Governor Larry Hogan Honors Conservationists at Government House More than 100 guests attended a reception Oct. 12 at the Government House in Annapolis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Maryland Environmental Trust and honor landowners who have voluntarily and permanently preserved their land. Governor Larry Hogan, along with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Read the Rest…
Recent warm weather has caused Chesapeake Bay and tidal river water temperatures to be rather stagnant this week. Water temperatures in all three regions of the bay are holding around 73 degrees to 75 degrees and the tidal rivers are running about 3-5 degrees cooler. It is going to take a prolonged cool front to Read the Rest…
Rescued, Recovered Reptile Released A loggerhead sea turtle that had been found stranded in the Chesapeake Bay last fall has been released back to the water. On Thursday morning, the joint efforts of several organizations and individuals culminated when “Bailey,” an 86-lb. juvenile male, returned safely to the sea from Assateague State Park. Bailey was Read the Rest…
The recent cold evenings this week are beginning to have an effect on water temperatures in the Chesapeake Bay and tidal rivers. Bay surface water temperatures are down to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the tidal rivers are in the mid to upper 60s. As a result, the upper bay region striped bass fisheries are Read the Rest…
Opening Month Reserved for Divers and Tongers Maryland’s 2017-2018 public oyster harvest season kicks off Oct. 2 and runs through March 31, 2018. The opening month is reserved for divers and watermen using patent and shaft tongs, as well as recreational oystering. The recreational harvest of oysters in Maryland is open to any resident during the season. Each Read the Rest…
Cooler water temperatures stir various types of catfish to think about eating even more than they do during the warmer summer months. Catfish can be found in all of the tidal creeks and rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay, and many lakes throughout Maryland. Catching them is simple and provides some fun fishing from lake Read the Rest…
Effort will improve public safety, health of Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay Construction workers broke ground this month on a major project to restore the health of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay and improve public safety in Maryland’s Patapsco Valley State Park. Workers are relocating a sewer line and preparing the site in preparation Read the Rest…
Many would agree we are entering one of the most beautiful times of the year in Maryland. Mornings are cool and daytime temperatures are inviting for outdoor activities. Where I live crops are being harvested, wildlife is on the move, bait in the tidal rivers is beginning to feel the urge to move out into Read the Rest…
After being away for two weeks, I’m struck by the changes that are occurring as we drift out of the grasp of summer. We all need to thank Erik Zlokovitz for doing such a great job covering the fishing report and keeping you informed of our fishing opportunities in Maryland while I was away.
Dissolved oxygen conditions in a portion of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay mainstem were better than average for late August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) in the study area was 0.33 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the late August 1985-2016 average of 0.80 cubic miles for that reduced Read the Rest…
Boatyard Operators Can See Successful Water Protection Program in Action The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a free tour of Annapolis-area marinas that participate in the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, which recognizes and promotes marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs that voluntarily adopt pollution prevention practices.
Important Public Safety and River Restoration Project Starts After Labor Day The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that the Bloede Dam, located along the Patapsco River, is scheduled to be removed from Patapsco Valley State Park over the next two years, with completion scheduled for late spring 2019. Construction staging and trail closures Read the Rest…
As the summer vacation time for kids begins to approach the end, I could not help but notice many of them are enjoying more simple things to do with the week or so left before they go back to school. Summer camps and other organized types of children’s activities are winding down, or already over Read the Rest…
Dissolved oxygen conditions in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay mainstem were much better than average for early August, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 0.91 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the early August 1985-2016 average of 1.31 cubic miles. Read the Rest…
Due to weather and other factors that influenced sampling, there will be no official late-July Maryland Chesapeake Bay hypoxia volume estimation.
Using Science to Increase Fishing Success “Where are the fish?” The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is helping anglers answer this age-old question with a new online tool, “Click Before You Cast.” The tool provides a simple-to-follow, eight-step process to help anglers identify the best places to fish based on a number of scientific data Read the Rest…
The Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA), Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (Montgomery DEP), and with input from the Maryland Department of the Environment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agency and technical partners on the Restoration Research Advisory Read the Rest…
Free Mobile Technology Enhances Enjoyment and Safety A new mobile app feature is available from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to alert boaters of speed limits and zones on state waterways. The new service on the department’s free AccessDNR app covers the Chesapeake Bay, coastal bays west of Ocean City, Potomac River and Deep Creek Lake.
Today the Chesapeake Bay Trust in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the City of Baltimore Office of Sustainability announce $843,486 in funding for the Chesapeake Bay Green Streets-Green Jobs-Green Towns Grant Program.
Maryland Natural Resources Secretary and Mayor Help Dedicate 64th Street Boat Ramp Maryland Governor Larry Hogan joined Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Mark Belton and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan today to officially open the public 64th Street Boat Ramp. This free facility, located at the base of the water tower, is operational 24/7, Read the Rest…
Focus on Development, Diversity, Outreach, Research and Training The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Morgan State University, a doctoral public urban research university in Baltimore City, signed a new educational agreement today that seeks to promote collaborative research, community outreach, economic development and opportunity, and workforce training. This first-of-its-kind agreement between the two state institutions was signed Read the Rest…
18 Maryland Counties Receive Waterway Improvement Fund Grants The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is providing $10.5 million in Waterway Improvement Fund grants to improve public boating access and navigation throughout the state. Passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Governor Larry Hogan, this critical funding will go toward 49 projects in 18 counties from Allegany Read the Rest…
“Es Mi Parque” Engages and Serves State Park Visitors The Maryland Department of Natural Resources kicked off a new citizen outreach program, “Es Mi Parque,” or “This is My Park,” designed to better serve the growing Hispanic population at state parks throughout Maryland. The first outreach event of 2017 took place June 10 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.
