1. A. Class II includes the subcategories of designated uses described in this section.

2. B. Shellfish Harvesting. This subcategory includes waters where there are:

   1. (1) Actual or potential areas for the harvesting of oysters, soft-shell clams, hard-shell clams, or brackish water clams; or
   2. (2) Actual or potential areas suitable for the propagation or storage of oysters, hard-shell clams, soft-shell clams, and brackish water clams for marketing purposes, except areas excluded by the Department.
3. C. Seasonal Migratory Fish Spawning and Nursery Subcategory. This subcategory includes waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival, growth, and propagation of balanced indigenous populations of ecologically, recreationally, and commercially important anadromous, semi-anadromous and tidal-fresh resident fish species inhabiting spawning and nursery grounds from February 1 through May 31.

4. D. Seasonal Shallow-Water Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Subcategory. This subcategory includes:

   1. (1) Tidal fresh waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival, growth, and propagation of rooted, underwater bay grasses in tidally influenced waters from April 1 through October 1; and
   2. (2) Low salinity (oligohaline and mesohaline) waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival, growth, and propagation of rooted, underwater bay grasses in tidally influenced waters from April 1 through October 1.

5. E. Open-Water Fish and Shellfish Subcategory.

   1. (1) This subcategory includes waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival, growth, and propagation of balanced, indigenous populations of ecologically, recreationally, and commercially important fish and shellfish species inhabiting open-water habitats.
   2. (2) This subcategory applies from June 1 to September 30 in tidally influenced waters from the shoreline to the adjacent shoreline (and from the shoreline to the opposite shoreline), and from the surface to the measured boundary of the pycnocline, if the pycnocline prevents oxygen replenishment, otherwise the subcategory is applied from the surface to the bottom.
   3. (3) If a pycnocline exists but other physical circulation patterns, such as the inflow of oxygen-rich oceanic bottom waters, provide oxygen replenishment to the deep waters, the open-water fish and shellfish designated use extends to the bottom.
   4. (4) From October 1 through May 31, the boundaries of the open-water designated use include all tidally influenced waters from the shoreline measured from the shoreline to the adjacent or opposite shoreline and down to the bottom.

6. F. Seasonal Deep-Water Fish and Shellfish Subcategory. This subcategory includes waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival, growth, and propagation of balanced, indigenous populations of important fish and shellfish species inhabiting deep-water habitats as described as follows:

   1. (1) One of the following applies:

      1. (a) From June 1 through September 30 in tidally influenced waters located between the measured depths of the upper and lower boundaries of the pycnocline, where a pycnocline is present and presents a barrier to oxygen replenishment; or
      2. (b) From June 1 through September 30 from the upper boundary of the pycnocline down to the sediment/water interface at the bottom, where a lower boundary of the pycnocline cannot be calculated due to the depth of the water column; and
   2. (2) From October 1 to May 31, the open water fish and shellfish subcategory designated use applies.

7. G. Seasonal Deep-Channel Refuge Use.

   1. (1) This subcategory includes waters of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries that have the potential for or are supporting the survival of balanced, indigenous populations of ecologically important benthic infaunal and epifaunal worms and clams, which provide food for bottom-feeding fish and crabs.
   2. (2) This subcategory applies from June 1 through September 30 in tidally influenced waters located below the measured lower boundary of the pycnocline to the bottom where a measured pycnocline is present and presents a barrier to oxygen replenishment.
   3. (3) From October 1 to May 31, the open water fish and shellfish subcategory designated use applies.

Authority: Environment Article, §§9-303.1, 9-313 — 9-316, 9-319, 9-320 — 9-325, 9-327, and 9-328, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: September 1, 1974 (1:1 Md. R. 33)

COMAR 10.50.01.02, .04, and .03 recodified to COMAR 26.08.02.01, .03, and.04, respectively

Stream Segment Classification Tables codified as Regulation .02

Regulation .01 amended effective April 21, 1978 (5:8 Md. R. 593); July 11, 1980 (7:14 Md. R. 1348); December 3, 1984 (11:24 Md. R. 2070)

Regulation .01D amended effective May 24, 1982 (9:10 Md. R. 1022)

Regulation .01I amended effective June 6, 1983 (10:11 Md. R. 976); December 19, 1983 (10:25 Md. R. 2269)

Regulation .03 amended effective August 3, 1981 (8:15 Md. R. 1308)

Regulation .03A and D amended effective December 19, 1983 (10:25 Md. R. 2269)

Regulation .04B—E amended effective July 28, 1978 (5:15 Md. R. 1187)

Regulation .04 repealed effective July 11, 1980 (7:14 Md. R. 1348)

Regulation .04 adopted effective November 18, 1985 (12:23 Md. R. 2220)

Chapter revised effective June 27, 1988 (15:13 Md. R. 1556)

Regulation .02B amended effective May 1, 1989 (16:8 Md. R. 911); October 30, 1989 (16:21 Md. R. 2263)

