BALTIMORE, MD (February 28, 2013) – Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Alfred H. Foxx reminds everyone that boat-fishing season at Liberty and Prettyboy Reservoirs begins Friday, March 1, 2013. Loch Raven Reservoir boat-fishing season begins Friday, April 5, 2013.

Baltimore’s reservoirs are open to visitors from sunrise to sunset, and bank fishing is allowed year-round. Boating requires a permit. Fishing requires a Maryland fishing license.

The spread of invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) means special regulations apply to boating and fishing at Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy Reservoirs. Director Foxx stated: “Zebra mussels have a destructive impact on native wildlife by colonizing on shellfish, turtles and snails. They remove algae, an aquatic animal food source, from the water. Please help prevent their spread.”

These mollusks can colonize water intake pipes, restricting the water flow to municipal treatment plants. Physical and chemical removal is costly and time-consuming. Zebra mussels also create navigational hazards and damage piers, docks and bridges.  

One of the most common ways for the mussels to spread is by attaching themselves to boats. Those boats can carry the mussels to other bodies of fresh water.  

Prevention is crucial to keeping our reservoirs free of zebra mussels.  
 

• If you boat in our reservoirs, do not use your watercraft in any other waters, except the three City reservoirs.
• Only use aquatic bait purchased from a MDNR-certified, zebra mussel-free bait store. Do not use live aquatic bait that you have caught yourself. Do not transfer bait water between bodies of water.
• Never release wildlife of any sort, land or aquatic, at our reservoirs.

 
To obtain a Maryland fishing license go to your local bait and tackle store or visit:http://www.dnr.state.md.us/service/license.asp.
 
To obtain a boating permit application for Liberty and Prettyboy Reservoirs please visit: http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov or call 410-795-6150.
 
To obtain a boating permit for Loch Raven Reservoir please contact the Loch Raven Fishing Center: lrfish-rp@baltimorecountymd.gov or call 410-887-7692.