Disposition of Regulation Requests for 2011

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

• Mallows Bay – (Adopt as Proposed) Establish a 6 knot speed zone At All Times from the Public Launch Ramp to the main channel of the Potomac.
   
• Upper Potomac River – (Adopt as Proposed) Increase the current 6 Knot 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 line drawn from the breakwater at the Maryland Yacht Club to the western most tip of the entrance to Tar Cove.
   
• Smoot Cove – (Adopt as Proposed) Move the current line defining the No Wake Zone approximately 50 yards towards the east.
   
• Chester River – (Adopt with Modifications) Establish a 6 knot speed zone 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 a speed limit 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 NE 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 zone At All Times for the entire Creek.
   
• Oyster Creek – (Take No Action) Establish a 6 knot speed zone At All Times for the entire Creek.
   
• Mill Creek – (Take No Action) Covert the existing 6 Knot speed zone to At All Times and increase the controlled area by extending the southern most line south to a line beginning at the southern entrance to Martin’s Cove.
   
• Severn Narrows – (Take No Action) Change the current 6 knot speed zone to At All Times.
   
• Miles River – (Take No Action) Establish a 6 knot speed zone 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 zone At All Times.
   
• Middle River – (Take No Action) Extend the current 6 knot speed zone 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.