A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Make Boating Safety a Priority

May is here and many boaters are getting ready to get on the water to enjoy the season. Keep in mind that boating safety is a top priority and key to making a day on the water fun for everyone. Nearly 90% of drowning victims this year will not be wearing a life jacket. Having life jackets on board is a responsible boating practice that can save lives, but actually wearing one is the smartest thing you can do.

May 19 – 25, 2012 is National Safe Boating Week. Prepare yourself by reviewing how to properly use, wear, and maintain a variety of life jackets and personal flotation devices and watch this video produced by the National Safe Boating Campaign .

Happy Boating,

Robert P. Gaudette
Director, DNR Boating Services

DID YOU KNOW:

• Boating Services provides statewide planning, technical, resource conservation, and financial assistance to federal, state, and local partners to maintain and develop public boating access sites, public navigation channels, water trails, clean marinas, marine sewage pumpout stations, navigation and regulatory buoys/signs, and to acquire fire/rescue and patrol boats and equipment.


• Boating Services works with boating organizations, non-profits, watermen and the general public to help enhance the boating experience for recreational boaters and those who make their living on our state waterways.


• Boating programs and activities are financed through the DNR Waterway Improvement Fund. The revenues for this Fund come from the 5% vessel excise tax that is paid when a vessel is titled in Maryland.


• Over the past 40 plus years, the Waterway Improvement Fund has financed over 4,500 grant projects valued at $300 million that have been used for developing and maintaining over 400 public boating access sites throughout the State.


• The Fund also supports over 2,000 aids to navigation and other regulatory markers, ice breaking operations during the winter months, the removal of tons of dangerous debris and abandoned boats from public waterways, the establishment of 600 miles of water trails, and the installation of 250 marine sewage pumpout stations.

Online Services

• Tide Finder
• Fishing
• Online Store
• State Parks

Personal Water Craft (PWC) Info

There are over 12,000 Personal Watercraft (PWC), commonly called Jet Ski’s or Wave Runners, registered in Maryland. Learn more about the rules and regulations for PWCs and how to operate one in a responsible manner by visiting the special safety section for “PWCs”.

Courtesy on the Water

The Chesapeake Bay is home to an array of boats and boaters. There are over 200,000 registered boats in the State, which means everyone needs to be aware of their actions on the water. Learn more about courtesy on the water and do your part to make Maryland waters enjoyable for all users.

Invasive Species Notice for Boaters

Prevent the spread of aquatic hitchhikers. The zebra mussel is an exotic and harmful species that are a form of biological pollution and damage aquatic ecosystems. Click here to learn how you can prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Maryland.

Chesapeake Bay Hotline

• Boating accident or reckless activity
• Fish kill or algal bloom
• Floating debris that poses a hazard to navigation
• Illegal fishing activity
• Public sewer leak or overflow
• Oil or hazardous material spill
• Critical area or wetlands violation
• Suspicious or unusual activity