Disposition of Regulation Requests for 2011

The Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has made the following decisions based on the recommendation of the Boat Act Advisory Committee:

• Mallows Bay – (Adopt as Proposed) Establish a 6-knot speed limit at all times from the public boat ramp to the main channel of the Potomac.
   
• Upper Potomac River – (Adopt as Proposed) Extend the current 6-knot speed limit at all times zone to include the entire length of the Potomac Fish & Game Club’s riparian property.
   
• Rock Creek – (Adopt with Modification) Extend the current Wall Cove speed limit westerly to an area defined by a line drawn from the breakwater at the Maryland Yacht Club to a point at the end of the eastern-most pier at White Rocks Marina and then to Water Oak Point.
   
• Smoot Cove – (Adopt as Proposed) Move the current line that defines the no wake zone approximately 50 yards eastward.
   
• Chester River – (Secretary elected to adopt petitioner's request with modifications) Establish a 6-knot speed limit for Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from May 15 – September 1 in an area in front of the Chester River Yacht and Country Club defined by a rectangle extending from their piers eastward to the Kent/Queen Anne’s County line and north and south of the marina approximately 200 yards.
   
• C & D Canal – (Adopt as Proposed) Establish speed limits of 35-knots (daytime) and 20-knots (nighttime) in the Maryland portion of the canal.
   
• Vessel Noise – (Adopt as Proposed) In Deep Creek Lake and the northeastern area of the Bay in the Elk River, Northeast River, Bohemia River and C & D Canal, for vessels with engines manufactured before January 1, 1993, noise levels may not exceed 90dB(a). For vessels with engines manufactured after January 1, 1993, noise levels may not exceed 88dB(a). A vessel shall operate with a continuous muffler or noise suppression system and may not operate a device that bypasses, reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of the muffler or engine noise suppression device or system.
   
• Elk River at Locust Point - (Take No Action) Establish a minimum wake zone in front of Piers A & B of Locust point Marina on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays during the Boating Season.
   
• Elk River at Plum Point – (Take No Action) Establish a minimum wake zone in front of Piers A, B, C, & D of Triton Marina on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays during the Boating Season.
   
• St. Thomas Creek - (Take No Action) Establish a 6-knot speed limit at all times for the entire Creek.
   
• Oyster Creek – (Take No Action) Establish a 6-knot speed limit at all times for the entire Creek.
   
• Mill Creek – (Take No Action) Change the existing 6-knot speed limit at all times and increase the controlled area by extending the southern-most line southward to a line beginning at the southern entrance to Martin’s Cove.
   
• Severn Narrows – (Take No Action) Change the current 6-knot speed limit at all times.
   
• Miles River – (Secretary rejected BAAC Modification and elected to Take No Action) Establish a 6-knot speed limit at all times in an area defined by a line extending from Red “14” to Green “1” at Leeds Creek to Green “3” at St Michaels Harbor and back along the shore to Red “14”.
   
• Slaughter Creek – (Take No Action) Establish a 6-knot speed limit at all times.
   
• Middle River – (Take No Action) Extend the current 6-knot speed limit to the mouth of the river.
  

Please contact Mr. Mike Grant, Regulations Coordinator at (410) 260-8013 or Jeannine Moaney at (410) 260-8417 if you have any further questions.