Natural Resources News
Maryland Creates New Black Bass Conservation Fund
Outdoor enthusiasts can donate when buying their licenses
Smallmouth bass, along with largemouth bass, are collectively known as black bass. Photo by Brett Poffenberger, submitted to Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Angler’s Log.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources now has a dedicated source of funding for conservation of Maryland’s largemouth bass and smallmouth bass—collectively called black bass—to which the state’s anglers, boaters, hunters, and others can contribute when purchasing their licenses.
Governor Wes Moore signed legislation on May 8 to create the Black Bass Conservation Fund, establishing a voluntary donation program through the Department of Natural Resources’ online COMPASS licensing system to help conserve the species and protect the fishery. Donations will be used to procure bass for remediation stocking in freshwater waterways, install structures for enhancing aquatic habitat, purchase supplies that promote conservation during bass tournaments, and support scientific research related to conservation of the resource. Read more…
Chesapeake Forest Hunting Tract Leasing Lottery Now Open
Deadline for hunt clubs to enter the lottery is August 23
Hunt clubs interested in obtaining a hunting lease agreement on Chesapeake Forest Lands can enter a lottery for available tracts in Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will accept online entries until August 23.
Winning clubs will have the right to obtain a ten-year lease agreement, at the price listed on the department website, for the upcoming hunting seasons 2023-2024 through 2032-2033. Read more…
Governor Moore Tours Mountain Maryland with Cabinet Officials to Mark the Moore-Miller Administration’s First Six Months in Office
Governor Wes Moore tours Deep Creek Lake State Park with Maryland Park Service Acting Superintendent Ranger Angela Crenshaw. Photo by Patrick Siebert, Maryland State House.
Governor Wes Moore this past weekend embarked upon a two-day tour of Mountain Maryland to mark the Moore-Miller administration’s first six months in office. Governor Moore was joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller for a convening of the administration’s cabinet at Rocky Gap Casino Resort and community engagement events in Allegany and Garrett Counties. Read more…
Conservation Jobs Corps Graduates Class of 2023
Maryland Teens Complete Outdoor Jobs Skills Program
Conservation Jobs Corps Class of 2023 at Sandy Point State Park. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Park Service graduated 33 young Marylanders from the Conservation Jobs Corps after four weeks of job training, conservation education, hard work, and fun. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources Graduates Maryland Conservation Corps Class of 2023
Program helps launch careers for environmental stewards
Maryland Conservation Corps Class of 2023 at Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area. Photo by AJ Metcalf, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources honored 35 members of the 2022-2023 Maryland Conservation Corps during their graduation program at Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area.
The August 3 ceremony capped the members’ completion of 10 months of job training, conservation work, and stewardship with the Maryland Park Service. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Acquires Old South Mountain Inn Property
The 3-acre land and building acquisition will expand public access and wildlife habitat in the South Mountain Recreation Area
Old South Mountain Inn, photo by Peter Morrill, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently purchased a parcel of land adjoining South Mountain State Park to bring additional recreational opportunities to residents in Washington and Frederick counties. Formerly the location of the Old South Mountain Inn, this 3.15 acres of mostly forested and historic land will be managed by the Maryland Park Service. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – August 2
This young angler caught a spot. Photo by Tom Cole
Spend your time enjoying family and friends, as the end of summer now looms on the horizon. Before they go back to school, load up your young’uns and take them on some summer fishing adventures. There is plenty of fun to be had out there and plenty of fish to keep them busy and build lasting memories.
Striped bass fishing has resumed in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The July two-week closure, in place to protect the resource during the hottest part of summer, has ended but the Department of Natural Resources still advises you to take caution when targeting striped bass. Please check our weekly Striped Bass Advisory Forecast to make sure weather conditions are safe for the fish you catch and release.
Maryland Awards More Than $200,000 Outdoor Learning Grants to Six Local Partners
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the award of more than $200,000 in competitive grants to support learning experiences and educational opportunities focused on environmental issues. Funding for the educational programs is provided by the state’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant and Aquatic Resources Education Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read more…
Maryland Awards $3 Million in Climate Resilience Grants to 13 Community Projects
Deal Island’s living shoreline and marsh enhancement work was supported by a past climate resilience grant. Photo by Nicole Carlozo, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced the award of more than $3 million in competitive grants for 13 climate resilience projects. The grants will help communities design and construct solutions to withstand flooding and other weather-related events.
