Natural Resources News
Celebrating 50 Years of Memories: Assateague State Park
Modern-day Assateague; by Stephen Badger
Each year, more than one million visitors cross the Verrazano Bridge to the narrow strip of barrier island known as Assateague State Park.
Ponies on the beach; by Sandra Sulivan
There they join a myriad of wildlife, including the island’s famous wild horses and elusive sika deer. Birds abound throughout the year in the marshes and on the beaches. Just offshore in the Atlantic Ocean swim dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and a whole host of other aquatic dwellers. The scenic Sinepuxent Bay provides habitat for diamondback terrapins, blue crabs, clams and mussels.
Nature thrives here, but it might not have been that way without the efforts of a determined group of citizens, a responsive government and a timely reminder from Mother Nature that such places can be very fragile and unstable.
Becoming a state park: an historical perspective
Assateague State Park was established following a long process that began in the 1930s, when the National Park Service recommended that barrier reefs and other coastal resources throughout the nation be protected for recreational use. In 1940, the Maryland State Planning Commission suggested establishing a state park on the island, emphasizing the importance of preserving the natural state of such sensitive areas.
Kids in a lifeguard chair in the 1970s; department photo
Meanwhile, development was creeping in. During the 1950s, the Ocean Beach Corporation sold hundreds of residential lots. Design plans called for commercial development and a causeway from the mainland, mirroring Ocean City.
But not everyone was happy to see development coming. Local citizens like Mr. William E. Green—known as Assateague’s unofficial senator—dedicated their energy to preserving the land for public use. Beginning in 1955 and every year thereafter until his death in the early 1960s, Green journeyed to Annapolis when the General Assembly convened and laid copies of a petition showing community support for preservation on every legislator’s desk.
Then came the Great March Storm of 1962, which destroyed 30 of houses already built on Assateague and damaged the remaining 18. The storm provided the final impetus behind state and federal efforts to make the island a publicly owned resource in its entirety. Assateague Island National Seashore was designated by Congress that year to protect the island in the states of Virginia and Maryland.
Families camping in the 1960s; department photo
Assateague State Park’s master development plan was completed in 1964. Later that year, the Maryland State Roads Commission completed the gateway to Assateague—the Verrazano Bridge. Construction of the park began soon thereafter, opening to the public in 1965. Over the next seven years, improvements were gradually added, including a bathhouse and concession building, a large parking area, campground loops and shower buildings.
Over time, more facilities were built to accommodate the park’s increasing popularity—additional campsites with a youth group camping area, modern restrooms, a nature center and permanent ranger station.
Then and Now
No one is better suited to talk about the early years than Carmella Baum, a visitor to Assateague who has been coming with her family every summer for the past 50 years. She recalled their first year camping when there were no paved parking areas or roads across the bridge, nor any buildings or facilities. Campers would set-up in a circle just behind the dune.
“The ranger would come around every evening and collect the $2 per night it cost for your campsite,” Baum remembers. She recalls the endless beaches, abundant bayberry and blackberry bushes where her five children would explore, and “the ponies that would come right up to you just like they do today.”
Carmella Baum
She talks about the original group of campers getting to know one another and becoming friends, returning year after year to spend their vacation time together. Many of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren still make Assateague State Park their annual family holiday.
Today, just like in 1965, families come to enjoy the tranquility, the ocean waves and the salt air; to make a connection to this place that holds so much beauty and diverse life. To think of how different the island would look had the development continued conjures up a completely different image of Assateague.
Whether you visited in 1965 or today, you can be comforted to know that it will be preserved as a park for the enjoyment of future generations and for the nature and wildlife that call it home for many years to come.
Anniversary Celebration
More than 400 visitors and guests attended the anniversary celebration this past August, which featured 1960s era arts and crafts, photo exhibits and displays of live birds and sea creatures.
Superintendent Nita Settina, Sec. Mark Belton, Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford
A ceremony commemorated the park and recognized staff members and volunteers, past and present, as well as long-time visitors and campers.
