St. Mary’s Lake Dam Repairs Complete, Trail Reopened to Hikers and Cyclists

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Callaway, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that repairs to the dam at St. Mary’s lake in St. Mary’s River State Park have reached completion allowing for foot and bike traffic in the area.

“Hikers and cyclists will notice added accessibility to trails as a result of the improvements to St. Mary’s Lake dam,” said Christy Bright, Park Manager. “We encourage local residents and visitors to continue to enjoy the park throughout the season with the knowledge that these safety precautions have been instituted.”

The boat launch ramp at the park will remain closed until natural rain waters refill the lake to normal levels. Fishermen wishing to launch small boats, canoes and kayaks for fishing, by pulling their boats to the water’s edge are urged to use caution due to the soft exposed lake bottom.

Situated at the northern end of the St. Mary's River watershed, the St. Mary’s River State Park protects a wide range of habitats, from wooded acres and fields to swamps and small streams. For more information about the park visit www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/southern/stmarysriver.html.

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December 18, 2008

Contact: Olivia Campbell 410-260-8016 office I 410-507-7525 cell ocampbell@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.