Signs New Executive Order Promoting Outdoor Learning For Maryland Youth Governor Larry Hogan is renewing Maryland’s commitment to environmental education to ensure that every child in Maryland has the opportunity to learn about their local environment, develop a connection with nature, and have a better sense of place in their natural surroundings. The governor today Read the Rest…
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Awards $21.54 Million to 18 Local Projects Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has awarded funding to 18 recipients through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to improve the health of Maryland’s waterways. The Trust Fund directs critical grant funding to the most cost-effective and efficient Read the Rest…
Marine Mammal, Sea Turtle Strandings Should be Reported As warm weather settles in and the days grow longer, Maryland’s waters become a destination not for just humans, but also marine animals. In the past century, 23 different species of marine mammals and sea turtles have been documented in and around state waters. Visitors include bottlenose dolphins, Read the Rest…
Striped Bass Fishing Expands Baywide Anglers wanting to get in on this year’s striped bass fishing season will have more areas to fish starting June 1. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the official opening of the summer/fall striped bass season with no exclusions on where anglers can catch the state fish. All areas of Read the Rest…
The Maryland Conservation Corps Wants You! The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now recruiting 35 full-time individuals, between the ages of 17 to 25, for the Maryland Conservation Corps, an award-winning AmeriCorps program that engages young adults in extensive conservation and natural resource management projects that enhance Maryland’s public lands and waterways. The program is Read the Rest…
Fisheries Index Gets an ‘A’ at 90 Percent The overall health of Chesapeake Bay improved in 2016, a positive sign that recovery efforts are working. The largest estuary in the nation scored a C grade (54 percent) in the 2016 report card, one of the highest scores calculated by scientists at the University of Maryland Read the Rest…
Record Acreage Surpasses Restoration Goal The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported today that underwater grass abundance – a key indicator of improving water clarity and quality – increased for the fourth straight year in the state’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay, reaching a record of 59,277 acres. This represents a 10 percent increase from Read the Rest…
Number of Spawning-Age Female Crabs up 31 Percent to Historic High The Maryland Department of Natural Resources today released the results of the 2017 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, which shows that the population of crabs remains resilient and steady. While the survey indicates the population has slightly decreased due to lackluster recruitment, it showed a surge in Read the Rest…
Program Funded by Boaters Helps Keep Maryland Waters Clean and Safe Maryland marinas can now apply for Pumpout Operations and Maintenance grants through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. These grants reimburse marinas for the expense of operating and maintaining pumpout stations. State and federal laws prohibit the discharge of raw sewage from boats, so reliable Read the Rest…
Oldest State Law Enforcement Agency Turns 150 Next Year Today marks the 149th anniversary of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, the oldest state police force and the nation’s fifth-oldest conservation law enforcement agency. The day is being marked with the unveiling of the 150th anniversary badge, which may be worn by officers next year, and a Read the Rest…
Crabbers Can Get Cracking on State’s Signature Catch It’s crabbing season in Maryland! Recreational fishing for the state’s most iconic aquatic species begins April 1 in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries as well as in the Atlantic Ocean, coastal bays and their tributaries, reports the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Maryland Anglers Get Ready to Rockfish The 2017 spring season for the state fish, striped bass, kicks off April 15 in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Recreational fishing opportunities for rockfish – as striped bass is known locally – will run from 5 a.m. April 15 through midnight May 15, with Read the Rest…
Lt. Governor Rutherford Presents Award, Celebrates Life of Captain Eldridge Meredith Governor Larry Hogan has commissioned Kent Island resident Captain Eldridge Meredith as the 101st Admiral of Chesapeake Bay, a prestigious lifetime achievement award for an individual’s extraordinary commitment to the conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford presented the award on Read the Rest…
Partnerships Prove to be Catalyst for Chesapeake Bay Restoration The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund released its annual report, which details the program’s activities in the state, including the restoration of 653 acres of wetland, 207,900 linear feet of stream, and 1,165 acres of streamside tree buffers. The Trust Fund, which is administered by the Read the Rest…
Annual Survey Estimates Number of Dabblers, Divers, Ducks & Waterfowl Each winter, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service make visual estimates of the ducks, geese and swans along the state’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. This year, the teams counted about 812,600 waterfowl, higher Read the Rest…
Expanded Guide Provides Year-Round Information The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will release its comprehensive 2017-18 Maryland Fishing & Crabbing Guide Feb. 15. The guide is the go-to reference for all questions on recreational fishing and crabbing in the state, providing a summary of seasons, license information, size and creel limits, and more.
Private-Public Partnership Focuses on Conservation and Economics The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is working to establish an economically-productive and sustainable oyster harvesting cooperative in Anne Arundel County. With funding from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the comprehensive private-public partnership will enhance the long-term business and economic Read the Rest…
The J. Millard Tawes is One of Four Icebreakers on Call The Maryland Department of Natural Resources this week dispatched its vessel, the J. Millard Tawes, to break ice on the water route to Smith Island, opening the vital link between the island and nearby Crisfield Harbor.
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