DNR Regional Service Centers Will Be Closed The Friday Prior To Memorial Day

DNR Reminds All Anglers and Boaters to Plan Accordingly

Annapolis, Md. (May 13, 2011) - All Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offices will be closed on Friday May 27 as part of the State’s Furlough and Temporary Salary Reduction Plan. This includes regional service centers, which are historically busy on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. Maryland State Parks and other public lands managed by DNR will remain staffed and open to the public.

“We remain committed to keeping Maryland State Parks and other public lands open, despite the suspended service day, as they are popular destinations for Maryland’s families during holiday weekends,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin.

DNR asks all boaters to plan accordingly, and register their boats early. Anglers can purchase fishing licenses online 24/7 at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/service/license.asp or over the phone at (800) 918-2870.

Maryland’s state parks not only provide great outdoor recreation for Marylanders and visitors, they are also a great asset to State and local economies. According to a recent study, conducted in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Maryland State Parks have an estimated annual economic benefit of more than $650 million. In 2010, visitors directly spent more than $567 million locally — $25.56 locally for every dollar the State invests in state parks —during their visits. And almost 95 percent of visitors had their expectations met or exceeded during visits. For more information on State Parks, visit dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly a half-million 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 11 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.