Among the dignitaries in attendance, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford presented a Governor’s Proclamation recognizing August 14, 2015 as Assateague State Park Appreciation Day. The document urges all citizens to remember their own experiences on the island; create new memories with family and friends; share their love of this state treasure with those who have not yet enjoyed its grandeur; and join fellow Marylanders in saluting the park’s staff for their work in keeping Assateague State Park one of our premier destinations.
Article by Angela Baldwin—Assateague State Park manager.
Appears in Vol. 18, No. 4 of the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, fall 2015.
Breaking Tradition: The tale of a huntress
Kent Island deer; by Douglas E. George
If someone asks you to envision what a typical hunter looks like, the first image that comes to most peoples’ mind is that of a man in the woods decked out in camouflage with a shotgun poised for the hunt. Why not a woman?
I’m a woman and I still picture a man with a gun in the woods. This image has been embedded into my brain since childhood—it’s what we have been told and taught.
It’s time now to break tradition. Read more…
No Small Matter: Fort Smallwood Park provides public boating access
Construction site; courtesy of Anne Arundel County
On a large plot of land on the Patapsco River in northeastern Anne Arundel County, it is quiet. The only sounds are from the wind rustling the trees and a family of ducks swimming alone in the water.
In the distance, an excavator revs up and, nearby, a towering red crane on a water barge begins to hum—two hints that this site will be very different come spring. The future scene will be one of friends and families on boats or lone anglers wading into the water.
Welcome to the Department of Natural Resources’ top priority boating and public access project: Fort Smallwood Park.
Federal, state and local partners have spent years conducting research, planning, securing funding and permits, and clearing the site. And now construction of a new two-lane boat ramp has officially begun at the 90-acre park located in Pasadena, across the river from Baltimore.
 Built as a sea coast defense in the late 1880s, Fort Smallwood is named for Revolutionary War Maj. Gen. William Smallwood, who later became governor of Maryland. Directly across the mouth of the Patapsco River is another fort built during the same era, Fort Howard. They were established to protect Baltimore Harbor from invasion but now serve the public as parks. |
Holding down the fort
Jim Rehak, the marine contractor selected for the project, wipes his brow as he looks over the site.
“We are starting to put in sheeting today that will be used as a breakwater to protect the harbor, making it easier and safer for boaters to launch,” he comments. “We are going with steel instead of vinyl now and you all should be happy about that. It will hold-up so much longer.”
Anne Arundel County has more than 400 miles of tidal shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay and almost 12,000 registered trailered vessels. It has more demand for boating access than any other county or city in the state, but only two public boating access facilities. However, neither Sandy Point State Park nor Truxton Park, both near Annapolis, are owned by the county nor convenient for northern county residents.
“For many years, we have been seeking an opportunity to increase boating access in Anne Arundel County,” says Mark O’Malley, director of boating. “This project is highly anticipated by the state, the county and the many boaters who currently have to travel significant distances in order to launch.”
Location, location, location
Choosing Fort Smallwood as the location was the result of a one-year planning effort involving monthly meetings with a citizen’s advisory committee and a public assembly to obtain final comments. The site will serve residents of Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties as well as Baltimore City.
“We are excited to see the finished product of this endeavor: a boat ramp on the Patapsco River that affords easy water access to the Baltimore City Inner Harbor, as well as fishing grounds and ports of call within the northern and middle Chesapeake Bay regions,” says Director of Boating Implementation, Carla Fleming. “This project is a game-changer for Maryland boaters and anglers and demonstrates what can happen when federal, state and local partners work together.”
Construction; courtesy of Anne Arundel County
Partnering for progress
The total approved cost of the boating access facility portion of the project is more than $2 million, which will be split between federal Sport Fish Restoration – Boating Access funds, state Waterway Improvement funds, and a combination of state Program Open Space and Anne Arundel County General Obligation Bond funds.
