Natural Resources News
New Maryland Clean Marina in Baltimore
Department of Natural Resources Certifies Harbor East in the Inner Harbor
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Harbor East Marina in Baltimore as the latest Maryland Clean Marina. The facility earned the recognition after adopting best management practices from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook, meeting all environmental and regulatory requirements, and passing a site inspection. Read more…
Largemouth Bass Reef Project Seeks Volunteers
To Provide Potomac River Nursery Habitat
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and National Harbor have formed a taskforce to construct and place 80 small concrete reef balls in Smoots Bay in the Potomac River to help improve the fishery. Read more…
Labor Day Patrols Lead to Arrests and Warnings
Even though Tropical Storm Hermine kept many boaters off the water this Labor Day weekend, the Maryland Natural Resources Police were busy inspecting anglers and crabbers, checking dove and waterfowl hunters and patrolling our state parks and waters. Read more…
Maryland Deer Archery Season Opens September 9
Sika Deer Hunting Now Permitted in All Counties
Archery hunting for white-tailed deer and sika deer opens statewide Sept. 9, and continues through Jan. 31, 2017. The bag limit for white-tailed bucks is one per weapon season. Maryland hunters in Region B have the option to take one additional bonus buck after purchasing a Bonus Antlered Deer Stamp and taking two antlerless deer. The antlerless deer bag limits differ between regions. Read more…
Maryland to Host National Hunting and Fishing Day
Family Friendly Event Set for Sept. 24
Anglers, conservationists, hunters and others interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in the 10th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration, hosted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
This free, family friendly event will take place Sept. 24, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (rain or shine) at the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore in Marriottsville (11518 Marriottsville Road).
Police Handle Fishing Violations; Charge Unsafe Boater
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers handled recreational crabbing and fishing violations, and charged a boater with unsafe operation in some recent cases. Read more…
Historic Landscape Conserved in Howard County
Maryland Environmental Trust Protects Portion of Belmont Manor and Historic Park
The Maryland Environmental Trust has permanently conserved a portion of Belmont Manor and Historic Park near Elkridge. Howard County, which owns the park, conveyed a conservation easement on a 36-acre section of the 69-acre property, which will protect the scenic rural landscape surrounding the historic manor house that dates back from the 18th century. Read more…
Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Announced
Mourning Dove Season Opens Sept. 1
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced the 2016-2017 early migratory game bird hunting seasons. Bag limits, season dates and shooting hours can be found in the 2016-2017 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping. Read more…
Brothers Charged with Assault following Boating Brawl
Two Anne Arundel County men were charged on Aug. 19 with multiple violations in connection with a fist fight that occurred last month aboard a boat on the Choptank River, the Maryland Natural Resources Police reported.
Fish Parasite Absent in Maryland Trout Samples
Natural Resources Surveys Western Maryland Streams
Blue Ridge Sculpin
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently joined the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service in a survey of Hunting Creek and Owens Creek in Frederick County to follow up on the 2015 discovery of Dermocystidium, a single-celled parasite effecting Blue Ridge sculpin fish, in Blue Blazes Creek near Thurmont.
The joint federal/state team found no signs of the parasite in samples of trout in the two Maryland streams.