The projects selected will reduce risk for vulnerable communities, incorporate climate change data and information into existing plans and policies, and develop nature-based or natural solutions to help control flooding. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Awards $22.9 Million for Chesapeake and Coastal Bay Restoration Projects
Restoration of tidal marsh at Deal Island is one of numerous projects funded by the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced the award of $22.9 million from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to 24 ecological restoration projects encompassing 95 sites throughout the state. The projects were selected to improve water quality and habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed while building local resilience to climate impacts. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 26
This huge bluefish is an example that you never know what can happen when you cast a line. Photo by Travis Long
Summertime fishing is in full swing, and anglers have been finding many adventures with other species of fish during the two-week striped bass closure in the Chesapeake Bay.
Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report – June 2023
Dissolved oxygen conditions among the best recorded
Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show that June 2023 dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia were much better than average. The results are from samples collected during regular monitoring cruises conducted by research vessels.
The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.22 and 0.33 cubic miles during the early and late June monitoring cruises, compared to early and late June averages of 0.87 and 1.30 cubic miles since 1985. This year’s data from early June ranks as the second smallest volume of hypoxic water volume on record and late June was the smallest volume for their respective time periods. No anoxia – areas of water with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – was observed in either June monitoring cruise. Read more…
Department of Natural Resources Awards Captain Monty Hawkins with Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award for 2023
Photo courtesy Monty Hawkins
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Advisory Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources are proud to announce Captain Monty Hawkins as the 2023 recipient of the annual Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award.
The Maryland Sport Fisheries Achievement Award was established by the commission in 2019 to honor individuals who have provided sustained efforts in habitat management, conservation, education, research, or other meaningful contributions that benefit recreational fishing in Maryland. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces More Than $100 Million in Local Grants to Expand Public Access to Outdoor Recreation and Open Space
Department of Natural Resources now accepting grant proposals for the FY25 Community Parks & Playgrounds Program
This Charles County regional park was a past project funded by Program Open Space. Photo by Margaret Lashar, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Governor Wes Moore today announced the availability of more than $100 million in local grants from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to expand and enhance public access to outdoor recreation and open space throughout Maryland. Through Program Open Space and Community Parks & Playgrounds programming, Maryland is continuing to meet the challenges of land conservation and recreation for our citizens across the state. Read more…
Maryland Black Bear Hunt Lottery Now Open for 2023 Season
Applications are due August 31; drawing held Sept. 6
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting applications for the 2023 black bear hunt lottery. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the 6-day hunting season open October 23-28 in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties.
The annual bear hunt, now in its 20th year, is an important management tool used to slow the increase of Maryland’s black bear population and limit expansion of Maryland bears into the eastern suburbs and cities. The department will once again issue 950 hunting permits this year. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces New Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Improvement Strategy
Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz plant an oak tree at Wye Mills Natural Resources Management Area as part of ‘Bay Day’. Photo by Joseph Andrucyk
During an Eastern Shore “Bay Day” tour, Governor Wes Moore on Thursday announced a major policy shift in how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. The governor signed two executive orders and outlined plans to provide more places for people to safely swim, better protect coastal areas from climate change, and increase fish and crab populations to improve economic opportunities for watermen and the state’s seafood industries.
“Our administration is focused on working in new and collaborative ways to reduce the pollution reaching our bays and providing our local communities and farmers with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed,” said Gov. Moore. “Now is the time to embrace the lessons we’ve learned in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays over the past 40 years and evolve our strategy to reflect that.”
Under the Moore-Miller administration, Maryland will become the first state in the Bay watershed to embrace the latest scientific recommendations to improve our land and clean our waterways, taking a proactive healthier waterways that are more accessible for Maryland’s communities, more resilient to climate change, and benefit the important industries that depend on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. The governor was joined by EPA Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and state, local, and federal officials. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 19
Summer vacations are in full swing, the perfect time for fishing trips such as this father and son on a charter boat off Ocean City. Part of their catch was this delicious triggerfish. Photo by Monty Hawkins
There is plenty of fishing to entertain anglers during these hot summer days. As a reminder, all areas of the Chesapeake Bay will be closed to any targeting of striped bass from July 16 through July 31 to protect the species during this hottest part of the year.
