THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL Trails Stewardship
Patuxent River Wildland Update - Howard County Bill
Ho.Co 5-25 Nine years ago, members of the equestrian community in western How-
ard County opened a discussion with the Department of Natural Re- sources (DNR) about improving access for first responders in the Patuxent River Wildland. Te wildland is part of the Patuxent River State Park. Why? Because first responders need access to reach injured trail riders, fisher-
men, deer hunters, hikers, and the like. And because several local volun- teer organizations would like to be able to help them. Why can’t volunteers help now? Wildlands are areas that the Maryland General Assembly has directed DNR to manage in way that “provide[s] for their protection, preser- vation of their wildland character.” Md Code Ann .Nat’l Res. section 5-1203(a). Te General Assembly prohibits any “temporary road [or . . . ] motorized equipment . . . within any [wildland] area.” Id. section 5-1212. Te ban on mechanized equipment in the Patuxent River Wildlands, while noble, presents public safety concerns because the wildland is open to the public to fish, hunt, trail ride, coon hunt (with coon hounds), rabbit hunt (think beagles and bassets), and fox chase. Rigid adherence to the “no motorized equipment” rule can have life-threatening consequences. MHC Board Member and emerita Master of Foxhounds for the Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds, Crystal Brumme Pickett, explained the grav- ity of the concerns in recent testimony to the Howard County Delegation: “In 2017, one of my field members was knocked unconscious deep in the
Patuxent Wildlands. Within minutes, the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Compa- ny first responders were at the ready (helps to have the local chief ’s person- al number after the 911 dispatch sends the call to wrong county), as was a medivac unit. But because of downed trees that cannot be cleared without the use of mechanized equipment, it took over an hour to get her out of the woods. Instead of being able to zip into the woods in an EMT-equipped ATV, the first responders had to trudge deep into forest and then carry her on the backboard, heaving her over massive trees – squandering valuable time for medical attention. Tis was unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. (Tankfully, my field member made a full recovery).” We have heard similar concerns from other user groups – the fisherman that had the heart attack. Te injured gun hunter. Te deer hunter who fell out of a tree stand. In each instance it was virtually impossible each time for the first responders to get the victim out quickly. (See side bar.) Te laws governing wildlands do allow mechanized equipment
in
certain limited circumstances – “in emergencies involving the health and
In July 2023, and at the request of DNR, MHC solicited feedback from trail riders about Maryland’s extensive system of equestrian trails. Many of the respondents had concerns about Annapolis Rock:
• “Most trails are very primitive. Te local fox chasing club would clear many trails but I understand that they may not be able to do that. Tey help to preserve the trails.” • “Why has the park stopped letting the hunt clubs maintain the trails? When is the park going to start fixing the damage?” • “Many parts of Patuxent River State Park are completely neglected.” • “Wish the trails were better maintained.” • “Tese trails get very overgrown and are not marked.” • “Horse trails at [Annapolis Rock] need a lot of work.”
safety of persons” and to maintain existing fire access roads “in a passable condition” to protect “privately owned land adjoining or located in close proximity to” the wildland. Id. section 5-1213.1. It is not clear, however, whether this covers DNR personnel only, or whether it also covers volunteers who wish to help the park keep trails open for public safety reasons. In 2017, after the medivac accident, Pickett and Don Reuwer (both
were masters of Howard County-Iron Bridge at the time) began work- ing with DNR to try to get permission for motorized equipment to clear emergency trails. Reuwer owns Pleasant Prospect Farm, which borders the Patuxent River Park, and he, his family, his friends, and his clients regularly ride in the wildlands. Pickett and Reuwer started with the lo- cal park ranger, and learned that, unfortunately, DNR did not agree that volunteers could use motorized equipment in the Patuxent wildland. Pickett and Reuwer kept at it, work- ing their way up the hierarchy. Reu- wer engaged the elected county and state officials to help; Pickett wrote the letters and handled the com- munications. Te Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company Chief Carey McIn- tosh stood side-by-side with them in meetings with DNR, underscoring the need for emergency access for first responders. In 2020, Pickett and Reuwer took
Photo of DNR Sec’y Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, DNR Program Director Emily Nelson, and Pickett setting off from Pleasant Prospect on their trail ride to view the state of the trails.
then-Secretary of DNR Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Program Di- rector for Land Acquisition and Plan- ning Emily Wilson out for a trail ride on horseback so that they could see the situation for themselves. After that trail ride, the Secretary directed
continued...
MHC TRAILS STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR: Carolann Sharpe •
blackandwhitecookieequine@gmail.com 34 | MARCH 2025 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION
800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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