Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 08 - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Subtitle 18 - BOATING-SPEED LIMITS AND OPERATION OF VESSELS
Chapter 08.18.07 - Chesapeake Bay
Section 08.18.07.02 - Western Shore

Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 08.18.07.02

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, March 22, 2024

A. The Western Shore areas, with their corresponding speed limits, are set forth in §§B-M of this regulation.

B. Deep Cove Creek encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 48.317'N., Long. 76° 30.542' W., then running 265° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 48.315'N., Long. 76° 30.565' W., and running to the head of the creek, including all tributaries. This area has a 6-knot speed limit Saturdays, Sundays, and State holidays, all year.

C. Fishing Creek-Chesapeake Beach encompasses the area beginning at a point at the east end of the north jetty at or near Lat. 38° 41.517'N., Long. 76° 31.768' W., then running 185° (True) to the east end of the south jetty, at or near Lat. 38° 41.448'N., Long. 76° 31.775' W., and running to the head of the creek. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.

D. Flag Harbor area. This area is enclosed by a line beginning at or near Lat. 38º27.875'N., Long. 76° 28.278' W., then running 149° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 27.855'N., Long. 76° 28.263' W., and running to the head of the harbor. Except as otherwise restricted, the speed limit for this area is 6 knots.

E. Hawk Cove; Brown's Creek.

(1) Hawk Cove encompasses the area of Hart-Miller Island beginning at a point at or near Lat. 39° 15.710'N., Long. 76° 21.380' W., (northeast point of Hart-Miller Island) then running 287° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 15.758'N., Long. 76° 21.585' W., then running 237° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 14.953'N., Long. 76° 23.183' W (Drum Point). This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.

(2) Brown's Creek encompasses the area beginning at a point on the west side of the entrance to the creek at or near Lat. 39° 16.532'N., Long. 76° 23.893' W., then running 89° (True) to a point on the east side of the entrance of the creek, at or near Lat. 39° 16.533'N., Long. 76° 23.755' W., and running to the head of the creek. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.

F. Oyster Creek entrance channel which lies between the Severn and South rivers encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 55.643'N., Long. 76° 27.795' W., then running 224° (True) to a point on the opposite shore, at or near Lat. 38° 55.637'N., Long. 76° 27.803' W., and running upstream to a line beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 55.632'N., Long. 76° 27.887' W., then running 142° (True) to a point on the opposite shore, at or near Lat. 38° 55.627'N., Long. 76° 27.882' W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.

G. Pleasure Island channel encompasses the area south of a line beginning at a point at or near Lat. 39° 14.292'N., Long. 76° 23.908' W., then running 112° (True) to the northern tip of Pleasure Island, at or near Lat. 39° 14.123'N., Long. 76° 23.377' W., and north of a line beginning at a point, at or near Lat. 39° 13.762'N., Long. 76° 23.895' W., then running 154° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 13.558'N., Long. 76° 23.770' W., then running 19° (True) to the south tip of Pleasure Island, at or near Lat. 39° 13.915'N., Long. 76° 23.608' W. This area has a 6-knot speed limit Saturdays, Sundays, and State holidays, all year.

H. Pleasure Cove yacht basin encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 39° 1.980'N., Long. 76° 24.233' W., then running 142° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 1.9680'N., Long. 76° 24.222' W., and running to the head of the basin. This area has a 6-knot speed limit Saturdays, Sundays, and State holidays, all year.

I. Rockhold Creek-Deale Area encompasses the area upstream (northwest) of a line beginning at a point at the north end of the Rockhold Creek jetty near Owings Beach, at or near Lat. 38° 46.187'N., Long. 76° 33.285' W., then running 151° (True) to a point approximately 250 feet northeast of Rockhold Creek Channel Light 1, at or near Lat. 38° 45.963'N., Long. 76° 33.127' W., then running 201° (True) to USCG Light 1, at or near Lat. 38° 45.923'N., Long. 76° 33.147' W., then running 289° True) to a point on shore at Leitch, at or near Lat. 38° 46.040' N., Long. 76° 33.582' W., and running to the head of the creek. This area has a 6-knot speed limit all year.

