ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced that the Boat Act Advisory Committee (BAAC) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm to review a regulatory request related to speed zones in the Annemessex River/Daugherty Creek Canal at Janes Island State Park. 

Currently a portion of Daugherty Creek Canal has a 6-knot speed limit all year from Janes Island State park Harbor to a point on the north side of the east end of Ward Creek.

The request is to extend this not only for the safety of boaters but to reduce boat wake that is causing shoreline erosion.

Being considered is the repositioning of the southern speed limit demarcation to the southern end of Daugherty Creek Canal, and the northern end to a point some 60 yards north of the park office and store.

The canal is actively used by boat owners for ingress and egress to Tangier Sound and quick access to Crisfield and beyond. Compounding this are park day users, campers, fishermen and other recreational boaters and crabbers.

“The entire 1.5 mile length of the Canal is particularly subject to local heavy and large vessels for pleasure, hunters, commercial waterman, etc.,” the requestor wrote, “thus, boat traffic throughout the year.”

With increased traffic from boats and personal watercraft, speeds have been increasing. Wakes 2 to 2½ feet “are fully responsible for extensive shoreline erosion of both sides of the Canal and corollary damage to the domicile dock planks, pilings, boat lifts, electric wires, water lines, etc.,” the requestor added.

During high tide waves wash over the shoreline killing vegetation, which over the last 24 years have caused property owners on the north end of the canal to lose 345 linear feet of shoreline on the east side.

To attend in person the hearing will be held at the Tawes State Office Building, C-1 Conference Room, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis. To join online the Google Meet address is https://meet.google.com/dkr-zqqy-jyq or call by phone +1 615-965-4882 with the Pin ‪485 991 917#. For more information contact K. Michael Lathroum at 410-260-8272 or kennethm.lathroum@maryland.gov.