Help Make Mallows-Potomac a National Marine Sanctuary with Expanded Boundaries

For the first time since 2000, NOAA has announced its intent to designate new sanctuaries under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The state of Maryland has nominated Mallows Bay – Potomac River, a maritime heritage resource area as a potential new sanctuary.

 
Mallows Bay is a 14 square mile area of the tidal Potomac River adjacent to Charles County. It includes the shipwrecks of around 200 vessels from the Revolutionary War through the present and these include remains of the largest "Ghost Fleet" of WWI wooden steamships. Mallows Bay is largely undeveloped and is already identified as an invaluable ecological site within Maryland.  The ship remains serve as an important habitat for an array of threatened and endangered fish and wildlife.
 

Many individuals and groups—including the Sierra Club—who support the nomination also desire a larger sanctuary to greatly enhance its goals of promoting fishing, recreation, education, research and tourism.   If designated with the current nomination boundaries, the sanctuary would become only the second smallest sanctuary among fourteen, and even with boundaries expanded from “Chapman to Chapel Point” State Parks, it would still be only the fourth smallest. When supporters request a larger sanctuary, we ask that they mention Mattawoman Creek and Chapman shoreline specifically because it especially conforms to the ideals of a marine sanctuary with respect to recreation, tourism, and ecological significance.

 

In addition to a larger sanctuary, we are asking supporters to request a visitors center in the town of Indian Head, where infrastructure is already in place. This not only avoids overcrowding rural Mallows Bay, but is in line with Indian Head’s revitalization goals to become a trail destination town and tourism hub.  

 

NOAA has emphasized that the sanctuary scoping is a “bottom up” process, so your comments will be heard.  Deadline is January 15th, 2015. 

Please submit a comment to support expanded boundaries here : 

all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal

Click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields, 

and enter or attach your comments.

1) Support the Mallows-Potomac designation as a National Marine Sanctuary

with expanded boundaries (Please mention including Mattawoman Creek & Chapman shoreline)

2) Support visitors center in Indian Head (where infrastructure is already in place) to avoid over-crowding at rural Mallows Bay. 

 

More information here and here!