J. Seneca Creek encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 39° 19.063'N., Long. 76° 22.142' W., then running 17° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 19.321'N., Long. 76° 22.040' W., and running to the head of the creek, including all tributaries. This area has a 6-knot speed limit Saturdays, Sundays, and State holidays, all year.

K. Blackwalnut Creek encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 55.835'N., Long. 76° 27.773' W., then running 0° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 55.838'N., Long. 76° 27.773' W., and running to the head of the creek. This area has a minimum wake zone all year.

L. Mezick Pond encompasses the area beginning at a point at the south end of the east jetty at or near Lat. 39° 0.387'N., Long. 76° 24.108' W., then running 239° (True) to pier 7A of the westbound Lane Memorial Bridge, at or near Lat. 39° 0.375'N., Long. 76° 24.133' W., then running 333° (True) to the shore near the east side of the westbound Lane Memorial Bridge, at or near Lat. 39° 0.508'N., Long. 76° 24.220' W., and running to the head of the pond. This area has a minimum wake zone all year.

M. Parker Creek encompasses the area beginning at a point at or near Lat. 38° 32.228'N., Long. 76° 31.067' W., then running 15° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 38° 32.238'N., Long. 76° 31.063' W., and running to the head of the creek. This area has a minimum wake zone all year.

N. Sandy Point State Park.

(1) Bathing Beach Zones.
(a) North Zone. All of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay offshore of Sandy Point State Park enclosed by a line beginning at a point at the shore near the west end of the north jetty, at or near Lat. 39° 1.095'N., Long. 76° 23.810' W.,then running 73° (True) to a point near the east end of the north jetty, at or near Lat. 39° 1.113'N., Long. 76° 23.736' W., then running 158° (True) to a point at or near Lat. 39° 0.787' N., Long. 76° 23.564' W., then running 264° (True) to a point at the shore of Sandy Point State Park, at or near Lat. 39° 0.777'N., Long. 76° 23.695' W., then running northerly along the shore to the point of beginning.Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or Maryland Park Service, access to this area is limited to only non-motorized vessels at all times.

(b) South Zone. All of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay offshore of Sandy Point State Park enclosed by a line beginning at a point at the shore, at or near Lat. 39° 0.747'N., Long. 76° 23.682' W.,then running 83° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 0.760'N., Long. 76° 23.550' W., then running 158° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 0.643'N., Long. 76° 23.488' W.,then running 242° (True) to a point near the south end of the Mezick Pond jetty, at or near Lat. 39° 0.390'N., Long. 76° 24.107' W., then running 331° (True) to a point on the shore at the Mezick Pond jetty, at or near Lat. 39° 0.464'N., Long. 76° 24.161' W., then running easterly and northerly along the shore to the point of beginning. Unless otherwise permitted in advance by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or Maryland Park Service, access to this area is limited to only non-motorized vessels at all times.

(2) Soft Launch Channel. Beginning at a point, at or near Lat. 39° 0.760' N., Long. 76° 23.550' W., then running 263° (True) to a point on the shore of Sandy Point State Park, at or near Lat. 39° 0.747'N., Long. 76° 23.682' W., then running 340° (True) to a point on the shore, at or near Lat. 39° 0.777'N., Long. 76° 23.695' W., then running 84° (True) to a point, at or near Lat. 39° 0.787' N., Long. 76° 23.564' W., then running 158° (True) to the point of beginning.This area has a 6 knot speed limit at all times.

O. Western Shore Bay Bridge Construction Area.

(1) Area. All of the waters enclosed by a line beginning at or near Lat. 39° 0.276' N., Long. 76° 24.347' W., then running 62° 0' to a point at or near Lat. 39° 0.444' N., Long. 76° 23.943' W., then running 145°0' to a point at or near Lat. 39° 0.015' N., Long. 76° 23.554' W., then running 107°0' to a point at or near Lat. 38° 59.874' N., Long. 76° 22.995' W., then running 198°0' to a point at or near Lat. 38° 59.465' N., Long. 76° 23.161' W., then running 292° 0' to a point at or near Lat. 38° 59.693' N., Long. 76° 23.878' W., then running 328° 0' to the point of beginning.

(2) The area described in §O(1) of this regulation has a 6-knot speed limit at all times.

(3) This regulation shall be effective through March 31, 2026.

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