Md. Code Regs. 08.02.01.09 – Dividing Lines; Tidal and Nontidal Waters.

The following boundaries are designated as official dividing lines for tidal and nontidal waters. These boundary lines are for the purpose of delineating those areas in which nontidal fishing licenses or Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing licenses are required and tidal or nontidal fishing regulations apply, and have no other legal significance.

A. Harford County.
1. (1) Winter's Run: dam located 1/2 mile south of Maryland Route 7, the Old Philadelphia Road.
2. (2) Bynum Run: Old Philadelphia Road Bridge on Maryland Route 7.
3. (3) James Run: Old Philadelphia Road Bridge on Maryland Route 7.
4. (4) Deer Creek: Railroad bridge located at the mouth of Deer Creek.
5. (5) Gray's Run: CSX Railroad crossing upstream of U.S. 40.
6. (6) Swan Creek: bridge on Old Post Road.
B. Baltimore County.
1. (1) Big Gunpowder Falls: 3/4 of a mile south of Maryland Route 7, the Old Philadelphia Road at B&O Railroad Bridge.
2. (2) Little Gunpowder Falls: 3/4 of a mile south of Maryland Route 7, the Old Philadelphia Road at B&O Railroad Bridge.
3. (3) Stemmers Run: Golden Ring Road Bridge.
4. (4) Stansbury Park Pond: base of dam.
C. Baltimore and Howard Counties. Patapsco River: B&O Viaduct at Relay.
D. Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties.
1. (1) Patuxent River:
  1. (a) Mainstem: bridge on Maryland Route 214;
  2. (b) Lyons Creek: Maryland Route 4;
  3. (c) Stocketts Run: confluence with the river;
  4. (d) Rock Run: confluence with the river;
  5. (e) Ferry Branch: confluence with the river.
2. (2) Severn River: bridge on Maryland Route 3.
3. (3) Furnace Branch: Maryland Route 2.
4. (4) Anacostia River: Northeast Branch Bridge at northbound lane of Alternate U.S. Route 1, Bladensburg Road; Northwest Branch Bridge at southbound lane of Rhode Island Avenue.
5. (5) Marley Creek: Maryland Route 10.
6. (6) Magothy River: Catherine Avenue.
7. (7) South River and its tributaries:
  1. (a) North River: Rutland Road;
  2. (b) Bacon Ridge Branch: Chesterfield Road;
  3. (c) Beards Creek: Maryland Route 214;
  4. (d) Broad Creek: Harry S Truman Parkway.
E. Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties.
1. (1) Potomac River: man-made dam at Little Falls.
2. (2) Piscataway Creek: bridge on Maryland Route 224 (Livingston Road).
3. (3) Henson Run: bridge on Old Broad Creek Road.
4. (4) Western Branch: bridge on Maryland Route 4.
5. (5) Nanjemoy Creek:
  1. (a) Mainstem: Maryland Route 6;
  2. (b) Mill Run (Burgess Cr.): Maryland Route 6;
  3. (c) Hill Top Fork: Maryland Route 6;
  4. (d) Wards Run: Maryland Route 6.
6. (6) Wicomico River: Allens Fresh, bridge on Maryland Route 234.
7. (7) Port Tobacco Creek: bridge on Maryland Route 6.
8. (8) Mattawoman Creek: bridge on Maryland Route 225.
9. (9) Patuxent River:
  1. (a) Swanson Creek: Maryland Route 381;
  2. (b) Mataponi Creek: St. Thomas Church Road;
  3. (c) Spice Creek: Maryland Route 382, Croom Road;
  4. (d) Full Mill Branch: Maryland Route 382, Croom Road;
  5. (e) Black Swamp Creek: Maryland Route 382, Croom Road.
10. (10) Pomonkey Creek: Fenwick Road.
11. (11) Hoghole Run: Maryland Route 6.
12. (12) Oxen Creek (Run): Maryland Route 210.
F. Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.
1. (1) Chester River: 500 yards upstream from the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge at Millington at the point where the Cypress Branch empties into the Chester River.
