BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources this week released harvest totals for the 2023-2024 season harvesting season. The commercial harvest of oysters in Maryland totaled 430,000 bushels from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. This is the fifth season in the past three decades to exceed the 400,000 bushel harvest mark. “Maryland’s oyster population has notably improved in […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Program this week released new data that shows the underwater grass population in the bay remained steady in 2023. This is a key indicator of water quality and habitat health. According to the data, the total amount of underwater grass in the bay was 82,937 acres. This is a 7% increase from 2022. All or part […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A total of $21.5 million will be allocated to improve public boating access, dredging of navigable waterways, and safety for the next fiscal year, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In Baltimore County, Gunpowder Falls State Park is set to receive nearly $2.5 million. The funding comes from a variety of sources including a 5% excise tax […]
CONOWINGO, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the removal of thousands of invasive fish from Maryland waters. The fish posed a threat to native species, according to a press release from the DNR. The fish were removed at the Conowingo Dam, which is located on the Susquehanna River. The dam has a fish lift that allows migrating species […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced that it will award a $10 million grant for the construction of a new oyster sanctuary in the Chesapeake Bay. The funding will help establish a sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster population, which is critical to the health of the bay’s ecosystems and economy. The new reef will […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A total of 34 ecological restoration projects across Maryland will receive $35.8 million in grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced. The grants, awarded for fiscal year 2025, are expected to remove 63,000 pounds of nitrogen, 10,000 pounds of phosphorus and nearly 14,000 tons of sediment from local […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) released its annual report card this week with the overall Chesapeake Bay earning a grade of C+ (55%), the highest grade since 2002. The 2023/2024 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card is the 17th annual ecosystem report card. Overall, the health of the Chesapeake Bay is improving slightly, with 11 […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The state has a new FishMaryland Master Angler, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced this week. Eric Packard is the 11th Master Angler in Maryland history. The award was given to Packard after he caught ten different species of fish in Maryland. The FishMaryland program has been around since 2019, and Packard is one of 11 people who […]