Fishing for a variety of species can also earn you an award. Congratulations to Maryland’s two new FishMaryland Master Angler award recipients, David McCollum of Bel Air and David Moore of Salisbury. Each angler caught ten different species that all met the minimum size requirements in the Department of Natural Resources fishing award program. An award presentation by Fishing and Boating Services was held at Bass Pro Shops in Hanover, which presented each Master Angler recipient with a $250 gift certificate, and included a behind the scenes tour and fish feeding session at the large aquarium. Dave Mccollum, also known as the “Conowingo Fish Whisperer” does a lot of casting for both walleye and striped bass below the Conowingo Dam in the Susquehanna River. David Moore is an avid surfcaster that catches striped bass, red drum, and various shark species from the beach at the Assateague National Seashore. He also participates in the NOAA volunteer angler shark tagging program. More information on the FishMaryland awards is on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Opens Grants Gateway for Fiscal Year 2025
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the Grants Gateway application is open for local governments and organizations for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1, 2024. 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. Read more…
Secretary’s Message – July 2023
Maryland is making more outdoor space accessible to more people
Indigo bunting at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, photo by Laura Frazier submitted to a previous Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest.
Governor Wes Moore recently unveiled a new summer tourism campaign for Maryland – “You’re Welcome” – to welcome visitors to experience our great state’s spectacular natural beauty.
Most people are familiar with our vast Maryland state park system, but did you know that great hiking, biking, birdwatching, camping, water access, and other recreational opportunities are found in our state forests, wildlife management areas, and other lesser-visited public lands? If you really do want to get away from it all, I encourage you to check out the array of natural areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Read more…
Maryland Natural Resources Police Remind Marylanders to Practice Water Safety
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Maryland’s boating and swimming season is in full swing and the Maryland Natural Resources Police is urging Marylanders to take proper precautions to ensure safe enjoyment of Maryland’s waterways this summer. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 12
Caroline White is all smiles with her first fish. Photo by David Storr III
It is time for summer fun and taking a youngster fishing is always a joy for parents, especially when the kids are excited about catching their first fish. Bluegill sunfish and white perch are often ready to oblige.
As a reminder, all areas of the Chesapeake Bay will be closed to any targeting of striped bass from July 16 through July 31. As we advise anglers every year, high summer air and water temperatures increase catch-and-release mortalities in striped bass. This closure takes place in the hottest part of the year.
Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Process Now Available for 2023-24
Online lottery, virtual appointments available to secure hunting locations
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering an online process for Maryland hunters to apply for a 2023-2024 waterfowl blind site license, which reserves a location for a landowner or authorized individual to place a hunting blind.
From July 12 through July 25 at 11:59 p.m., hunters may enter the annual lottery for the opening days of blind site licensing through the department’s Compass licensing portal. Read more…
Governor Moore Announces $13.5 Million in Maryland Waterway Improvement Funds
Projects Funded Statewide for New and Improved Public Boating Access, Waterway Dredging, and Safety Equipment
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $13.5 million in Waterway Improvement Funds. 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…
Eastern Shore Angler Catches Maryland State Record Snakehead
Record 21.0-pound fish caught in Dorchester County
Angler Damien Cook with his state record Northern snakehead. Submitted photo, used with permission
Damien Cook of Rhodesdale has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for Northern snakehead – Channa argus — in the state’s Invasive Division. Cook caught the 21.0-pound fish on July 5 while fishing in a Dorchester County river. Read more…
Chesapeake Bay Underwater Grasses Increased in 2022
Annual aerial survey showed continuing recovery
Widgeon grass is now the most common submerged aquatic vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today reported a 6% increase in submerged aquatic vegetation, commonly known as SAV or underwater grasses, in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay in 2022. Scientists mapped 37,297 acres of underwater grasses in Maryland during the annual survey. The results represent 47% of the state’s 2025 restoration target and 33% of the ultimate restoration goal of 114,065 acres. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – July 5
Taylor Ward went fishing with her dad and caught this large northern snakehead. Photo by Mike Ward
The summer season is now in full swing, and anglers are enjoying good fishing adventures with family and friends this week.
As we advise anglers every year, high summer air and water temperatures increase catch-and-release mortalities in striped bass. The Striped Bass Summer Fishing Advisory Forecast on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website is an awareness campaign aimed to reduce striped bass mortality during times when conditions are most dangerous for the fish.