Regulation .05A amended effective May 1, 1989 (16:8 Md. R. 911)

Regulation .07A amended effective May 1, 1989 (16:8 Md. R. 911)

Regulation .07G amended effective October 30, 1989 (16:21 Md. R. 2263)

Regulation .08A amended effective May 1, 1989 (16:8 Md. R. 911)

Regulation .08O amended effective October 30, 1989 (16:21 Md. R. 2263)

Regulation .08Q amended effective May 1, 1989 (16:8 Md. R. 911)

Regulation .09D amended effective October 30, 1989 (16:21 Md. R. 2263)

Regulation .10E amended effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 303)

Regulation .11B amended effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 303)

Regulation .12 adopted effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 303)

Regulation .13 adopted effective February 19, 1990 (17:3 Md. R. 303)

Chapter revised effective April 16, 1990 (17:7 Md. R. 854)

Regulation .01B amended effective April 26, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 101); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .02A amended effective April 26, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 101)

Regulation .02B amended effective August 29, 2005 (32:17 Md. R. 1440); April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 619); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .02-1 adopted effective August 29, 2005 (32:17 Md. R. 1440)

Regulation .02-1A amended effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .02-1F, G amended effective October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .03A amended effective January 2, 1995 (21:26 Md. R. 2195)

Regulation .03B amended effective June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 917); July 5, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995)

Regulation .03-1B amended effective April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 347)

Regulation .03-2 amended effective January 7, 1991 (17:26 Md. R. 2978); June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 917); March 25, 1996 (23:6 Md. R. 477); April 26, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 101); April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 619)

Regulation .03-2C amended effective July 5, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995)

Regulation .03-2D, F amended effective February 5, 2024 (51:2 Md. R. 77)

Regulation .03-2G amended effective July 19, 2004 (31:14 Md. R. 1080); November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980); February 5, 2024 (51:2 Md. R. 77)

Regulation .03-2H, I amended effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .03-2I amended effective February 5, 2024 (51:2 Md. R. 77)

Regulation .03-3 amended effective July 5, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995); August 29, 2005 (32:17 Md. R. 1440); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .03-3A amended effective April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 347)

Regulation .03-3C amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 619); November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660); April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 410); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .03-3E amended effective October 28, 1991 (18:21 Md. R. 2311)

Regulation .03-3H adopted effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 619)

Regulation .03-4 adopted effective July 19, 2004 (31:14 Md. R. 1081)

Regulation .04 amended effective April 26, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 101); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .04A amended effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .04C amended effective January 7, 1991 (17:26 Md. R. 2978)

Regulation .04-1 repealed and new Regulation .04-1 adopted effective October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .04-1 adopted effective February 5, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 104)

Regulation .04-1 recodified to be Regulation .04-2 and new Regulation .04-1 adopted effective July 19, 2004 (31:14 Md. R. 1081)

Regulation .04-1D amended effective November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660)

Regulation .04-1O amended effective November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474); April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 347)

Regulation .04-2 repealed and new Regulation .04-2 adopted effective October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .04-3 adopted effective October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .05 amended effective June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 917)

Regulation .05A amended effective July 5, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995)

Regulation .05B recodified to Regulation .05-1 effective June 7, 1993 (20:11 Md. R. 917)

Regulation .05D amended effective January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 34)

Regulation .05-1 amended effective November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660)

Regulation .07 amended effective August 29, 2005 (32:17 Md. R. 1441)

Regulation .07E amended effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .07E repealed effective October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .07F, G repealed effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)

Regulation .08 repealed and new Regulation .08 adopted effective August 29, 2005 (32:17 Md. R. 1442)

Regulation .08 amended effective April 19, 2010 (37:8 Md. R. 619); April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474); April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 347); October 31, 2022 (49:22 Md. R. 980)

Regulation .08H and J amended effective April 13, 1992 (19:7 Md. R. 747)

Regulation .08J amended effective January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 34); October 24, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1815); May 22, 1995 (22:10 Md. R. 708); July 5, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995)

Regulation .08L amended effective November 29, 2010 (37:24 Md. R. 1660)

Regulation .08N amended effective October 28, 1991 (18:21 Md. R. 2311); January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 34); October 24, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1815)

Regulation .08O amended effective January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 34); May 22, 1995 (22:10 Md. R. 708)

Regulation .08Q amended effective January 17, 1994 (21:1 Md. R. 34); May 22, 1995 (22:10 Md. R. 708)

Regulation .09A amended effective October 20, 1997 (24:21 Md. R. 1453); December 22, 2014 (41:25 Md. R. 1486)

Regulation .09D amended effective January 19, 2004 (31:1 Md. R. 32); May 3, 2010 (37:9 Md. R. 673)

Regulation .10B amended effective February 5, 2001 (28:2 Md. R. 104)

Regulation .11B amended effective April 28, 2014 (41:8 Md. R. 474)