Maryland Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund Projects

crappie

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will undertake restoration projects at lakes throughout Maryland under the new State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund, which provides $1 million for each of the next three years to improve state-owned lakes.

Governor Hogan approved the total $3 million fund in May 2018. DNR was tasked with determining priorities and a work plan for the funding.

Five public open houses were held around the state in the fall of 2018 to solicit project ideas, and the department’s lake managers also helped identify the most pressing needs to protect and restore the water bodies under their care.

Each of the lakes will benefit from at least one project. Deep Creek Lake, the largest state-owned lake and the economic driver for Garrett County, will receive approximately $420,000 divided between three projects. At least 41 projects will be funded statewide.

The funds will be used to remove sediment, treat contaminated sediment, prevent the spread of invasive species, improve ecological and recreational value, and any other action the department deems necessary.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Fall Trout Season

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released roughly 3,500 rainbow trout in Western Maryland as part of its fall trout stocking program.

Fall stocking locations include popular fishing areas such as Bear Creek, Big Elk Creek, Blairs Valley Lake, Deer Creek, Great Seneca Creek, Greenbelt Lake, Gunpowder Falls, Lake Artemesia, Morgan Run, North Branch Potomac, Patapsco River, Town Creek, Tuckahoe Creek, and Wheatley Lake.

“When and where we stock is largely dependent on weather conditions, water flow and temperatures,” DNR Inland Fisheries Manager Tony Prochaska said. “If the weather cooperates, we will release about 25,000 trout by the end of October.”

Weekly trout stocking updates are available via the DNR website or by calling the Trout Hotline at 800-688-3467.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

July is Lakes Appreciation Month

July is Lakes Appreciation Month in Maryland. Marylanders are encouraged to visit and enjoy their favorite lake, pond or reservoir during Lakes Appreciation Month and discover ways to help protect and enhance these vital resources.

Maryland contains 60 man-made lakes of five acres or more, all of which are open to the public. Maryland lakes provide a number of recreational activities, ranging from fishing and swimming to boating and water sports

Maryland's largest impoundment is Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Deep Creek lake features 18 species of fish, camp sites, boat rentals, and other resources. Another large lake, Liberty Reservoir, contains landlocked striped bass up to 40-pounds.

Lakes Appreciation Month is a nationwide initiative by the North American Lake Management Society. The non-profit organization promotes partnerships between citizens, scientists, and professionals in order to protect lakes and reservoirs in North America.

source: MD DNR

Maryland Fish Kills

In Maryland, a wide range of environmental factors may be related to fish kills.

In May 2009, a fish kill of smallmouth bass and sunfish was reported in the upper Monocacy River. The event was similar to other springtime fish kills in the Potomac River watershed that have occurred since 2002.

Investigations of springtime fish kills in the watershed found a variety of possible factors that might have been involved. Possible causes for fish deaths were listed as: contaminants, damaged skin, gills and internal organs, parasites, and spawning stress. Biologists also discovered a high prevalence of intersex in some species, most notably smallmouth bass.

In July, 2010, a fish kill on the Severn River included bay anchovy, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic needlefish, and white perch. Staff from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) investigated the kill and estimated the number of dead fish to be 1000 or more.

MDE reported that a heavy algae bloom was present at the time of the kill. The investigation concluded that the cause of the fish kill was low dissolved oxygen induced by the large bloom of non-toxic algae.


In July, 2010, Maryland's Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources investigated a large fish kill in Deep Creek Lake.

The 2010 Deep Creek Lake fish kill involved hundreds of dead fish and invertebrates including yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, bluegills, chain pickerel, Northern pike, and crayfish.

Research indicated that unusually high temperatures in the lake's upper water column set the stage for a parasite protozoan infestation. According to scientists, cold water species of fish were primarily affected by the parasite infestation.

In late December, 2010 and January 2011, a fish kill in the Chesapeake Bay involved roughly two million fish. The fish were almost exclusively small (3-6 inch) spot fish. The fish kill occurred from the Bay Bridge to Poplar Island.

The Maryland Department of the Environment investigated the kill and found that cold water stress, combined with a large population of fish was the most likely cause of the kill.

