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BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach has introduced legislation to alleviate some parking congestion around Big Gunpowder Falls.

The bill, set for a vote on Monday, seeks to lift the public parking ban on a section of Notchcliff Road near Harford Road in an effort to help residents enjoy the falls without spending significant time looking for parking.

As one of Baltimore County's top summer recreation destinations, the Gunpowder Falls area is often inundated with hundreds of cars waiting for their turn to fish, tube, or otherwise enjoy the outdoors.

The thin, twisting portion of Harford Road near Big Gunpowder Falls has long been a concern for public safety. Limited parking areas along this main road and smaller offshoots force pedestrians to navigate the tight space between barriers and ongoing traffic to reach the falls.

Acknowledging the safety challenges posed by the close-quarters mix of pedestrians and cars, the council banned parking along Notchcliff Road in 2020 to "address dangerous parking on the side of the road for visitors to the Falls."

This wasn't the council's first move to regulate parking in the area - Councilman Kach floated a similar initiative in 2017, targeting Monkton Road

During the council's work session on August 1, Kach revisited the parking ban origins, linking it to continuous traffic concerns along the Gunpowder River, further complicated by insufficient parking arrangements from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

According to Kach, lifting the parking ban along Notchcliff Road would only create "about ten more spaces."

"If you have any familiarity with the issues up there, ten is better than none," The councilman added.

The Baltimore Banner reports that the parking changes are supported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

The proposed legislation would also post "No Parking" signs at the following locations - anyone caught violating the parking restrictions will incur a $200 fine:

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Commercial vehicles affiliated with public service companies would be exempted from the new parking regulations.

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“Launch ramp closed,” reads a sign next to the water at the Gunpowder Cove marina in Joppa. At the end of this season, that launch ramp will be joined by the rest of the marina.

Customers received a letter earlier this week announcing that the marina would be closing Nov. 1, at which point all boats on the property need to be removed and taken elsewhere for winter storage.

The news came as a shock to many longtime customers of the facility, which provides storage, docking and maintenance, as well as entry into the Chesapeake Bay in waters and islands not heavily trafficked by tourists.

The Gunpowder Cove marina had been family-owned for years until a little under a decade ago, when it was bought by MarineMax, a national boat-service company with locations in 16 states. But customers can only speculate as to the reason for the closing, and MarineMax gave little indication as to the rationale or what will happen to the property after Nov. 1.

Michael Quigley, MarineMax’s business manager in the region, said the closing was because of financial reasons and cruisers — the kind of boat typically stored at that marina — are a dried-up market, but he declined further comment. TJ Rose, the general manager for MarineMax’s Maryland locations, also declined comment, and MarineMax’s national organization did not respond to multiple requests to speak with The Daily Record for this story.

As a whole, MarineMax’s stock, despite being near an all-time high, has declined more than 20 percent over the last month, though last week the company announced the opening of a new facility in Texas.

The general reaction among Gunpowder Cove customers when they heard the news was dismay and shock, said Gary Rettberg, who has been boating at the marina since 1993.

“It’s been a part of my life for a long time, so for them just to close leaves a big void at this point,” he said. “I think everybody is mad, upset — stunned for the most part.”

After receiving the letter on Monday, Rettberg immediately started looking for a new marina to use, but he said the alternatives weren’t ideal.

“There’s really nothing in the immediate area to fill that need. You have to go out of the way to get to another location,” he said. “It’s not like a convenience store where there’s another one just across the street.”

Customers will receive a 15-percent discount for winter storage at a Baltimore Marine Center location, according to the letter, but a number of Gunpowder Cove boaters said they wouldn’t consider moving their cruiser to Baltimore because it is so far away.

Rettberg said he also didn’t want to bring his business back to MarineMax after this season.

“I was never really that truly a big fan of MarineMax because it’s just a big corporation. [The marina] lost that personal touch when they bought it. I always felt there was a deterioration in the services that were offered. My days of dealing with them are pretty much done,” he said.

Starting last year, MarineMax discontinued the service department at its Joppa location, leaving just a mobile unit based out of Baltimore to provide service. Last month, the store announced it would stop selling boat parts, which now need to be bought out of Baltimore.