Cambridge, Oxford and St. Michaels Awarded Working Waterfront Grants
Program Preserves and Revitalizes Maryland’s Maritime Communities
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded three municipalities: the City of Cambridge, the Town of Oxford and the Town of St. Michaels, with financial and technical assistance through the Working Waterfronts Program, a state initiative that aids in the preservation and revitalization of current and historic marine-based communities. Read more…
Police Investigate Boat Explosion, and Arrest Motorist with Drugs and Guns
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers investigated a boat explosion and a jet ski accident, arrested a motorist carrying drugs and loaded guns, and charged an unlicensed fishing guide in recent cases. Read more…
New Clean Marina in Anne Arundel County
Department of Natural Resources Certifies Harbour Cove Marina
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Harbour Cove Marina in Deale as the latest Maryland Clean Marina. The facility earned the recognition after adopting best management practices from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook, meeting all environmental and regulatory requirements, and passing a site inspection. Read more…
St. Mary’s County Watermen Charged with Fraud; Employee and Notary also Charged
A St. Mary’s County waterman has been criminally charged with running a commercial fishing fraud scheme, the Maryland Natural Resources Police reported. Read more…
Two White Perch Records Set in Maryland
Anglers Broke State Atlantic and Nontidal Records
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today confirmed two new white perch state fishing records. James Stiars of Bel Air broke his own nontidal record in Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County, and ten-year-old Ryan Timmons of Berlin broke the Atlantic record in Ayers Creek in Worcester County. Read more…
Officers Rescue Injured Boater; Arrest Three for Impairment
Maryland Natural Resources Police officers rescued an injured boater, arrested an impaired boater and driver, and won convictions in two fisheries cases over the past week.
Waterfowl Hunting at Deal Island and Fairmount
Department Now Accepting Lottery Applications
Hunters can now submit applications for the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days at Deal Island and Fairmount wildlife management areas, located in Somerset County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with assignments based upon a hunter’s stated preference for each area and/or date. Applications are due prior to Sept. 12. Read more…
Drunk Driver Convicted; Two Crabbers Charged
A drunk driving conviction and the charging of two crab poachers highlighted recent cases handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police. Read more…
Maryland Awarded $350,000 for Pumpout Boats and Stations
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been awarded more than $350,000 for the installation and maintenance of marine sewage pumpout stations across the state. The funding will go toward existing pumpouts as well as support pumpout boats operated by the City of Annapolis, the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy and the West and Rhode Riverkeeper.
Police Respond to Series of Boating Accidents
The Maryland Natural Resources Police responded to numerous boating accidents last weekend, one of which proved to be fatal.
Maryland Black Bear Lottery Now Open
Hunting Expanded to Include Frederick and Washington Counties
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 four-day hunting season, taking place Oct. 24-27 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. The department will issue 750 hunting permits (up from 500 permits in 2015) that can be used anywhere within the hunting zone. Read more…
Exciting Exhibits and Expanded Schedule Set for Maryland State Fair
Natural Resources Hosting Live Demonstrations and Programs
The birds are back! The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce that their feathered friends from the popular Scales and Tales Program will return to the Timonium Fairgrounds this year for the Maryland State Fair (Aug. 26-Sept. 5). Read more…
Department Awards Funding for Stream Education and Study
Engages Students in the Health of the Chesapeake Bay and Local Waterways
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today awarded $200,000 to four nonprofit organizations dedicated to engaging students in monitoring, studying and restoring local streams and waterways.
The four Explore and Restore Maryland Streams funding recipients will work with seven different counties, reaching over 7,000 students and 120 teachers at more than 50 schools throughout the state. The recipients are: Read more…
Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Dates and Locations Announced
Site Location Lottery Starts on August 2
Starting August 2, Maryland resident hunters can apply for a 2016-2017 waterfowl blind site license. Opening-day applicants will be entered into a lottery for a chance to select their sites. Each blind site license is assigned to a designated location in Maryland waters, where hunters can anchor their boats to hunt waterfowl. Read more…
Maryland Hunter, Virginia Crabber Charged
Richard Norman Warren
Fisheries and wildlife infractions highlighted a few cases recently handled by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Department Hosts First Oyster Advisory Commission Meeting
Members Charged with Reviewing Current Policies and Crafting Recommendations
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources yesterday held the first public meeting of the newly reconstituted Oyster Advisory Commission, where members discussed the current state of the oyster population, were briefed on the soon-to-be-released five-year oyster management review report and were provided their charge and mission from Secretary Mark Belton. Read more…
Nine-Year-Old Sets New Maryland Fishing Record
94.6-pound Cobia Caught by 65-pound Emma Zajdel
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that Emma Zajdel, 9, of Ocean City, has set a new state fishing record with a 94.6-pound cobia. Read more…
Natural Resources Police Blotter: Impaired Boaters Charged
A waterman and two seafood dealers were charged and three impaired boaters were arrested in recent cases brought by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Shooter Qualification Schedule Released
Qualification Necessary to Participate in Managed Deer Hunting Programs
The 2016-17 Shooter Qualification Schedule is now available and includes more than 30 firearm qualification sessions at 16 locations across the state, from Allegany to Queen’s Anne County. These events allow hunters to take the necessary proficiency test required to obtain a Shooter Qualification Card in order to participate in many of the managed deer hunts scheduled for the fall and winter. Read more…
Practice Safe Boating this Holiday Weekend
The goal this July 4th weekend for the Maryland Natural Resources Police is simple: fewer boating accidents.
