Gunpowder River - Really, Really Bad News

[MikeL]

A local Baltimore Canoe Club has cut out 11 miles of deadfalls from the Gunpowder River. Some of these deadfalls have been in the river for over 10 years. I have heard the DNR knows who is responsible but it has not been said whether the responsible party(s) will be prosecuted.

Low flows coupled with this devastating loss of habitat do not bode well for the fish, especially the larger fish, in the river. It could take years for the river to recover this lost habitat.

If any of you could let the DNR know about your outrage over this it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

*EDIT* Not only did they remove deadfalls, the cut live trees along the bank below Falls Road.

[mdram]

ummmm what where they thinking?

who do we write to?

[MikeL]

Either they weren't thinking and did not know ths kind of thing was illegal or they knew it was illegal but figured nobody would do anything about it.

I am working on contact emails for the central regional biologist and central offices, Ill let you know.

The main customer service email customerservice@dnr.state.md.us

The addresses and telephone numbers are:

Wildlife & Heritage Service Headquarters
Tawes State Office Building
E-1 580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-260-8540
Toll-free in Maryland: 1-877-620-8DNR, Ext. 8540
TTY Users, please use Maryland Relay
fax 410-260-8596

Central Region Manager
Ken D'Loughy
(Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Montgomery Counties and Baltimore City)
Seneca Wildlife Office
11960 Clopper Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-948-8243

Central Regional Biologist
Richard Wiegand
MD DNR - Wildlife and Heritage Service
Tawes State Office Building, E-1
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(301) 845-8997

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/...ife.asp#region

[mdram]

i went to the dnr website, sent mail to several divisions via the feedback form
from
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/mailroom.asp
the choices are
Chesapeake Bay, Rivers, Streams, Coastal Bays and Watershed Information
Fisheries
Forestry
Licensing (titles, registration, etc)
Natural Resources Police (Enforcement, Hunter/Boater Safety, Laws & Regulations)
Public Lands (Parks and Forests)
Wildlife and Heritage
Message for the DNR Webmaster
Technical Problems with the DNR web site
Other Issue

i sent to the bold ones, figure 1 should reply with something


also went to
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/

and sent them a mail to check the legality, maybe the fed can help pressure them

[MikeL]

Good call. I am in the process fo doing the same.

The damage is already done and repairing it will take years but I would like to see these people held responsible for their actions, even if it is just a slap on the wrist fine. THogh Id hope the punishment would be quite hefty.

[mdram]

i suggested the make the offender pay for restoration efforts.

they did the damage and should be held accountable

any idea who the local state/fed congressmen/senators are?
maybe emails to them

[mdram]

im passing this on to other forums i visit

[MrFishingToughGuy]

WTF Mike, are you serious? This is terrible!

Since it's a state park there ought to be some hell to pay. I'll be on the horn all day trying to get a hold of someone to complain to.

[idryfly]

A link to the Maryland Fly fishing Boards on this subject:

http://www.greatfeathers.com/forums/...php?topic=52.0

Regards,
Mike Kidd

[BryanM]

Here is a link to a paddling website that is discussing the removal of a strainer. There is also a link to an artical in the Baltimoore Sun Times. It sounds like a few white water types were afraid of a particular strainer and removed it. They had plans to do aa lot more but never followed through from the sounds of it in the artical.oh, the link: http://www.paddling.net/message/show...hat&tid=772390

Sounds like most folks agree it was bone headed thing to do. I am a paddler as well and the boobs that did this should be punished. These days I am more of a fly fisher that paddles.