The area will have 470 feet of additional breakwater (to help ensure that launchings are done safely), additional parking, mechanical dredging, floating piers, navigational lights, environmentally friendly stormwater drainage systems, an access road and lighting, landscaping and paved trails. The planning committee expects more than 14,000 boat launches a year after the open in spring 2016.
“The facility is an important step for Anne Arundel County as we carry out County Executive Steve Schuh’s initiative to provide boat ramps on all our major rivers,” says Rick Anthony, director of Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. “This project demonstrates the many benefits of partnerships. The financial and technical support from DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been tremendous. The Fort Smallwood ramp will provide a state-of-the-art launch facility for our residents and our many visitors.”
Easing access
To accommodate all of these new visitors, additional parking for 48 tow vehicles and trailers will be added to the park. The park, which features picnic shelters, restrooms, a playground, a kayak and canoe launch, and the 380-foot Bill Burton fishing pier, dedicated to the late outdoor sportswriter.
A plaque on the pier includes a quote from Burton: “As a parting favor to me, take a kid fishing and you might just find it as satisfying for you as it is for your pupil. More important, if the budding angler maintains interest, he or she will come to appreciate conservation and the environment—and insist on a cleaner and more ecological-friendly state, nation and world.”
Perhaps the new boat ramp adjacent to this pier—another gateway to the Bay for current and future Marylanders—will help fulfill Burton’s call to create the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and environmental stewards. One thing is certain: come spring, many happy boaters and anglers will be heading towards Fort Smallwood, poles and trailers in tow.
Article by Kristen Peterson—senior manager of strategic communications.
Appears in Vol. 18, No. 4 of the Maryland Natural Resource magazine, fall 2015.
Working Waterfronts: Preservation requires balanced, inclusive approaches
Cambridge Creek; by Graham Slaughter
The sun rose high above the Choptank River, a typical day on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Watermen were already afloat when the City of Cambridge opened the doors to its festival hall at Sailwinds Park. More than 100 individuals representing boaters, watermen, businesses, concerned citizens, non-profit organizations, academics, local planners, and state and federal partners made their way towards the Working Waterfronts Exchange. Read more…
Permit-only Sites on the Eastern Shore to open to Goose Hunting
Hunters Can Apply through Lottery Drawing
Marylanders can now apply to take part in permit-only migratory Canada goose hunting days at Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area (NRMA), Tuckahoe State Park and Wye Island NRMA. All permits will be issued through a lottery drawing, with one application per hunter, per park permitted. Read more…
Gaithersburg Man Wins Top Prize in DNR Photo Contest
Record Number of Photos Submitted
Winning Photo: Female Red-Winged Blackbird by Santosh Shanmuga
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the winners of its 12th annual photo contest, with Santosh Shanmuga of Gaithersburg, Maryland claiming top honors for his serene Female Red-Winged Blackbird taken at Swan Harbor Farm in Harford County. The winning images will appear in the winter edition of the agency’s seasonal magazine as well as its 2016 calendar.
Bidding Open for Trapping Privileges on Select Eastern Shore Wildlife Management Areas
Muskrat
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting bids for the 2015-2016 trapping season at Ellis Bay, Fishing Bay, Idylwild, LeCompte, Linkwood, Nanticoke River, Taylor’s Island, and Wetipquin wildlife management areas (WMA). Read more…
Department of Natural Resources Outlines Fee Reductions
Cuts Will Aid Maryland Small Businesses, Property Owners and Seniors
Following Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s announcement that the state is eliminating or reducing $51 million in state-issued fees, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) outlined its proposals:
- Golden Age Pass holders will no longer have to pay a fee to use state park boat launches or ramps. The $10 pass entitles Maryland adults, ages 62 and older, to a lifetime of free day-use entry into all state parks, as well as half price camping Sunday through Thursday.
DNR Certifies 156th Maryland Clean Marina
Island View Marina on Kent Island joins the ranks
Island View Marine
Island View Marina, serving boaters of the Eastern Bay, has been certified as the latest Maryland Clean Marina.
