A fallen tree across the upper Gunpowder River in the trout section of Gunpowder Falls State Park was illegally cut on Nov. 4, and a month later, the controversy is as hot as ever.
Given written warnings for the chain-saw violation by Natural Resources police officer JeffreySchein were Martin Levine, 51 of Jessup, Stephen Foran, 40, of Lutherville, Robin Willard, 50, of Monkton and Henry Latimer II, 34, of Baltimore. The case is now closed, said Sgt. Ken Turner, NRP spokesman.
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But fishermen and members of Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization that began in the 1960s, are upset. They want “restitution and restoration.”
The downed tree was a “strainer” ? so called by canoeists and kayakers since it “strained” river contents, including canoeists and kayakers. They can be dangerous, even deadly, and kayakers often remove them, when possible.
The finger-pointing for this illegal activity has been directed at the Greater Baltimore Canoe Club, a group of 300 kayakers and canoeists.
Was the cutting a club-sanctioned activity? Certainly not, but the GBCC exacerbated the situation by allowing continued postings on its “General Chit Chat/What Strainer?” Web site forum. Some postings, which began with a photo of the cut strainer, were unabashedly proud of this illegal activity. Some claimed that they wouldcontinue strainer removal to Bluemont and Masemore roads. Site postings about illegal-removal possibilities go back to August.
The chortling and glee of inflammatory messages (since removed) about the contested strainer had an in-your-face, we?re-gonna-do-it-anyway attitude. Other members and guests noted wisely and correctly that it is illegal, even listing DNR regulations and prohibitions.
Gunpowder Falls State Park personnel also share some blame for foot-dragging on this issue, which then led to high dudgeon for trout anglers.
Certainly, GBCC cannot control the thoughts or actions of people signing onto its Web site, but it is responsible for not removing or condemning inflammatory comments. The result puts a large target on its back.
“The club does not condone any illegal activity,” said Bill Despeaux, president-elect of the GBCC.
“We thought we were doing a good thing,” said warning-ticket recipient Robin Willard. “We were not aware of breaking any laws.”
Oh, there are laws a-plenty, including strainer removal in a state park or state wildlands area (Gunpowder), with or without a chain saw. Another possible violation would be unauthorized construction on state land. And there?s a Maryland Department of the Environment regulation against anyone working in a trout stream from Oct. 1 through April 30. That?s to protect trout incubation, eggs and fry during spawning periods.
All of this is sad. User groups ? trout fishermen, canoeists, kayakers, hikers, bird watchers, picnickers, bicyclists, nature photographers, dog walkers and horse riders ? share Gunpowder Park resources.
The GBCC does much good, removing tires (with its annual “tire run”), trash and litter. Trout fishermen and TU have done much also. Twenty years ago, TU hammered out agreements with the City of Baltimore and DNR for flow guarantees (from Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs) to maintain the trout fishery and stream levels. Lacking the agreements, canoeists and fishermen otherwise would have to bring their own water on low-trickle days. TU also aids trout-fisheries biologists.
Unfortunately, this tree-cutting incident has added fuel to the fire and angst to the ire of trout fishermen. We have divisiveness between user groups. Now there are accusations, rumors and claims bouncing around like pingpong balls in a tile bathroom.
What?s done is done, but what comes out of this can be good. I envision meetings of Gunpowder Park personnel, DNR trout biologists, TU and GBCC to prevent future problems. How about such a group checking the whole river for strainers and possible “official” removal? Or as-needed river walks to check for same? Or checks for new blow-downs after major storms? How about GBCC volunteering to help the Park and be involved in strainer decisions? Or TU and GBCC postings with phone numbers to report strainers and downed trees?
But this now seems to be paddling merrily along with a life of its own. Monday morning, there were phone conversations between the Park and GBCC officials. TU and GBCC also have begun talking, and on Wednesday night, a GBCC board meeting discussed the club?s position on this.
“We want to work closely with [Gunpowder] Park and those using the park,” said Despeaux, as to the consensus of meeting.
A DNR Sport Fish Advisory Commission meeting to consider the entire issue is set for Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. in the C-4 conference room of the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis.
C. Boyd Pfeiffer is an internationally known sportsman and award-winning writer on fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. He can be reached at [email protected]