The game plan is direct: officers will be going all-out on the state’s waterways, from Deep Creek Lake to the Atlantic Ocean.
Two Poachers Banned from Striped Bass Fishery
Additional Restrictions Placed on Commercial Fishing Activity
Two Talbot County watermen convicted of poaching and selling nearly $500,000 of striped bass over four years have received lifetime bans from taking part in that fishery by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Recreational Crabber Charged with Violations, Failing to Protect Turtles
A St. Mary’s County man has been charged with possessing undersized crabs and failing to equip his crab pots with devices to prevent the drowning of diamondback terrapins. Read more…
Department Recruits Young Adults for Maryland Conservation Corps
Award-Winning AmeriCorps Program Provides Practical Experience and Skills
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now recruiting 17-25 year olds for the Maryland Conservation Corps, an award-winning AmeriCorps program that engages young adults in extensive natural resource management and park conservation projects across the state.
The program seeks to hire 35 full-time crew members for an 11-month period, beginning in October 2016. Read more…
Impaired Boater Arrested; Maryland Gears Up for Operation Dry Water
An overdue boater, who triggered an extensive search overnight Sunday by federal, state and local agencies, was located and charged with drunken operation, Maryland Natural Resources Police reported.
The incident in Calvert County is a reminder of the dangers of driving a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as officers gear up for the Operation Dry Water enforcement campaign this coming weekend. Read more…
Taking Action at Cattail Creek: A community effort to restore a stream
Berrywood residents and project staff left to right: Bob Lennox, Bob Royer, Andrea Germain, Jon Hartley,Suzanne Etgen, Molly LaChapelle, Marion Clement
The Magothy River has long been cherished by the communities in its watershed: Arnold, Broadneck, Pasadena and Severna Park. While the commitment to local stewardship continues to grow, one community is making waves to improve its stream.
The stream is Cattail Creek and the community is Berrywood of Severna Park. Read more…
On Duty: State park lifeguards
Guarding Sandy Point; courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Program
Maryland State Parks annually host more than 6 million visitors between Memorial Day and Labor Day. They come to enjoy the campgrounds, trails and playgrounds, and to cool off in the water. Many parks boast water attractions like lakes and beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay and Deep Creek Lake, and even a couple of pools.
Coyotes in Maryland: Where they came from and what to expect
Adult coyote; by Matt Knoth
No, coyotes didn’t ride into the state at the hand of insurance companies looking to thin out the deer herd to reduce deer-vehicle collisions. And no, wildlife management agencies didn’t stock them across the state. These are two funny but common myths surrounding the arrival of these highly adaptable mid-sized canines and their arrival in Maryland.
Sandy Point State Park: The fastest-growing town in Maryland
Sunrise at Sandy Point; by James Phelps
The sky is just beginning to wake up when the line begins forming.
In the time it takes the horizon to go from inky black to soft blues and pinks, cars multiply and snake from the entrance of Sandy Point back toward the U.S. Route 50 exit ramp. Read more…
Go West, Young Angler, Go West! Float-fishing on the North Branch
Rainbow trout; by Harold Harsh
If you would like the adventure of an entirely different trout fishing experience similar to that of the western states, look no further than the North Branch Potomac River. Read more…
Tern Island: This place is for the birds
Tern Island; staff photo
Barely rising above the waterline in Isle of Wight Bay is, perhaps, the last hope for some of Maryland’s beach-nesting birds.