“It breaks my heart because years ago, it was a family-owned and operated business, and that family worked hard to have a beautiful business,” said Jim High, owner of the Baltimore Boating Center marina on Middle River. “When they sold it, a lot was lost…the large corporation doesn’t care about the local families as much as they would if they were a local business.”

High suggested that because the Gunpowder River doesn’t have a harbor or as many restaurants on the waterfront, it might have struggled to pose as an attractive destination for boaters who have to travel to Baltimore.

But for boaters already in the area who must now look elsewhere for winter storage, next summer and beyond, the hope is that, despite little information available from MarineMax, some good news will emerge about the Gunpowder Cove marina’s future.

“It’s a sad day in my mind, for them to just close it,” Rettberg said. “I’m hoping somehow, someway, somebody else buys it and they’re able to open as a new business, a new marina.”

Of the many appealing aspects of the Gunpowder Golf Course, none surpasses the modest green fees for those inclined to play later in the day.

Here's how it works.

For a measly $5 the course is yours from 90 minutes before sunset until you finish nine — or even 18 — holes on the nearly half-century-old parcel adjoining Fairland Regional Park in Laurel.

It's difficult to believe that there's a better deal anywhere in the area.

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Meanwhile, duffers and scratch players alike can take advantage of the other reasonable rates Gunpowder charges for a round: $24 on weekends, $19 during the week — except for seniors (60 and over), juniors (10 and under) and uniformed personnel (military, police, fire and EMS), who can play for just $10 on a 6,061-yard, par-70 Scottish-style layout.

To put it simply, the oldest golf course in Prince George's County is not only an oasis in the increasingly densely populated Baltimore-Washington corridor, it may also be its best bargain.

Part of that population base is now on Gunpowder's doorstep with the new Bentley Park development on 210 adjoining acres, featuring town homes and single residences.

Gunpowder managers Linda and Tom Milligan are welcoming the project, even though it is uncertain how many new customers will patronize the course owned by the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission.

"The luxury homes in this park-like community make for a fine neighbor to our affordable golf course, and we hope to gain some new players," said Linda Milligan about the $400,000-plus price tag for Bentley Park town homes and the $500,000 required to purchase a detached residence.

That said, the developers put an end to years of uncertainty about what kind of project would be built on the land that sold for $28.5 million.

"The citizens and golfers in the area believed that this park-designed community far surpassed the original layout of the high-end, championship, golf course housing development proposed by Artery in 2001," Tom Milligan said.

Milligan was referring to the time when the Artery Development Company and The Ryland Group were hoping to redesign Gunpowder into an upscale championship course, morphing into "a public-owned, daily-fee facility as part of a 465-acre residential community," according to cybergolf.com.

The entire project was to be renamed the Fairland/Gunpowder Golf Course with a commensurate meteoric rise in greens fees.

The proposal did not set well with the senior community or its representatives in the state legislature, given the proposed fee hikes on a public course subsidized by tax payers. The plan was ultimately squelched because of the outcry and for other reasons.

The current development will have no affiliation with the course, other than being good neighbors.

The old-school golf course — described in its website as being "designed and built by Robert 'Bob' Milligan, and operated by the Milligan family" ever since — and its new neighbors are in the business of building a harmonious relationship.

In fact, when a sewer line was installed in the middle of the course, Tom Milligan said that family-run course is none the worse for the wear.

"Trees that were removed for utility installation were all replaced as well as additional trees that were planted around the course," he said.

Bob Milligan's design in 1956 was a simple one and one that owes its look and feel to the sport's Scottish origins. It has stood the test of time.

"Tom's father used to say that Gunpowder is a 'finesse course,'" Linda Milligan said. "Players will want to use every club in their bag. Club selection is key to a successful round."

Dale Leith, the Gunpowder golf professional and director of golf, said the course has "a lot of links flavor to it."

He added that Gunpowder's length is not all that important.

"It's a very interesting course," the 1967 Laurel High grad said. "It's a real test."

While there are some narrow fairways bordered by trees that beg for accuracy above power, other parts of the course are wide open, he said.

"The course has really been coming into its own the last couple of years," he said. "There are parts that have lots of trees and gorse. It's a shorter course, so it has to be protected."

