Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Director Eric Schwaab today announced that a public hearing will be held on a proposal to establish fish refuge areas in the Potomac River tributaries of Burgess and Chicamuxen creeks, during the largemouth bass spawning season from March 1 to June 15. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Cedarville Visitors Center.
The closure, which applies to fishing and boating access, will allow fisheries biologists to assess the impacts of boating and fishing on largemouth bass spawning, by comparing these areas to other spawning areas which remain open during this period. The only boat access in this area will be by permit to individuals using canoes or kayaks to access the Chicamuxen Wildlife Management Area campsite on Chicamuxen Creek.
The proposed refuge areas are located in Gumtree Cove in Burgess Creek and north of Linton Point in Chicamuxen Creek. Both areas will be clearly marked by buoys.
Details on the proposal are available on DNR’s Web site at: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingreport/potomacfishrefuge.html .
The Cedarville Visitors Center is located in Cedarville State Forest at the end of Panhandle Rd. For directions, call 301-888-2423. Comments will be taken at the public meeting, may be emailed to searly@dnr.state.md.us, or may be mailed to Steve Early, Restoration and Enhancement Division Director, 580 Taylor Ave. B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401. Comments must be received by Jan. 13.
Posted: 11-20-2002