Already recycling materials and providing a pumpout station, Owner George Ritter took it a step further, meeting Clean Marina criteria by educating customers on pollution prevention, as well as capturing all bottom wash water and improving stormwater management. Read more…
NRP Blotter
Two men were charged with poaching 35 striped bass off Kent Narrows
Two men were charged on Saturday by a Maryland Natural Resources Police officer with poaching 35 striped bass while fishing from a boat off Kent Narrows.
Alexis Gustavo Corrales Osorio, 24, of Davidsonville, and Elvis Jose Corrales Rodas, 35, of Alexandria, Va., were charged with fishing without a Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license, exceeding the daily limit, keeping undersized striped bass and possessing striped bass between midnight and 5 a.m.
The officer saw the two men fishing, asked to check their cooler and found the illegal catch.
Osorio and Rodas are scheduled to appear in Queen Anne’s District Court on Nov. 19. If found guilty of all charges, each man could be fined as much as $4,000. Read more…
Maryland Works to Preserve and Revitalize Working Waterfronts
Grants Available to Municipalities and Counties
Cambridge Creek; Photo by Graham Slaughter
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking proposals from local governments designed to protect and invigorate coastal communities and waterfront economies. Municipalities and counties in the coastal zone are eligible to apply for these one-year National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association grants through DNR’s Working Waterfronts Program.
The Working Waterfronts Program provides financial and technical assistance to local governments to promote and aid the preservation of existing and historic working waterfronts in Maryland, including cities and towns that provide access to the water and related activities such as fishing, boating and the marine trades.
Hyattsville Boy Wins Boat Grand Prize at Maryland Fishing Challenge Finale
Grand Prize winner, Luke Adams, with his new boat
DNR awards more than $40,000 in cash and prizes
More than $40,000 in cash, prizes and merchandise was awarded to lucky anglers this morning at the 2015 Maryland Fishing Challenge Finale. Nearly 2,000 people, including sponsors, contestants and their guests, attended the celebration held in conjunction with the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces New Fisheries Director
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the appointment of David Blazer as the new director of fisheries. In this capacity, Blazer will manage the state’s fisheries by keeping balance with the ecosystem, while providing high quality, diverse and accessible fishing opportunities.
“The common thread throughout his career is his demonstrated ability to bring a range of diverse stakeholders together for a common goal,” DNR Secretary Mark Belton said. “His environmental, management and policy experience – and firsthand knowledge of the department – will serve the state and its natural resources well.”
NRP Logs Busy Labor Day Weekend with Rescues and Arrests
The traditional final weekend of summer proved to be a busy one for the men and women of Maryland Natural Resources Police.
For the three-day Labor Day holiday, officers responded to 15 boating accidents that resulted in injury or property damage, arrested six people on charges of impaired boating and seven others on criminal charges. They wrote 437 tickets and issued 1,204 warnings. Officers across the state conducted 1,983 boat safety inspections, spoke with 3,587 anglers and 235 hunters.
Read more…
Record-Breaking Number of Bear Hunt Applicants
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received over 4,300 black bear lottery applications this year, which is a 19 percent increase over last year.
“We are excited to kick-off the 2015 bear hunt in western Maryland, which is an important management tool used to slow the growth of the state’s black bear population,” said Harry Spiker, DNR bear biologist.
Read more…
Maryland Deer Archery Season to Open September 11
Archery hunting for white-tailed deer opens statewide in Maryland on Friday, September 11, 2015 and continues through January 30, 2016.
As a reminder, there is a statewide bag limit for bucks of one per weapon season—bow, muzzleloader and firearm. 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 the two Maryland Deer Management Regions.
Teal Season to Open September 16
The teal hunting season in Maryland will open on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 and continue through Wednesday, September 30, 2015.
Hunters should note several important aspects of the September teal season:
- Shooting hours are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset
- The daily bag limit is six teal (blue or green-winged)
- The possession limit for teal is three times the daily bag limit
Fall Hunting Season Kicks Off in Maryland
Dove Seasons Starts September 1
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is excited to begin another series of hunting seasons across the state today, as several migratory bird seasons traditionally open on the first of September.