For that reason, all areas of the Chesapeake Bay will be closed to any targeting of striped bass from July 16 through July 31, statistically the hottest part of the year in Maryland.
Garrett County Angler Catches Maryland State Record Fallfish
Record 3.01-pound Fish Reeled in from Upper Potomac River
Angler Bryson Meyers with his state record fallfish. Submitted photo, used with permission
For the second time in a month, the state record for fallfish has been broken. Bryson Meyers of Oakland has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for fallfish – Semotilus corporalis — in the state’s nontidal division.
Meyers caught the 3.01-pound fish on June 16 while fishing in the North Branch of the Potomac River, in the Westernport area. He was on a fly fishing float trip drifting the river for trout when he hooked the impressive fallfish, which measured more than 20 inches in length. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Schedules Qualification Shoots for Managed Deer Hunts
Proficiency Tests Necessary to Participate in Managed Deer Hunts
Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has released the 2023 Shooter Qualification Schedule for managed hunts, which includes more than 20 sessions at 11 locations across the state. The events allow hunters to take the necessary proficiency test required to obtain a Shooter Qualification Card to participate in the state’s managed deer hunts scheduled in the fall and winter. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 28
Bryce Schmitt enjoyed some time on the middle River while fishing for largemouth bass and northern snakeheads. Photo courtesy of Bryce Schmitt
We wish you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday with family and friends. Many anglers will take advantage of a little time off to fish and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with fishing. As a reminder, July 4 is the last free fishing day being offered in Maryland for 2023.
As we advise anglers every year, high summer air and water temperatures increase catch-and-release mortalities in striped bass. The Striped Bass Summer Fishing Advisory Forecast is an awareness campaign aimed to reduce striped bass mortality during times when conditions are most dangerous for the fish. A color-coded recommendation allows anglers to plan their striped bass fishing trips up to seven days in advance.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Purchases Former Bay Club Golf Course to Preserve Open Space in Worcester County
Partnership with Lower Shore Land Trust Adds to Chesapeake Forest Lands
The Chesapeake Forest Lands now comprise more than 76,000 acres n the lower Eastern Shore. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with Lower Shore Land Trust, today announced the purchase of the former Bay Club near Berlin, Worcester County, from Carl M. Freeman Companies. Formerly a golf club, this purchase will help conserve 672 acres in the headwaters of the Pocomoke River watershed with the objectives of restoring wetlands, reforestation, and providing public access. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Summer 2023 Schedule for ‘Es Mi Parque’
Photo by Ranger Melissa Boyle Acuti
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced the summer schedule for ‘Es Mi Parque’ Spanish-language activity events at state parks throughout Maryland.
The Es Mi Parque program was launched by the Department of Natural Resources in 2016 as a pilot project to improve customer service and reduce access barriers for the Hispanic community. It has since evolved to be the umbrella term for all Spanish bilingual programs and events at parks, including annual summer events at different state parks, a bilingual Junior Ranger camp held at Patapsco Valley State Park, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, and much more. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Revised Hunting License Price Structure
New Changes Include the Creation of a Sika Deer Hunting Stamp
Sika deer, photo by Stephen Aprile, submitted to the 2017 Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced that legislation passed during the 2023 General Assembly will increase the price of hunting licenses and some associated stamps beginning with the 2023-24 hunting season. The existing structure and fees had been in place since 2002, and the price of a regular resident hunting license had remained unchanged for 35 years. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 21, 2023
David Springham and daughter Phoebe went fishing together after dad got off from work, and they caught this blue catfish near the Conowingo Dam pool. Photo courtesy of David Springham
Often it is those small moments spent together with our loved ones that turn out to be special and long remembered. Fishing together definitely provides those moments, especially with our youngest anglers.
July 4 is just around the corner and with it the last free fishing day being offered in Maryland for 2023. Think about taking a friend, neighbor, or relative on a holiday fishing trip and introduce them to this wonderful pastime.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Certifies Two New Clean Marinas
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded Clean Marina certification to Hilltop Marina in Baltimore County and Bohemia Bay Yacht Harbour in Cecil County. There are now 147 certified Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30% of the marinas in the state. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 14
Sydney Cochrane went fishing with her dad near Poplar Island when she caught this nice striped bass. Photo by Rob Cochrane
This weekend, fathers across Maryland will be celebrated and many will choose to go fishing with their sons and daughters on this special day. Parents who take their children fishing share the kind of intimate experience together that few other activities offer. Lifelong bonds are formed that will stand the test of time and help set an example for the time when they become parents in later years.
