The Gunpowder South Trail will now be known as the Lefty Kreh Fishing Trail in honor of native Marylander Bernard Victor “Lefty” Kreh. Kreh is known worldwide through his books, columns and inventions.
The Lefty Kreh Fishing Trail runs along Gunpowder Falls between Prettyboy Reservoir and the Hereford Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park. The area is considered to be one of the premier trout streams in Maryland.
Kreh who now lives in Cockeysville, has written more than 30 books and has produced numerous instructional videos on fishing and outdoor photography. He continues to write and has a new book underway.
source: MD DNR
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Maryland Coastal Bay Seagrass Survey
A recent survey of underwater seagrass abundance in Maryland’s coastal bays shows the plants have decreased by 35 percent in less than year. The study, released by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Coastal Bays program, the Virginia Institute of Marine Scientists and the National Park Service, showed underwater grasses dropped from 13,863 acres in July 2010, to 9,083 acres in May 2011.
The loss of submerged aquatic vegetation during 2011 was more extensive than during the hot summer of 2005 when 4,780 acres lost in Maryland's coastal bays throughout the area.
Chincoteague Bay lost 2,756 acres of seagrasses. The northern bays showed the greatest percent losses: Assawoman Bay saw a 96 percent decline, or 900 acres; the Isle of Wight, 93 percent or 483 acres; and St. Martin River lost its last 1.6 acres.
Seagrasses are an important indicator of clean water and serve as food and shelter for many fish and shellfish, including flounder, blue crab and bay scallops. The plants are also a vital food source for Atlantic Brant and other waterfowl during migration and over-wintering.
Scientists cite low water quality as the greatest threat to seagrass recovery. When nutrients enter coastal bays, algae and seaweed blooms often occur, blocking light to seagrass beds. Sources of nutrient pollution include air deposition, farm fields, boating, development, septic fields, parking lots, and wastewater treatment plants.
“Maryland is among the states most vulnerable to climate change. Hotter summers and rising sea levels, along with increased storm intensity, could have devastating and far-reaching environmental and economic impacts on the Coastal Bays ecosystem and the quality of life Marylanders currently enjoy,” said Zoe Johnson, DNR Program Manager for Climate Policy. “The seagrasses are a great barometer of the health of the coastal bays. We must continue to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution, collectively and individually, to benefit seagrass restoration and ultimately the health of the coastal bays.”
Although eelgrass in Maryland’s Coastal Bays and in the upper Chesapeake Bay have declined, Virginia’s coastal bays have continued to produce the important plant. According to Dr. Bob Orth, who oversees the annual SAV monitoring surveys, "the clearer water of the Virginia coastal bays, as well as the proximity of the eelgrass meadows to cooler ocean waters makes the exposure to stressful high water temperature conditions more bearable, allowing these meadows to persist despite the high summertime temperatures."
Long-term monitoring by Assateague Island National Seashore shows current trends in nutrient conditions continue to degrade in Chincoteague Bay. However, there are some promising signs of improvements shown by data collected by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, especially in Kitt’s Branch/Trappe Creek, as a result of removing wastewater discharge from Berlin.
Seagrass acreage is estimated through an annual aerial survey, which is flown between late spring and early fall. Additional information about the aerial survey and survey results is available at www.vims.edu/bio/sav/.
source: MD DNR
The loss of submerged aquatic vegetation during 2011 was more extensive than during the hot summer of 2005 when 4,780 acres lost in Maryland's coastal bays throughout the area.
Chincoteague Bay lost 2,756 acres of seagrasses. The northern bays showed the greatest percent losses: Assawoman Bay saw a 96 percent decline, or 900 acres; the Isle of Wight, 93 percent or 483 acres; and St. Martin River lost its last 1.6 acres.
Seagrasses are an important indicator of clean water and serve as food and shelter for many fish and shellfish, including flounder, blue crab and bay scallops. The plants are also a vital food source for Atlantic Brant and other waterfowl during migration and over-wintering.
Scientists cite low water quality as the greatest threat to seagrass recovery. When nutrients enter coastal bays, algae and seaweed blooms often occur, blocking light to seagrass beds. Sources of nutrient pollution include air deposition, farm fields, boating, development, septic fields, parking lots, and wastewater treatment plants.
“Maryland is among the states most vulnerable to climate change. Hotter summers and rising sea levels, along with increased storm intensity, could have devastating and far-reaching environmental and economic impacts on the Coastal Bays ecosystem and the quality of life Marylanders currently enjoy,” said Zoe Johnson, DNR Program Manager for Climate Policy. “The seagrasses are a great barometer of the health of the coastal bays. We must continue to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution, collectively and individually, to benefit seagrass restoration and ultimately the health of the coastal bays.”