“Hunters are reminded to follow the principles taught in their safety classes and courses and abide by all appropriate regulations so they can maintain the safe and ethical reputation earned by Maryland hunters,” said DNR Director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service Paul Peditto. “Get outdoors and into a field this season with friends, family, and maybe even a retriever or two that have spent the summer training for this day and hunting season.” Read more…
Three Eastern Shore WMA’s Temporarily Closed To Waterfowl Hunting
Three Eastern Shore Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s) or portions of WMA’s in Somerset County have been temporarily closed to waterfowl hunting. The closed areas include crop fields managed for mourning doves where a portion of the crop has been mowed or manipulated. State and federal laws allow dove hunting, but not waterfowl hunting, in areas where a crop has been manipulated.
Read more…
DNR Announces 2015-2016 Late Waterfowl Seasons
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today the 2015-2016 late waterfowl seasons.
Highlights include:
- Youth waterfowl hunting days on November 7, 2015 and February 6, 2016
- Regular duck hunting season segments on October 10-17, November 14-27 and December 15-January 30, with a daily bag limit of six ducks, including two canvasbacks
- Migratory Atlantic Population Canada goose hunting segments on November 21-27 and December 15-February 3, with a daily bag limit of two geese
- Late resident Canada goose hunting segments on November 21-27 and December 15-March 9, with a daily bag limit of five. The Canada goose hunting zone map (i.e. migrant and resident) and the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons flyer are available online.
Maryland to Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day
Anglers, hunters and anyone interested in the great outdoors are invited to take part in Maryland’s 9th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration. Hosted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this free event will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, 11518 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville.
Invasive Zebra Mussels Spread Downstream Toward Baltimore Harbor
DNR Calls on Public to Report Suspected Sightings
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently confirmed the presence of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymporha) in tributaries of the upper Western Shore near Middle River in Baltimore County. On August 17, 2015, a waterman alerted DNR Biologist Brenda Davis of small zebra mussels fouling their crab gear off the Gunpowder, Bush and Middle Rivers. The next day, DNR Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystem Program biologists found numerous mussels in aquatic vegetation while trawling Middle River.
NRP Blotter
Worcester County
On August 5, 2015, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers received a report of a theft that had occurred in Worcester County at the Ocean City Fishing Center during the White Marlin Open tournament.
Maryland Environmental Trust Announces New Director
William H. Leahy to Focus on Public Input and Interest
The Board of Trustees of the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) today announced the hiring of William H. Leahy as its next director. Leahy is a nationally recognized leader in the field of natural resources preservation, with over 20 years of experience in land conservation with a focus on transactional real estate, strategic planning, board development, donor and foundation philanthropy, and partnership building. Read more…
NRP Launches Safe Boating Campaign To Run Through Labor Day
SANDY POINT STATE PARK – Vowing to step up enforcement and outreach to protect Maryland’s boating public, the Maryland Natural Resources Police today outlined a campaign that will run weekends through Labor Day.
Seventeen people have died in boating accidents in Maryland so far this year, two short of the record reached in 2011 and 1996.
Marbury Archer Sets Maryland Snakehead Record
Todd Murphy of Marbury caught a state record, 17.47-pound northern snakehead while fishing with bow and arrow on Mattwoman Creek in the early hours of August 8, beating the previous record of 16.94 pounds set by Teddy McKenzie in 2014.
“I went out on the high tide expecting to find catfish up in the flooded grass,” said Murphy. “I was surprised to find snakeheads instead, and ended up with seven of them and not a single catfish.”
Murphy bagged the record just before 2:30 a.m.