Secretary’s Message – June 2023
A Healthier Chesapeake Bay Means Better Quality of Life for All
Chesapeake Bay from Point Lookout. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo
I was proud to represent the Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently at the release of the 2022 annual Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card, compiled by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. In this annual scientific review of the Bay’s health, we saw an overall increase of the grade, continuing a trend over the past two years. This is an encouraging sign in the recovery of the Bay, considering climate change has made the job of improving water quality significantly harder due to increased rain and warmer water.
The Department of Natural Resources collects and analyzes most of the environmental water quality and living resource data from Maryland used in this report. We track and restore forests, wetlands, and natural areas that contribute to abundant wildlife and fisheries. But we must look beyond the numbers and data to achieve our goals. Report cards are critical for holding us accountable, but they are also important for communicating with the people the importance of the mission to restore the Bay. Read more…
Why Certify? An Overview of Garden Habitat Certifications
Gardening with native species is rife with challenges. One of the hurdles we hear about so often is that many of our neighbors just don’t like what we’ve done with our yards and gardens when we replace non-native plants with their native cousins. In this article we’ll examine why that is and how garden certifications can help. Read more…
A Wild Summer Reading List for the Young and Young at Heart
This past winter, we came up with a Cozy Winter Reading List for quiet reading breaks in a busy holiday season. With summer heat rapidly bearing down on us, sprawling on a hammock, a lawn chair, or the beach with a book, soaking up those rays like a lizard, is top on many of our to-do lists. Once again, with the help of coworkers, fellow naturalists and book nerds, we’ve compiled a list of beloved titles to inspire not just you- but the young readers in your life. Read more…
Native Plant Profile: The Latest for Lawn Lovers
Eastern cottontail rabbit by Alec Haskard
Perhaps one of the most common criticisms of the movement to fill our properties with native trees and gardens is that people miss lawns! There is something pleasing about the vista of a green lawn, or the smell of mowed grass in the summertime… Still, the benefits of replacing your lawn with more beneficial plantings cannot be denied. Read more…
Native Animal Profile: Wood Thrush
“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.” ~ Rumi.
The arrival of summer in Maryland means the full orchestra of songbirds is back from winter migrations and treating our ears to a symphony of calls. Many naturalists and birders agree that one of the most beautiful songs in the deep woods is that of the wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). This small, brown and white bird in the same family as the American robin may not be the most colorful or showy, but they make up for it in musicality. According to the Cornell Lab:
The wood thrush’s easily recognized, flute-like ee-oh-lay is actually only the middle phrase of a three-part song. It learns the phrase from other wood thrushes and sings several variants with 2 to 10 loud, clear notes. Combining those with 1–3 variants of the low, soft notes of the introductory phrase and 6–12 variants of the final higher-pitched complex trill, a male can easily sing over 50 distinct songs.
Grants for Conservation, Education, and Recreation Awarded to 19 Projects in Maryland State Parks
Supporters Provide ‘Small Grants, Big Impact’
Patapsco Valley State Park received a ‘Small Grant, Big Impact’ award from Friends of Maryland State Parks to pay for fishing kits at three locations in the park. These kits will provide all of the basic equipment to catch fish at the park.
The Friends of Maryland State Parks Foundation recently awarded 19 grants totaling $31,280 to Maryland State Parks statewide, through the organization’s “Small Grants, Big Impact” initiative. These funds will provide resources to parks throughout the state for fishing education, bike repair stands, reforestation, and the purchase of kayaks and paddle boards. Read more…
Maryland Fishing Report – June 7
Kristen D’Amore-Benko caught and released this 40-inch striped bass in the surf on Assateague Island in mid-May. Remember that under new coastwide regulations, striped bass longer than 31 inches in length must be released. Photo courtesy Kristen D’Amore-Benko
Graduations and school dismissals are setting our younger anglers free to spend more time outdoors. Be sure to carve out time for some fishing adventures in Maryland’s varied waters.