A small, four-acre disk of sand, about a half a mile west of Ocean City, is where scientists and bird lovers hope black skimmers, royal terns and common terns will come each spring to breed and replenish their badly depleted numbers. Read more…
Birds Without Borders: Continental bird conservation
Canada Geese; by Chuck Prahl
One hundred years ago, North America united for birds.
This August marks the 100th anniversary of the first Migratory Bird Treaty. This groundbreaking international agreement between the United States and Canada was our country’s first international commitment to protect natural resources across political boundaries. This milestone set the stage for continent-wide cooperative protection of migratory birds.
Read more…
Dear Friends of Soldiers Delight: Celebrating our mentors
Serpentine barren; by Richard Orr
One of Maryland’s most valuable resources is its people. Throughout my life, some truly awe-inspiring folks exposed to me the wonder of nature—taught me how to appreciate it, took me places to enjoy it and revealed to me how to find it on my own.
This past February, I had the honor of interviewing two such people: Jean Worthley and Les Graef, both now 91 years old, both protectors of our Maryland heritage and one of its most unique ecosystems nestled within Owings Mills.
Jean and Les first crossed paths in the 1950s—a time when Baltimore County was growing quickly and Soldiers Delight was in risk of being left off the map.
Calling for Help: A profile on emergency dispatchers
Communications center; by Candy Thomson
When trouble strikes on the Chesapeake Bay, in the woods or at a state park, the call for help is answered by one of most important Department of Natural Resources employees you will never see: a police dispatcher.
Better Boating for All: Partnerships supporting recreation on the water
Fort Smallwood before (top) and after (below); staff photo
Maryland boasts a rich maritime history, a vast array of freshwater and saltwater venues and an enthusiastic constituency of recreational boaters who have more than 180,000 recreational vessels. Standing by to serve citizens and visitors alike are more than 600 marinas and 500 public boat ramps and launches.
Good Samaritan Helps Officers Rescue Crabber; Police Arrest Two for Impaired Boating
Maryland Natural Resources Police corral a runaway crab boat on the Wicomico as well as arrest two impaired boaters. Read more…
Governor Larry Hogan Announces $23.25 Million in Grants to Reduce Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Sponsors 21 Projects
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Department of Natural Resources has awarded grant funding, totaling $23.25 million, to reduce nonpoint source pollution through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. The Trust Fund directs funding to the most cost-effective and efficient projects in the state, with the goal of gaining the greatest reduction of pollution for the investment being made. Read more…
Black Bears Spotted in Suburban Maryland
Department Urges Residents to Take Commonsense Precautions
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources would like to alert citizens that juvenile black bears have been seen wandering through the state’s more suburban areas this spring. There have been recent, confirmed bear sightings in Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties as juvenile bears disperse, or seek out a new territory. Read more…
Launch Steward Program Interdicts Zebra Mussels at Deep Creek Lake
Department Provides Tips to Prevent Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels, an invasive species of shellfish, attached to the propeller and outboard motor of a pontoon boat attempting to launch at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Launch stewards, conducting voluntary boat inspections, identified the mussels earlier this month on a vessel last used on the Monongahela River, where zebra mussels are established. The stewards were able to intercept the boat prior to launch, and removed all visible zebra mussels for examination and inspection. Read more…
Calvert County Man Arrested for Animal Cruelty, Illegal Drugs
A Calvert County man was arrested Tuesday night and charged with animal cruelty and practicing veterinary medicine without a license in connection with his animal rehabilitation center.
Six Communities Receive Flooding and Storm Event Funding
Federal, State Program Aids Local Governments
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that six communities were selected to receive Community Resiliency Grants to help local governments prepare for weather-related hazards, including flooding, storm events and sea level rise. The new funding will provide both financial and technical assistance to coastal and non-coastal areas throughout Maryland through the CoastSmart Communities and Green Infrastructure Resiliency programs. Read more…