2. (2) Unicorn Branch: the U.S. Geological Survey weir just east of Maryland Route 313.
3. (3) Sassafras River: Maryland Route 299.
4. (4) Herring Branch: Maryland Route 299.
5. (5) Morgan Creek: Wallis Road.
6. (6) Red Lion Branch: confluence with the Chester River.
7. (7) Wye East River: Wye Mills Lake dam.
G. Caroline County.
1. (1) Choptank River: bypass bridge on Maryland Route 313 on the outskirts of Greensboro.
2. (2) Tuckahoe Creek: abandoned stone railroad bridge upstream of Maryland Route 404.
3. (3) Watt's Creek: bridge on American Legion Road.
4. (4) Fowling Creek: wooden bridge on Stratum Road about 1 mile below Maryland Route 16.
5. (5) Chapel Branch: Maryland Route 313 near Piney Grove Church.
6. (6) Marshy Hope Creek: confluence with Faulkner Branch.
7. (7) Mill Creek: Maryland Route 16.
8. (8) Hunting Creek: Maryland Route 331.
H. Wicomico and Worcester Counties.
1. (1) Pocomoke River: bridge on Whiton Crossing, 3 miles south of Powellville.
2. (2) Wicomico River: Isabella Street in Salisbury.
3. (3) Beaverdam Creek: dam just upstream of U.S. Route 13 (Business).
4. (4) Nassawango Creek: Furnace Road.
5. (5) Barren Creek: U.S. Route 50 Bridge
I. St. Mary's County.
1. (1) Park Hall Run: Maryland Route 5.
2. (2) McIntosh Run: Maryland Route 5.
3. (3) Great Mills Run: bridge on Maryland Route 5.
4. (4) Town Run: bridge on Maryland Route 5.
5. (5) Chaptico Run: Chaptico Bridge on Maryland Route 234.
6. (6) Eastern Branch: Maryland Route 5.
7. (7) Dynard Run: Maryland Route 242.
8. (8) Tomakokin Creek: Maryland Route 470.
9. (9) Buds Creek: Maryland Route 234.
10. (10) Gilbert Swamp Run: Maryland Route 234.
11. (11) St. Clements Creek: Maryland Route 234, bridge at town of Clements.
J. Calvert County.
1. (1) St. Leonard's Creek: Parran Road.
2. (2) Battle Creek: bridge about 2 miles east of Bowens (Sixes Road).
3. (3) Parker's Creek: Maryland Route 765.
4. (4) Hunting Creek: bridge on Maryland Route 263 about 100 yards west of Maryland Route 4.
5. (5) Hall's Creek: Bridge on Maryland Route 4.
6. (6) Lyons Creek: Bridge on Maryland Route 4.
7. (7) Fishing Creek: 1-1/2 miles upstream from the mouth of the creek at Chesapeake Beach.
8. (8) Plum Point Creek: bridge on Maryland Route 263.
9. (9) Mills Creek: Maryland Route 760.
10. (10) Hellen Creek: Mill Branch Road, near Solomons.
11. (11) Island Creek: Ross Road, near Brooms Island.
12. (12) St. Johns Creek: Maryland Route 4.
13. (13) Quaker Swamp: Maryland Routes 2 and 4.
K. Susquehanna River. Conowingo Dam at U.S. Route 1.
L. Cecil County.
1. (1) Octoraro Creek: bridge on U.S. Route 222.
2. (2) Rock Run: confluence with the Susquehanna River.
3. (3) Mill Creek: Old Elk Neck Road.
4. (4) Principio Creek: Amtrak crossing below Maryland Route 7.
5. (5) North East River: Maryland Route 7.
6. (6) Little Elk Creek: U.S. Route 40.
7. (7) Big Elk Creek: Maryland Route 213.
8. (8) Bohemia River: Telegraph Road.
9. (9) Happy Valley Branch: confluence with Susquehanna River.
M. Dorchester County.
1. (1) Chicamicomico River: U.S. Route 50.
2. (2) Transquaking River: dam at Higgins Mill Pond.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§4-205, 4-205.1, 4-206, 4-212, 4-214, 4-215, 4-215.2, 4-2A-03, 4-216, 4-306, 4-405, 4-407, 4-602, 4-604, 4-701, 4-701.1, 4-735, 4-745, 4-1006, 4-1006.1, 4-1009, 4-1011, 4-1012, 4-1103, 4-11A-02, 4-11A-04—4-11A-09, 4-11A-11, 4-11A-20, and 4-11A-21; State Government Article, §10-206; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulation .01 adopted effective April 29, 1991 (18:8 Md. R. 863)