Maryland will host the second of three license-free fishing days June 10. During a free fishing day, a person may catch and possess finfish in the tidal and nontidal waters of Maryland for recreational purposes without an angler’s license, Chesapeake Bay sportfishing license, or any fishing stamp normally required by the Department of Natural Resources. All other fishing laws and regulations will apply on those days. Maryland’s free fishing days are the first two Saturdays in June and the Fourth of July. Ask a neighbor or friend who doesn’t fish to join you and pick up this great pastime.
Maryland Spring Turkey Hunters Set New Harvest Record
Harvest Increases Reported in Every County
Photo by Stephen Badger, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland hunters harvested 5,356 wild turkeys during the 2023 spring regular and junior turkey seasons, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported. This year’s harvest was 27% higher than the 2022 harvest and surpassed the previous record harvest of 4,303, set in 2020. Read more…
Youth Angler from Cumberland Catches Maryland State Record Fallfish
Record 2.27-pound Fish Reeled in from Upper Potomac River
Crosby Abe caught this record fallfish in the upper Potomac River. Photo courtesy Crosby Abe.
An Allegany County youth has been recognized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a new state record holder for fallfish – Semotilus corporalis — in the state’s nontidal division.
Crosby Abe, 14, caught the 2.27-pound fish May 29 while fishing on the North Branch of the Potomac River, near the Cumberland Industrial Park boat launch. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Completes Shoreline Restoration in Dorchester County
Project Funded as Part of ‘Resiliency Through Restoration’
Goose netting was installed around new plantings along the Hurst Creek living shoreline project. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today announced the completion of shoreline construction at Hurst Creek in Dorchester County, the second of the department’s 24 Resiliency through Restoration Initiative pilot projects. In this project, nearly 1,200 linear feet of living shoreline was completed along the mouth of the Hurst Creek along the Choptank River. Read more…
A Home for the Herd: Conservation Easement Protects Unique Agricultural Property
The Wye River and its tributaries surround the conservation easement lands by Joe Streett
The preservation of natural areas and agricultural land often go hand in hand, or in some cases, hoof in hoof. This year, a treasured agricultural resource in Queen Anne’s County has been protected forever through the work of the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET). Read more…
The Canvasback Still Graces the Chesapeake
Male canvasback duck by Ilya Raskin
Science writer Cheryl Lyn Dybas and wildlife photographer Ilya Raskin visited Maryland DNR biologist Donald Webster along the Chesapeake in January 2020. Webster and his colleagues annually count canvasbacks and other wintering waterfowl on the Bay.
They came back,” says biologist Donald Webster. “This year.” His voice has a wistful note, wondering if the king of ducks, as the beautiful, crimson-headed canvasback is known, will return to rule Chesapeake Bay winter after winter. Read more…
From the Field: Colonel Adrian Baker, Former Maryland Natural Resources Police Superintendent
Colonel Baker delivers remarks at the 2022 Maryland Natural Resources Police graduation ceremony
On a summer day in 1984, Adrian Baker entered the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) Academy excited to become a conservation police officer. He knew he had a passion for the outdoors and helping others. Now 38 years later, he has retired from NRP as its superintendent and is reflecting on the remarkable changes he has seen. Read more…
What’s New in Maryland State Parks?
With record levels of investment in recent years, Maryland State Parks are expanding, with new parks and facilities being opened and existing properties undergoing upgrades. Statewide, landscape restoration projects are also underway to improve wildlife habitat, restore streams and shorelines, and plant trees.
These efforts are designed to ensure that Maryland’s award-winning state park system serves as a model of natural resource conservation that will inspire all Marylanders to join along with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ mission to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance our environment for this and future generations. In this and upcoming editions of Natural Resource Magazine, we will take a closer look at what’s new in Maryland State Parks. Read more…
5 Million Trees, 5 Million Voices: A Tale of Two Trees at Coppin State University
Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Program is a historic state directive to plant 5 million native trees on public and private land by 2031. The 5 Million Trees, 5 Million Voices series will highlight some of the planting opportunities in which Maryland Forest Service engages as the state pursues 5 Million Trees goals.
A Maryland Forest Service employee, a university maintenance manager, and a sorority alumna meet in a parking lot. No, this is not the beginning of a bad joke! It was the start of Coppin State University’s 2022 Arbor Day planting event. As the Maryland Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forester for the Central Region, an important facet of my job is organizing tree plantings like this one at a public Historically Black University in Baltimore. Read more…
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