Although eelgrass in Maryland’s Coastal Bays and in the upper Chesapeake Bay have declined, Virginia’s coastal bays have continued to produce the important plant. According to Dr. Bob Orth, who oversees the annual SAV monitoring surveys, "the clearer water of the Virginia coastal bays, as well as the proximity of the eelgrass meadows to cooler ocean waters makes the exposure to stressful high water temperature conditions more bearable, allowing these meadows to persist despite the high summertime temperatures."
Long-term monitoring by Assateague Island National Seashore shows current trends in nutrient conditions continue to degrade in Chincoteague Bay. However, there are some promising signs of improvements shown by data collected by Maryland Department of Natural Resources, especially in Kitt’s Branch/Trappe Creek, as a result of removing wastewater discharge from Berlin.
Seagrass acreage is estimated through an annual aerial survey, which is flown between late spring and early fall. Additional information about the aerial survey and survey results is available at www.vims.edu/bio/sav/.
source: MD DNR
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Didymo Affecting Maryland Trout Streams
In 2012, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed the presence of didymo in Big Hunting Creek. Didymo is an invasive form of algae that affects Maryland trout streams.
In Maryland, didymo was first discovered in Gunpowder Falls in Baltimore County in early 2008. In 2009, the invasive algae appeared in the lower Savage River.
Didymo prefers cold, fast-flowing, rocky trout streams. Didymo blooms can cover entire stream beds from bank to bank with long strands of algae.
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources offers several recommendations which could help stop the spread of didymo to other trout streams:
- remove mud and debris from boots before entering and after leaving streams
- use wader wash stations to clean boots in saltwater (from the soles to the knee)
- If a wader wash station isn’t available, anglers can disinfect their boots at home
- Letting boots and gear dry thoroughly for at least 5 days will also kill didymo cells
To help stop the spread of didymo and other water-borne organisms, the use of felt-soled boots was banned in all Maryland waters effective March 22, 2011.
source: MD DNR
In Maryland, didymo was first discovered in Gunpowder Falls in Baltimore County in early 2008. In 2009, the invasive algae appeared in the lower Savage River.
Didymo prefers cold, fast-flowing, rocky trout streams. Didymo blooms can cover entire stream beds from bank to bank with long strands of algae.
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources offers several recommendations which could help stop the spread of didymo to other trout streams:
- remove mud and debris from boots before entering and after leaving streams
- use wader wash stations to clean boots in saltwater (from the soles to the knee)
- If a wader wash station isn’t available, anglers can disinfect their boots at home
- Letting boots and gear dry thoroughly for at least 5 days will also kill didymo cells
To help stop the spread of didymo and other water-borne organisms, the use of felt-soled boots was banned in all Maryland waters effective March 22, 2011.
source: MD DNR
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
2012 Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting entries for its annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest. According to DNR Secretary John Griffin. “This contest gives photographers of all skill levels a chance to share their work with the public and win some great prizes.”
Last year, Allen Sklar of Bishopville topped more than 300 other photographers with his winning image ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up. His photograph of a bald eagle swooping down onto the Assateague Beach shoreline was featured on the cover of the 2012 calendar.
Photos entered into the 2012 contest will be judged in six categories: birds, wildlife, insects, scenic, wild plants and Maryland State Parks or people enjoying them. Winning entries will be featured in the winter issue of The Maryland Natural Resource magazine as well as the 2013 DNR calendar.
The best overall photo will win the grand prize of $500, a 2013 Maryland State Park Passport, a lifetime subscription to the magazine and five copies of the 2013 DNR calendar, which will feature the winning photo on the cover.
All qualifying photographs must be taken in Maryland. Photographers may submit up to three entries for a $10 entry fee and additional entries for $3 each. Photos may not be more than two years old or previously published. Non-residents may participate as long as the photos were taken in Maryland. Submissions are due by August 31, 2012 and winners will be announced online September 30, 2012.
Official rules and contest entry forms are available online at dnr.maryland.gov/photocontest/
source: MD DNR
Last year, Allen Sklar of Bishopville topped more than 300 other photographers with his winning image ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up. His photograph of a bald eagle swooping down onto the Assateague Beach shoreline was featured on the cover of the 2012 calendar.
Photos entered into the 2012 contest will be judged in six categories: birds, wildlife, insects, scenic, wild plants and Maryland State Parks or people enjoying them. Winning entries will be featured in the winter issue of The Maryland Natural Resource magazine as well as the 2013 DNR calendar.
The best overall photo will win the grand prize of $500, a 2013 Maryland State Park Passport, a lifetime subscription to the magazine and five copies of the 2013 DNR calendar, which will feature the winning photo on the cover.
All qualifying photographs must be taken in Maryland. Photographers may submit up to three entries for a $10 entry fee and additional entries for $3 each. Photos may not be more than two years old or previously published. Non-residents may participate as long as the photos were taken in Maryland. Submissions are due by August 31, 2012 and winners will be announced online September 30, 2012.
Official rules and contest entry forms are available online at dnr.maryland.gov/photocontest/
source: MD DNR
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