Maryland Announces Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons
The Department of Natural Resources today announced the 2015-2016 early migratory game bird hunting seasons, which mark the traditional start of hunting activity each year in Maryland. Read more…
Lottery Applications for Deal Island and Fairmount Wildlife Management Areas Now Available
Hunters can now apply to take part in the annual permit-only waterfowl hunting days at the Deal Island and Fairmount wildlife management area (WMA) impoundments in Somerset County. Read more…
Project to Treat Two Million Gallons of Stormwater a Year, Prevent Run-off to the Anacostia River
DNR Secretary Mark Belton (standing third from left) joins representatives from the Anacostia Watershed Society, Prince George’s County and the First United Methodist Church
Elected officials, citizens and supporters today joined together at the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville to dedicate a new stormwater retrofit project that will filter runoff from more than 3 acres of pavement, the first of more than 4,000 acres across Prince George’s County that the state and county will address in an effort to help clean and restore the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay.
Mark Belton, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Adam Ortiz, Director for the Department of the Environment for Prince George’s County; Rev. Dr. Yvonne Wallace-Penn, Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville; and Jim Foster, President of the Anacostia Watershed Society were on hand to celebrate the project’s completion and participate in a ground healing ceremony that involved planting native trees, shrubs and plants. Read more.
Solar and Wind Power Projects Set for Sandy Point State Park
Upgrades Estimated to Reduce Total Energy Consumption by Nearly Half
One of Maryland’s most popular Chesapeake Bay destinations, Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, will soon become a model of alternative energy with the installation of solar power, wind power and other energy efficient features. The Board of Public Works yesterday approved a $535,870 contract with Baltimore-based Bithenergy to evaluate, design and install park upgrades that will reduce total energy consumption by an estimated 45 percent. Read more…
NRP Charges Angler with 32 Undersized Rockfish; Cites Seafood Dealer for Invasive Species
A Bladensburg man was charged Saturday with catching and keeping 32 undersized striped bass by the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Camilo Arturo Paez Herrera, 26, received citations for fishing without a license, exceeding the daily creel limit, possessing undersized striped bass and fishing outside legal hours. Read more…
Maryland’s Proposed Late Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Open to Comment
The proposed 2015-2016 late waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits are now available. The Maryland Department of Natural Resource (DNR) will accept public comment on the proposed regulations through August 17, to be finalized in early September after DNR reviews citizen input and obtains approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Read more…
DNR Offers Exciting New Programs and Exhibits at the State Fair
When it comes to animal magnetism, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is second to none. Meet its collection of critters and the people who know them best at the Maryland State Fair, an end-of summer ritual for tens of thousands of families that begins Aug. 28. Read more…
Maryland Black Bear Lottery is Open
Hunting Limited to Allegany and Garrett Counties
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for this year’s lottery for black bear hunting permits. Successful applicants will receive a permit valid for the four-day black bear hunting season, taking place October 26-29, 2015 in Garrett and Allegany counties. DNR will issue 500 permits.
The annual bear hunt is an important management tool used to slow the growth of Maryland’s black bear population as it expands eastward. Read more…
NRP Charges Glen Burnie Men with Destroying Trees, Wildlife on State Property
Seven Glen Burnie residents were charged Sunday by the Maryland Natural Resources Police with illegally killing wildlife, chopping down trees and having drugs and alcohol in Green Ridge State Forest in Allegany County. Read more…
Maryland to Hold Public Meeting on Waterfowl Regulations
Proposed late season waterfowl hunting regulations will be discussed at a public meeting hosted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 7 p.m. on August 13 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills. DNR will announce the proposed dates and bag limits in early August after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finalizes its late season framework. Read more…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Announces Appointment of Assistant Secretary of Land Resources and Director of Communications
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- Daryl Anthony
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- Stephen Schatz
DNR Secretary Mark Belton today announced two new appointments to the department’s leadership team.
Daryl Anthony, a veteran employee who most recently served as western region manager of the Maryland Park Service, has been named assistant secretary of land resources.
Stephen Schatz, an experienced media relations professional with a strong background in public policy communications, joins as the director of communications.