Regulation .01 amended effective November 11, 1991 (18:22 Md. R. 2395); December 6, 1993 (20:24 Md. R. 1864); July 8, 2002 (29:13 Md. R. 990); March 26, 2018 (45:6 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .01A amended as an emergency provision effective July 13, 1994 (21:16 Md. R. 1378); adopted permanently effective September 12, 1994 (21:18 Md. R. 1508)

Regulation .01A amended effective February 28, 1994 (21:4 Md. R. 274); July 3, 1995 (22:13 Md. R. 966); October 20, 1997 (24:21 Md. R. 1446); December 1, 1997 (24:24 Md. R. 1670); December 29, 1997 (24:26 Md. R. 1756); November 29, 1999 (26:24 Md. R. 1857); October 27, 2003 (30:21 Md. R. 1528); November 16, 2009 (36:23 Md. R. 1816); September 6, 2010 (37:18 Md. R. 1213); September 3, 2012 (39:17 Md. R. 1147); August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 952); August 26, 2019 (46:17 Md. R. 725); November 4, 2019 (46:22 Md. R. 976); August 8, 2022 (49:16 Md. R. 757); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 706)

Regulation .01G adopted effective March 29, 1993 (20:6 Md. R. 580)

Regulation .02 adopted as COMAR 08.02.07 effective July 23, 1975 (2:16 Md. R. 1138); amended effective August 15, 1983 (10:16 Md. R. 1450); recodified from COMAR 08.02.07 to 08.02.01.02 effective April 29, 1991 (18:8 Md. R. 863)

Regulation .02 amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .02A amended as an emergency provision effective October 11, 1983 (10:22 Md. R. 1963); emergency status expired February 7, 1984

Regulation .02B amended effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 952)

Regulation .02C repealed effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 952)

Regulation .03 adopted as COMAR 08.02.10.01 effective June 25, 1975 (2:14 Md. R. 1014); amended effective August 15, 1983 (10:16 Md. R. 1450); recodified from COMAR 08.02.10.01 to COMAR 08.02.01.03 effective April 29, 1991 (18:8 Md. R. 863)

Regulation .03 amended effective January 20, 1992 (19:1 Md. R. 23)

Regulation .04 adopted as COMAR 08.02.07.04 and recodified to 08.02.01.04 effective May 27, 1991 (18:10 Md. R. 1115)

Regulation .04 amended as an emergency provision effective October 10, 2001 (28:22 Md. R. 1931); emergency status expired December 31, 2001

Regulation .04B amended effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .04C amended effective April 13, 1992 (19:7 Md. R. 744); April 12, 1993 (20:7 Md. R. 640); March 14, 1994 (21:5 Md. R. 402); March 13, 1995 (22:5 Md. R. 366)

Regulation .05 adopted effective March 20, 2000 (27:5 Md. R. 582)

Regulation .05 amended effective June 23, 2003 (30:12 Md. R. 787); April 9, 2007 (34:7 Md. R. 697); April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 407); February 16, 2015 (42:3 Md. R. 314); March 26, 2018 (45:6 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .05A amended effective March 14, 2005 (32:5 Md. R. 579)

Regulation .05A amended as an emergency provision effective June 1, 2008 (35:13 Md. R. 1174); emergency status extended to December 16, 2008 (35:23 Md. R. 2011)

Regulation .05A amended effective December 1, 2008 (35:24 Md. R. 2077); February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 175); April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429); February 15, 2016 (43:3 Md. R. 271); January 30, 2017 (44:2 Md. R. 84); January 27, 2020 (47:2 Md. R. 62); July 7, 2025 (52:13 Md. R. 655)

Regulation .05I adopted effective February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 175)

Regulation .05I amended effective July 26, 2010 (37:15 Md. R. 998)

Regulation .06 adopted effective April 12, 2004 (31:7 Md. R. 582)

Regulation .06B amended effective February 14, 2005 (32:3 Md. R. 289)

Regulation .07 adopted effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .07B amended effective July 1, 2019 (46:13 Md. R. 589); March 23, 2020 (47:6 Md. R. 340)

Regulation .07D amended effective March 2, 2015 (42:4 Md. R. 432); March 26, 2018 (45:6 Md. R. 317)

Regulation .08 adopted effective April 4, 2011 (38:7 Md. R. 429)

Regulation .09 adopted effective October 17, 2011 (38:21 Md. R. 1276)

Regulation .09A amended effective November 11, 2024 (51:22 Md. R. 963)

Regulation .09H amended effective February 13, 2017 (44:3 Md. R. 188)

Regulation .10 adopted effective May 28, 2012 (39:10 Md. R. 659)

Regulation .10A amended effective August 8, 2022 (49:16 Md. R. 757)

Regulation .11 adopted effective October 29. 2012 (39:21 Md. R. 1377)

Regulation .12 adopted effective November 25, 2013 (40:23 Md. R. 1932)

Regulation .12B amended effective June 15, 2020 (47:12 Md. R. 595); February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1040); January 6, 2025 (51:26 Md. R. 1186)

Regulation .13 adopted effective March 30, 2015 (42:6 Md. R. 510)

Regulation .13B amended effective December 14, 2020 (47:25 Md. R. 1067); December 12, 2022 (49:25 Md. R. 1049)

Regulation .13D amended effective June 5, 2017 (44:11 Md. R. 524)

Regulation .13E adopted effective December 11, 2023 (50:24 Md. R. 1040)

Regulation .14 adopted effective November 9, 2015 (42:22 Md. R. 1377)

Regulation .15 adopted effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 953)

Regulation .16 adopted effective February 11, 2019 (46:3 Md. R. 106)

Regulation .16C amended effective September 23, 2019 (46:19 Md. R. 813); March 9, 2020 (47:5 Md. R. 310)