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HYDROGRAPHIC CREW BREAKS ICE AROUND KENT NARROWS
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Chester, Maryland - Maryland Department of Natural Resources Hydrographic Operations crew broke ice yesterday aboard the A.V. Sandusky along the coastline of Kent Narrows.

"Our work of deicing Maryland's waterways allows accessibility to a variety of people," said Captain Shawn Orr. "If we let the ice build up on some of these areas for too long, it can inhibit the daily lives of many that rely on our State's iconic aquatic resources."

Deicing allows law enforcement units, such as the Maryland Natural Resources Police, commercial watermen using pound nets and public service vessels, such as fuel barges, to operate during winter conditions. The Smith Island community of Maryland relies heavily upon this service to allow boats to transport students to school, the U.S. mail to be delivered and commerce on the island to occur.

The diesel-powered A.V. Sandusky has 700 horsepower and can operate in up to 8 inches of ice. The vessel was built in 1989 and is 80 feet long.

When not performing this seasonally important responsibility, Hydrographic Operations manages about 2,500 floating and 360 fixed navigational and regulatory aids with a staff of 22 across the entire state of Maryland. The three ice-breaking vessels serve as buoy tenders and their other tailored outboard boats mark safety hazards near dams, as well as state and county lines.

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore theChesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.

Media Contact

Kara Turner (410) 260-8018 katurner@dnr.state.md.us

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