in “peak bloom,” following the wet spring, and recent hot and sunny summer weather conditions.
The Montgomery County area is just one of many sunflower fields the Maryland Department of Natural Resources plants each and every spring as a food source for pollinators, songbirds and other wildlife, particularly mourning doves, as part of its conservation and management programs.
Visiting and photographing (department’s photo contest ends Aug. 31) the spectacular sight is encouraged and welcomed, but visitors are reminded that damaging, disturbing or picking the sunflowers is strictly prohibited. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report: July 11
Photo by Mike Eversmier
If you spend enough time hanging around seasoned commercial or sport fishermen, you’ll often hear that it’s impossible to figure out why finfish and blue crabs are in certain places at certain times.
These thoughts came to mind this week as I spoke to some of the most respected captains on the Chesapeake about how this season’s fishing is shaping up. There is not enough space to share all of the classic statements, but many captains repeated the two that I have heard throughout my life on the water: “No two years are the same,” and “Just when you think you have them figured out, they make a fool of you.”
Freshwater Mussels Return to the Patapsco
Biologists Transplant Hundreds of Filter-Feeders
Freshwater mussels have been absent from the Patapsco River for decades. Now thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hundreds of mussels have returned to this scenic Maryland river.
Over the span of a few days hundreds of individual mussels have been given unique identification numbers and radio tags then carefully placed – one-by-one – into the silty bottom of the Patapsco River in Howard County. Read more…
Junior Hunter Field Days Scheduled
Events for Young Outdoor Enthusiasts in Cecil and Frederick Counties
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites youth, ages 8 to 16, with an interest in fishing, hunting, shooting sports, wildlife conservation and management to participate in upcoming Junior Hunter Field Day events in Cecil
The event in Frederick County will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Thurmont Conservation Sportsman Club. Activities will include archery, trap shooting, target shooting with .22 rifles and trapping demonstrations. Lunch will be provided, at no cost, for all participants. Space is limited to the first 100 registrants; deadline to register is Aug. 13.
In Cecil County, the Junior Hunter Field Day will be held 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 8 at Elk Neck State Park and Elk Neck State Forest. Activities will including archery, fishing, shooting sports (.22 rifles and muzzleloaders), sporting clays, and tree stand safety demonstrations. Presentations featuring the Scales and Tales program will also be given. Registration is required and will be limited to the first 125 participants. The deadline to register for this event is Sept. 7. All equipment, as well as lunch, will be provided.and Frederick counties. Read more…
Campers Pull Invasive Plants at New Germany
Volunteers, Staff Battle Botanical Bullies
Teams of young women joined forces with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Conservation Corps to remove more 700 pounds of invasive plants from New Germany State Park.
These volunteers, members of the Washington, D.C. Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, devoted much of June 20, working in the park as part of their annual summer camp.
The teams targeted coltsfoot, crown vetch, exotic bush honeysuckles, garlic mustard and Japanese stiltgrass, among other invasives. Read more…
Maryland Fire Crew Mobilized to Combat Wildfires Out West
Department Deploys First Crew of 2018 Season
Maryland has dispatched a 20-person fire crew to battle wildfires in the western United States. Maryland State (MDS) #1 mobilized July 6 at the Madonna Ranger Station in Harford County.
The unit will join five other crews from the mid-Atlantic at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, where they will receive their assignments.
Art in the Park Returns to Deep Creek Lake State Park
Visitors Will Enjoy Art, Food and Fun July 14-15
Deep Creek Lake State Park hosts its nineteenth annual Art in the Park festival July 14 and 15. Visitors to the park’s beach area can enjoy food, entertainment and educational activities while more than 45 artists display and sell their work.
Sponsored by the Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, the event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. All displayed artwork—including chocolates, furniture, jewelry, native wildflowers, photography, pottery and more—is available for purchase. Read more…
Boating Safety Enforcement Kicks into High Gear
Simple Steps Save Lives
This year, the Fourth of July celebration falls midweek, giving many people an extended holiday. The goal over the next few days for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is simple: fewer boating accidents.
The game plan is direct: the Natural Resources Police will be going all-out on the state’s waterways, from Deep Creek Lake to the Atlantic Ocean, to ensure an enjoyable and safe boating experience.
Late June 2018 Hypoxia Report
by Peter Zitta
As anticipated, dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem worsened in late June.
During its twice monthly monitoring cruises, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources found that hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/L oxygen) was 1.63 cubic miles, which is 42 percent greater than the late June average of 1.15 cubic miles, and an increase of 0.63 cubic miles from early June. Read more…
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