Harford County angler catches Maryland state record rock bass

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has recognized Thomas Over Jr. of Darlington as a new state record holder for rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) in the Chesapeake Division. Over caught a 1.0-pound rock bass January 6 in the lower Susquehanna River. Over was fishing with a light spinning rod and jigging for yellow perch when he hooked the large […]

Federal Railroad Administration awards $30 million to replace 110-year-old MARC train tracks on Gunpowder River Bridge

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore applauded this week’s announcement of nearly $7 billion in awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration for Maryland projects that will make Amtrak and MARC rail service safer, faster, more reliable and more convenient for passengers. The projects, in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Harford, and Cecil counties, were selected through the Biden Administration’s […]

Chesapeake Bay Foundation encouraged by changes to protect declining Chesapeake blue crab population, issues statement on dead zone forecast

BALTIMORE, MD—In response to the lowest abundance of crabs ever counted in the 33-year history of the Chesapeake Bay’s winter blue crab dredge survey, fishery managers at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Marine Resources Commission this week adopted new regulations designed to reduce the crab harvest. The regulations aim to help the overall Chesapeake crab population rebound. […]

Maryland State Police Aviation Command personnel recognized for statewide safety efforts

ROSEDALE, MD—Seven members of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command were recognized last week for their heroism and efforts to promote safety by the State Employees Risk Management Administration (SERMA). The three troopers and four civilian pilots were honored during SERMA’s conference on May 27th, which recognized more than a dozen employees from State agencies. Sergeant Brooke Tognocchi and Corporal […]

Attorney General Frosh sues Monsanto for long-lasting harm from PCBs on Maryland’s natural resources

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Monsanto for the harm that chemicals the company manufactured have caused, and continue to cause, to Maryland’s land, waters, fish, and wildlife. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages and clean-up costs associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, the suit alleges that […]

Governor Hogan announces agreement with Exelon on Conowingo Dam

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced a comprehensive agreement between the Maryland Department of the Environment and Exelon Generation Company, LLC, which requires Exelon to invest more than $200 million in environmental projects and operational enhancements to improve water quality in the lower Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. The agreement settles Exelon’s legal challenges to the water quality […]

Maryland submits Chesapeake Bay clean-up plan

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland has developed a comprehensive plan for the next steps in continued progress in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. The Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan — submitted on Friday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — was developed to meet Maryland’s pollution reduction targets by 2025 as part of a multi-state bay restoration effort. Maryland developed the plan […]

DNR: invasive ‘frankenfish’ population growing in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD – A partnership overseeing fish passage at the Conowingo Dam reports that 81 northern snakeheads were caught in the dam’s fish lift this spring, a dramatic increase after only one snakehead was found there the past two years. While all known snakeheads were stopped and dispatched before reaching the dam’s reservoir, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and […]