Winter fish kills involving spot have occurred at least twice before in Maryland. In late January 1976, records show that about 15 million spot died of winter stress in the bay. A smaller number of spot deaths were recorded in January 1980

Fish kills also occur in Maryland coastal bays, most often in dead-end canals. Due to a lack of flushing action in canals, algae blooms can lead to hypoxic or anoxic conditions. Fish kills can occur in dead-end canals when schools of fish enter and become trapped in lethal water conditions. During the summer of 2001, approximately 3,000,000 Atlantic silversides entered a canal in West Ocean City and apparently became entrapped during low tide overnight. The fish became concentrated by low water, exhausted all available oxygen, and died.

Maryland residents can report fish kills and algae blooms at 1-866-MDE-GOTO or 877-224-RBAY. Reports of dead or dying fish in the Monocacy or Potomac River can be reported by contacting the Maryland Safety and Environmental Hotline (877) 224-7229 or the DNR-Fisheries Service at (301) 898-5443 with the time, date, location, fish species, and approximate number of affected fish. Photographs and a description of any unusual behavior or water conditions are also helpful.

Maryland Shad - Herring Fishing

hickory shad

Anglers are reporting good fishing during Maryland's 2011 Spring shad and herring run. In rivers and creeks of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, blueback herring, hickory shad and American shad have been found in varying numbers.

Hickory shad numbers are up in several creeks, with anglers enjoying catch and release fishing. Shad and river herring (bluebacks and alewives) are often found together, with anglers catching multiple species with the same lures.

The exact techniques and lure choices depend on local preferences, but most anglers use some variation of classic shad darts or similar lures. These small, simple lures are fished by themselves or rigged in tandem.

Depending on the location, anglers may jig or cast for shad and herring. Fly fishing is practical in some areas and can be very productive. In other areas such as small creeks in wooded areas, tight quarters call for ultralight spinning tackle and simple shad darts.

Occasionally, anglers can fish from bridges, bulkheads or other structures that provide access for jigging. Maryland shad and herring can also be caught from kayaks or small boats. These smaller craft are often the only option as shad and river herring prefer small, moving creeks which usually contain a maze of obstructions.

Adding to the excitement are many of the other species found in Maryland tidal rivers and creeks. These include black crappie, bluegills, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass, white perch, striped bass, yellow perch, pickerel, and other species.Any of these may fish strike lures intended for shad and herring.

The spring shad and river herring run is expected to last into mid-May as waves of fish continue their spawning rituals.

Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited Presentation - "Secret Streams of Maryland"

If you want to learn about the excellent wild trout fishing available on some of Maryland’s lesser known streams then don’t miss the Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited general meeting on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 7:30 PM.

Maryland native Tom Starrs will share information on many of the lesser known streams that he has fished over the last 25 years. The meeting will be held next door to Set’s Sport Shop.

Maryland Chapter Trout Unlimited Presentation - "Secret Streams of Maryland"
Wednesday, March 17, 7:30 PM
IOOF Hall, 511 York Road
Towson MD 21204

DNR Launches Largemouth Bass Choptank River Initiative

Largemouth Bass

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Inland Fisheries Division has assembled a team of engineers, biologists and anglers to develop a largemouth bass improvement strategy for the Choptank River, which has seen a decline in black bass reproduction in recent years.

The first step of the program includes the temporary installation of nesting boxes, which will provide sanctuary for the fry. Male bass usually build and guard nests so juvenile fish may survive and grow.

However, the persistent flow of runoff silt from the cleared properties that surround the upper Choptank has impaired the deep water nesting areas, leaving just the shallow spots as suitable nesting habitat. These shallow spots can make juveniles more vulnerable to predators, such as herons, ospreys, and other birds.

Maryland Bass Federation volunteers and DNR staff are working together to build wooden nesting boxes for placing this month. This experiment will begin in the Watts Creek area. It’s important that anglers and other boaters remain aware of these boxes so they can be left alone and, as tempting as it may be, it’s important for anglers to avoid fishing for the protective males that are guarding these nests.

If the program is successful, DNR will expand the program to other parts of the river. DNR is also working with the State Highway Administration and local residents to temporarily stock local ponds near the river with bass ready to spawn.

Once these fish have reproduced, they will be returned to the river, leaving offspring behind to feast on plankton and grow in the absence of large predators until they are big enough to fend for themselves.

DNR’s long-term bass stocking program will add more than half a million fry and fingerlings to the Choptank River system over the next ten years. The Largemouth Bass Choptank River Initiative is a partnership of DNR Division of Inland Fisheries, Maryland Bass Federation Nation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland State Highway Administration, and the residents of Greensboro and Denton, Md.

source: DNR press release