NRP Seizes Venomous Snakes from Allegany Co. Home
Spitting Cobra
A raid of an Allegany County pet shop and home Thursday resulted in the seizure of three venomous snakes and a dozen other snakes. Read more…
NRP Blotter
St. Mary’s watermen charged with harvesting thousands of pounds of undersized croaker
Four St. Mary’s County watermen are scheduled to appear in district court on July 31 on charges they illegally harvested thousands of pounds of undersized croaker and three protected species in the waters of Town Creek, a tributary of the Patuxent River.
Salisbury Angler Sets Winter Flounder Record
Kevin Twilley with his state record five-pound, two-ounce winter flounder
Kevin Twilley of Salisbury caught a Maryland state record five-pound, two-ounce winter flounder on June 23.
Twilley set the mark while bottom fishing in 140 feet of water, 26 miles east of Ocean City aboard the charter boat Fish Bound with Captain Kane Bounds. Read more…
DNR Awards Environmental Literacy Grants for Student Stream Studies
The Department of Natural Resources awarded a total of $400,000 to six nonprofits to engage Maryland K-12 students in studying, monitoring and improving the health of their local streams over the next year. Selected by a review panel of state, federal and nonprofit environmental groups, these projects will educate 15,000 students on their local environment, and help them gain real-world science and conservation skills. Read more…
Invasive Snakeheads Found Above Great Falls
Biologists found a juvenile snakehead in the C&O Canal
Spreading to the Upper Potomac via the C&O Canal
Credible reports of snakehead sightings and results from a Maryland Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service survey indicate that the non-native snakehead species has spread into the C&O Canal and thereby the Upper Potomac River. Read more…
DNR Secures $6 Million to Improve Boating Access at Sites Statewide
From a new boat ramp in Somerset County to citywide harbor upgrades in Annapolis, 59 public water access projects in 19 Maryland counties will receive a total of $6 million in state Waterway Improvement Fund grants for fiscal year 2016. Read more…
Governor Hogan Announces Pollution Reduction Grant Recipients
Photo by Mark Dignen
Fourteen projects will receive grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, Gov. Larry Hogan announced today. Selected by the Bay Cabinet and administered by the Department of Natural Resources, these projects are the most cost-effective and efficient initiatives to address polluted runoff and sediment in targeted areas of the state. Read more…
Qualification Shoots Scheduled for Managed Deer Hunts
Maryland’s 2015-2016 Shooter Qualification Schedule is now available and includes more than 20 firearm qualification sessions at 13 locations across the state. These events allow hunters to take the shooting proficiency test that is required before they can participate in many of the managed deer hunts held in Maryland. Read more…
Pistol Range at Elk Neck State Forest to Temporarily Close Weekdays
The pistol range at Elk Neck State Forest will be closed Monday through Friday from July 27 through August 28 for scheduled enhancements. The pistol range will operate on normal hours Saturday and Sunday (9 a.m. to sunset). There will be no disruption of services to the rifle, shotgun or archery ranges. Read more…
North Point State Battlefield Opens to Public
Gearing up for Sept. celebration
Reclaimed from a once-vacant lot in an urbanized section of Dundalk, North Point State Battlefield is now open to the public. The park preserves nine acres of open land which represent the last undeveloped parcel from the historic battle site. Read more…
Waterfowl Blind Site Licensing Dates and Locations Announced
Starting August 4 at locations statewide, hunters may apply for a 2015-2016 waterfowl blind site license. Opening-day applicants will be entered into a lottery drawing for the first chance to pick their sites. Read more…
NRP Blotter
Two men were charged last weekend for impaired boating on Deep Creek Lake by Maryland Natural Resources Police officers.
Adam Benjamin Harnish, 25, of Lexington Park, was stopped by officers when they noticed he was operating a personal watercraft in an unsafe manner. He registered a blood alcohol content of .11, over the legal limit of .08. Read more…
Turtle Derbies Pose Dangers for Humans and Herps
Eastern Box Turtle
Turtle races or derbies are part of many Fourth of July celebrations, but the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautions that these events pose a health risk to captive turtles, wild turtles and human participants. Read more…