>Michael A. Sawyers
The Cumberland Times-News Sun Jan 30, 2011, 08:00 AM EST
As of March 21, if you wear felt soles on the bottom of your boots and you are standing in water in Maryland you will be breaking the law.
I know that because I saw it at www.dnr.state.md.us
The intent of the new law is to prevent didymo — aka rock snot — from being transported from a Maryland waterway where it lives to a Maryland waterway where it does not. Rock snot is an invasive algae that prefers cold streams. It is considered to be as inappropriate as a martini at an AA meeting.
However, as written, the new law applies not just to Maryland trout streams such as the Youghiogheny or the Casselman rivers, but to all of the state’s waters.
Thus, if you are a duck hunter wearing felt-soled boots in a farm pond in Charles County you are in violation of the law.
If you are a trapper wearing felt-soled bottoms and are walking a warm-water rivulet as you check your traps in Dorchester County, you are a scofflaw.
Smile. Your photo on the post office wall will look better that way.
Sgt. Art Windemuth of the Maryland Natural Resources Police said that any time there is a new law the first year is always about “education, education, education.”
That is good news to Didymo and the Traveling Rock Snots as the group continues its farewell tour.
I guess when a natural resources police officer is being an educator about a new law that means the constable will take names, but not yet kick butt.
I guess that means that someone who has been warned, but is caught again in illegal footwear might have those boots confiscated and will have to walk to district court in his or her socks.
Didymo is already in some Maryland streams, including the Savage River in Garrett County.
It is unclear whether or not felt soles would once again become legal should rock snot spread to all of Maryland’s trout streams during the year of regulation education or thereafter.
It has not been determined, to my knowledge, that felt soles are the sole source of didymo expansion.
Paul Peditto, director of the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service, said hunters and trappers will be informed about the new law via the agency’s online regulations. News releases will be issued.
Maryland becomes only the third state to ban felt soles, joining Alaska and Vermont in the endeavor.
The soles are illegal, as well, in New Zealand.
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NRP officer to driver of two-toned 1993 Ford 150 parked alongside Bear Creek: “Sir. I see you have felt-soled boots in the back of your pickup. Have you been wading today?”
Driver: Has sheepish look. Says nothing.
NRP officer: “Step out of the vehicle, please.”
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I have not yet been able to discover the fines and/or jail time associated with this new law.
I will pass that on to you as soon as it becomes known.
Contact Outdoor Editor Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com