Leith's knowledge of the course goes back to high school when Bob Milligan provided the Spartan star with ample practice time.

"He made sure I always had golf balls and a course to play on," the Laurel resident said.

Leith said that area golfers hardly missed a beat despite a deluge that curtailed play on Aug. 12.

"We had 4 inches of rain in two hours," he "But the next day we had a very busy day. The course was in beautiful shape."

"Bummer!"

That was my reaction to "The State of the Gunpowder River" presentation Jan. 20 by Mark Staley, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Inland Fisheries Central Region Fisheries Manager. The Maryland Chapter of Trout Unlimited requested Staley's Gunpowder review, since many view the Gunpowder as central Maryland's premier trout stream.

Staley focused on the 7.2-mile section of the Gunpowder from the base of Prettyboy Reservoir Dam to Blue Mount Road. This is the catch-and-release section with only fly and artificial lure fishing allowed. His report was couched in terms of fisheries biology language and was largely based on results of electroshocking surveys in the areas of Falls Road, Masemore Road and Blue Mount Road.

In brief, the surveys revealed the Gunpowder trout population is 97-99 percent brown trout; the remainders are rainbow trout plus a few brook trout entering from tributaries. The population of adult trout, 9 to 12 inches, declined last year, but there was very good reproduction, and these fish should be adult sized within two years. Large trout, over 12 inches, constitute only 1-5 percent of the population.

Lack of an abundant forage base continues to limit on Gunpowder trout populations and size. Insects are the predominant food in this section, and populations appear to be diminished. Minnow populations are nearly non-existent at the dam but increase further downstream.

The rainbow trout stocked in this section in recent years are fingerlings, but survival is minimal. The are most likely devoured by larger brown trout (as will happen with a portion of those young-of-year brown trout). Great Blue Herons prey on the trout as do eagles, osprey and otters.

I guess I was disappointed with the report, because I did well on 6- to 10-inch browns on my last trip and heard similar reports from two friends.

Then I started thinking, "Let's look at the bright side."

First of all, some long time local trout experts propose that the Gunpowder trout fishery goes through periodic up and down cycles. Things could improve. Second, there are other nearby options — for anglers willing to fish for stocked trout.

While some anglers refer to stocked trout as "SNITs," standard 9-inch trout, many are larger, fitting and exceeding the adult trout category of the Gunpowder.

The Gunpowder is one of many Maryland streams receiving annual stockings by DNR — 6,000 trout in the section between Upper Glencoe and Phoenix roads and 5,800 trout at Harford and Belair roads in the spring of 2015.

Smaller stocking occurred in the fall. Some trout may be kept in these sections, and bait fishing is allowed.

And, though the Gunpowder has the reputation, it is not the only or closest option. Carroll County's Morgan Run offers catch-and-return, fly and lure fishing in a 3- to 4-mile section between Md. 97 and London Bridge Road. Last spring 2,500 trout, a mix of rainbow and brown trout, were stocked, and there were also a fall stocking.

Access and parking are found at Jim Bowers, Klees Mill and London Bridge roads. This is a beautiful and natural setting, but is gets pressured, especially in the Klees Mill area, where there are rudimentary trails upstream and down. Places like Jim Bowers are real briar patches, but you can fight your way to some good holes. This could be a good flipping or Tenkara stream.

I've had some good fishing here when I could beat the crowds, including a 20-plus-inch rainbow on a floating soft hackle right after a spin fisherman vacated a favorite hole. The area above Klees Mill is classic pocket water, lending itself to flipping, high stick nymphing and probably Tenkara techniques.

Soft hackles, dry fly and dropper, and red San Juan worms have been productive for me. I have not done well with spinning tackle.

The Patapsco River provides stocked rainbows and browns at two major areas. At the Daniels Dam area 5,600 trout were stocked in the spring of 2015; the Avalon area received 5,500. Both got fall stocking as well. This is put-and-take fishing with flies, lures and bait allowed. Both areas can be frenzied in the spring as "the PowerBait crowd" frantically attempt to get their limits, two trout at Daniels, five at Avalon. Though DNR spreads out the stockings over three or four sessions, fish are quickly depleted (or terrorized) a few days after the stockings.

