In the Spotlight:
3 July - Youghiogheny Chapter Trash Cleanup (April 2008)
The Youghiogheny Chapter members joined with the Youghiogheny River Watershed Association back in April to clean up a lot of trash along the Youghiogheny River. Volunteers picked up miscellaneous trash items, including refrigerators, stoves, and plenty of tires along Oakland-Sang Run Road. Thanks to all of the volunteers for their hard work!
11 June - MAC May 17th Meeting Items (please also note links on left menu bar)
-Meeting Minutes
-ByLaws
-Treasurers Report
-Financial Report
-Savage River Dam Issues (.pdf file)
-Conservation Report
4 June - Wader Sterilization Stations
Since discovering Didymo for the first time in Maryland last month, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has set up six wader sterilization stations throughout the tailwaters of Gunpowder Falls, to prevent further spread of this and other aquatic invasives. Currently, wader sterilization stations are set up at six popular crossings along Gunpowder Falls: Masemore Road, Bunker Hill Road, York Road, Blue Mount Road and both north and south lots at the Falls Road crossing. In the coming weeks, stations will also be set up along the Casselman, Youghiogheny and Savage Rivers. Click to visit the full article on the Department of Natural Resources website.
Proper sterilization procedures include:
- Before leaving a stream, scrub away all dirt and debris.
- At home or at a wader sterilization station, disinfect equipment by scrubbing or soaking in at least a 5 percent salt solution (2 cups salt/2.5 gallons water) for 60 seconds and then letting dry completely or scrub with dish detergent and rinse well.
- If disinfection is not possible, let equipment dry completely for at least 48 hours before next use.
27 May - Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus).
This species can have devastating effects on native crayfishes, aquatic vegetation, fishes, and other stream species. It was discovered lurking in Marsh Creek, a northern tributary to the Monocacy River in Frederick County, by biologists from the Maryland DNR Maryland Biological Stream Survey in June 2007. This is the first state record of this non-native invasive species in Maryland. Follow-up surveys also documented rusty crayfish near the mouth of Conowingo Creek in the lower Susquehanna River, Maryland, in September. The transport of rusty crayfish via bait buckets has spread this species throughout much of southeastern Pennsylvania into tributaries that ultimately enter Maryland, allowing the crayfish to spread south across the Mason Dixon line. It may already be too late to eradicate this species from Maryland waters, but Maryland DNR is aiming to limit its spread. This fall, DNR began a multi-year study to survey the Monocacy River for rusty crayfish. Click here for more information: Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland- Rusty Crayfish.
Rusty crayfish cannot legally be imported, transported, purchased, possessed live, propagated, sold, or released into Maryland waters. If you find a rusty crayfish, DNR asks that you freeze it, note the exact capture location, and call the DNR invasive species hotline at 1-877-620-8DNR. You can help prevent the further spread of rusty crayfish and other aquatic invasive species. Never release live unused bait, and do not transport live fish or crayfish from one body of water to another.
11 May - Didymo Found at Gunpowder Falls. Didymo is an algal diatom that forms long stalks which combine to form heavy, thick mats that can smother a stream bottom. The stalks can persist for two or more months after the diatoms die, causing habitat damage for an extended period of time. Originally found in Scotland and extreme northern Europe and Asia, Didymo has been transported worldwide. Recently, the species has been found in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
In many cases, anglers have unknowingly transported the diatom on their fishing gear.
Anglers and other recreational users of Gunpowder Falls and surrounding waters are especially urged to make sure they don ’t contribute to the spread of Didymo or any other aquatic invasive species. The public is asked to clean anything that comes into contact with stream water by scrubbing away all dirt and debris before leaving a stream.
DNR urges anyone who observes Didymo to contact Don Cosden at 410-260-8287 as soon as possible.
Here are some links that provide more information on this invasive speceis:
Full DNR Press Release - Invasive Algae Found in Maryland
DNR Website - Didymo
DNR Website - Invader of the Month - Didymo
MAC Website - Invasive Species - Didymo
27 March - Seneca Valley Chapter held their annual 'Children's Spin Fishing for Trout and Conservation Clinic' at the Olney Manor Park pond. The Chapter co-sponsors these events annually with Black Hill Regional Park. Just over 50 children, up to age 16, participated in this year's Spin Fishing Clinic.
21 Feb - Public Hearing scheduled for 7:00 pm February 27th at Garrett College Auditorium. Wisp Resort Lakeside, LLC has applied for a permit to withdrawl an annual average of 300K gallons of groundwater per day to supply the proposed 2500 dwelling units on Marsh Hill. The potential loss of baseflow in the headwaters of Hoyes Run will be detrimental to trout populations. Hoyes Run supports native brookies, naturally reproducing rainbows and browns! Click here to view the Public Hearing Notice. The Youghiogheny Chapter of TU, the Youghiogheny River Watershed Association, and Maryland DNR - Fisheries Service (to name a few) have been working hard to conserve and restore Hoyes Run for future generations. Visit the Disappearing Act of Hoyes Run for more information on just one of the challenges this unique stream has been dealing with. Currently, a design has been completed by the Garrett County Soil Conservation Service for a stream bank restoration project (utilizing a natural stream channel design) and these organizations have been working hard to secure funds for this much needed project, also in the headwaters area. Your help is needed to protect this unique stream!
16 Feb- Mining threat to Wolfden Run, a tributary to the North Branch Potomac River. A mining company has applied for a permit with the Maryland Department - Bureau of Mines to strip mine 500 acres in the headwaters portion of the Wolfden Run, near Kitzmiller, MD. The mine would eliminate 3100 feet of this perennial headwater stream. In 2003, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources documented wild brook trout and more recent surveys in 2006 and 2007 showed good numbers for young of year brookies as well as multiple year classes. Click here to view a factsheet from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Mission Statement: "To conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds."
Our Vision: By the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and wild coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.
4 July 2008
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