Maryland's No Discharge Zones

Map of Herring Bay and Northern Coastal Bays

A "No Discharge Zone ” is an area of a waterbody or an entire waterbody into which the discharge of sewage (whether treated or untreated) from all vessels is completely prohibited.

Maryland's zones are:

Herring Bay, Anne Arundel County
Northern Coastal Bays (Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City commercial fish harbor (Swordfish Basin), Isle of Wight Bay, St. Martins River and Assawoman Bay), Worcester County

Federal Register Notice

Herring Bay

Herring Bay No Discharge Zone. Larger version of graphic. These maps should not be used as navigation aids.

The Herring Bay No Discharge Zone (NDZ) is a 3,145-acre area of water located along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in southern Anne Arundel County. The area includes Rockhold, Tracy, and Parker creeks on the north and Rose Haven Harbor on the south. The NDZ includes tidal waters west of the following:

Beginning on Holland Point at or near 38°43'34.9"N/ 76°31'37.3"W (Latitude/Longitude), then running in a northerly direction to Crab Pile A at or near 38°46'33.0"N/ 76°32'10.1"W (Latitude/Longitude), then running to a point on the north shore of Parkers Creek at or near 38°46'39.1"N/ 76°32'10.8"W (Latitude/Longitude).

The Herring Bay watershed is approximately 25 square miles. Although traditionally a farming area, several residential communities are located within the watershed including some that are located along the shoreline. The town of Deale sits adjacent to Rockhold Creek. Herring Bay is also a very popular recreational boating area and is home to 16 marinas containing 2,090 slips.

There are four bathing beaches on Herring Bay: Mason’s Beach, Town Point, Owings Cliffs, and Rose Haven. Other beaches are specifically designated as terrapin and horseshoe crab nesting and spawning areas. Herring Bay is also a general aquatic nursery and feeding area providing habitat for a rich mixture of blue crabs, Atlantic croaker (hardhead), spot, bluefish, gray sea trout (weakfish), Atlantic menhaden, bay anchovy, striped bass, summer flounder, and white perch. Herring Bay also contains natural oyster bars as well as bottom habitat for soft clams. Herring Bay is bounded by productive crab potting areas in the Chesapeake Bay. Wildlife includes great blue heron, American black duck, canvasback duck, and scaup, as well as nesting areas for osprey and bald eagle. Finally, the area along the shoreline contains submerged aquatic vegetation.

Northern Coastal Bays No Discharge Zone. Larger version of graphic. These maps should not be used as navigation aids.

Northern Coastal Bays

The Northern Coastal Bays No Discharge Zone is 12,780 acres of water that include all tidal waters north of the Ocean City Inlet as defined by points - 38°19'23.83"N/ 75°5'14.36"W to 38°19' 35.77"N/ 75°06'27.68"W (Latitude/Longitude) - to the Delaware State line. This area encompasses the Ocean City Inlet, Ocean City commercial fish harbor (Swordfish Basin), Isle of Wight Bay, St. Martins River and Assawoman Bay.

These bodies of water are characterized by extreme high and low tides along with poor flushing ability due to the narrow Ocean City Inlet. The land surrounding the Northern Coastal Bays is primarily agriculture, forested or marsh (76% and 85% respectively) but also includes the largest percentage of developed land surrounding all five coastal bays (24% and 15% respectively). There are currently 44,000 year-round residents living in Worcester County; 25% of these residents live in the community of Ocean Pines, along the Isle of Wight Bay. Currently, Worcester County is the second fastest growing county in the state.

The Maryland Coastal Bays offer a rich and diverse population of natural resources. Of the numerous species living in the Coastal Bays 19 animals and more than 75 plant species are considered rare or endangered. Within this community there are over 360 species of birds including 30 shorebirds (like the endangered Piping Plover) and waterfowl. There are more than 120 species of fish including menhaden, sea trout, striped bass, and American shad. There are also three different types of shellfish that are harvested extensively by commercial and recreational fisherman including blue crabs (hard and soft shell) and hard clams. All of these resources have an enormous economic value to the region through activities such as fishing, clamming, bird watching, and eco-tourism, camping and hunting. Good water quality is essential to all of these resources and related activities.

Maryland's No Discharge Zones

Herring Bay

Northern Coastal Bays

Related Links

EPA Mid-Atlantic Region No Discharge Zones Home Page

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