Nevertheless, a patient fisherman with walking and wading skills can have some good fishing. While most of the trout are "SNITS" sometimes a big one shows up. A rainbow of almost 10 pounds was taken at Avalon a few years ago.

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I've had success with the same flies as above, especially the San Juan worm, plus a Crystal Bugger streamer in white. A size #1 silver Mepps spinner is the ticket with spinning tackle, and PowerBait paste is definitely the bait of choice.

Finally, for those willing to travel, my favorite trout stream in Maryland is the Casselman River near Grantsville in Garrett County. I have taken a half-dozen trout of 20 inches or more here. The Casselman is a delayed harvest stream with spring and fall stockings providing catch-and-release fishing with lures and flies only from Oct. 1 through June 15 of the following year. From June 16 through Sept. 30 bait is also allowed and two fish per day may be kept.

Again wading and walking skills pay off. The above flies and lures have worked for me, with the dry fly and dropper the top choice.

Other top far Western Maryland trout streams are the Savage, Youghiogheny, and the North Branch of the Potomac.

I highly recommend "Guide to Maryland Trout Fishing," by Charlie Gelso and Larry Coburn. Though some information is dated, this is a great resource.

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The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. As you may have read, there are significant local concerns over the 1,000 plus new apartments coming to the White Marsh area. Many residents in Eastern Baltimore County are witnessing a sprawling development taking place along Route 1, Route 43, and beyond. Much of the rural character …

Continue reading “NOW YOU KNOW: Addressing Development Concerns and Preserving our Waterways”

Police/Fire

Two bodies recovered following apparent drowning incident at Hammerman Beach

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Chris Montcalmo

MIDDLE RIVER, MD—Two people are dead following a Monday evening drowning and rescue attempt in Middle River. On Tuesday morning, the Baltimore County Fire Department reported that the bodies of two adult males had been recovered from the Gunpowder River, Hammerman Beach area, per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. At around 6:30 p.m. on Monday evening, crews were attempting …

UPDATE 2: The bodies of two male victims have been recovered, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. UPDATE: The White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company reports that the two injured parties are drowning victims. There is no third victim. Original story below… ——— MIDDLE RIVER, MD—Crews are performing a water rescue in Middle River. At just before 6:30 p.m. …

KINGSVILLE, MD—A group of Cub Scouts made part of Kingsville a little bit prettier recently. For their community cleanup project, Cub Scout Pack 732 in Perry Hall beautified a portion of Gunpowder Falls State Park near Gunpowder Lodge. The group of scouts cleared away 75 pounds of trash. Cub Scout Pack 732 is based out of St. Michael Lutheran Church …

CHASE, MD—An injured person was rescued from a trail in the Chase area on Thursday morning. At just after 10:45 a.m. on April 20, 2023, units from White Marsh Volunteer Fire company recued an injured person from a trail in the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park. The patient likely suffered a broken leg, WMVFC reported. An ATV unit …

MIDDLE RIVER, MD—The All About Maryland Festival is set to return to Middle River in April. The 2023 edition of the annual event will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023. The festival features Maryland artisans, crafts, food, specialty beverages, and live entertainment. This year’s bash will feature a “live demonstration” crafter village, “feed the …

UPDATE: The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company reports that units from multiple fire companies arrived Gunpowder Falls State Park io find a 300’x300’ area of woods on fire on the trails near the waterfall. Original story below… KINGSVILLE, MD—Crews are on the scene of a large brush fire in the Kingsville area. The fire was reported at just after 10 a.m. …

TOWSON, MD—The Maryland Board of Public Works has unanimously approved $27.1 million in FY2023 Rural Legacy Program grants, including $5.575 million towards five Rural Legacy Areas within Baltimore County. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Rural Legacy Program is designed to preserve large blocks of contiguous open space that are among the State’s most valuable because of the existence of …

CHASE, MD—An injured person was rescued from a trail in the Chase area on Thursday morning.

At just after 10:45 a.m. on April 20, 2023, units from White Marsh Volunteer Fire company recued an injured person from a trail in the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park.

The patient likely suffered a broken leg, WMVFC reported.

An ATV unit was utilized to successfully reach the hiker.