Nine years ago, members of the equestrian community in western Howard County opened a discussion with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about improving access for first responders in the Patuxent River Wildland. The wildland is part of the Patuxent River State Park.

Why?

Because first responders need access to reach injured trail riders, fishermen, deer hunters, hikers, and the like. And because several local volunteer organizations would like to be able to help them.

Why can’t volunteers help now?

Wildlands are areas that the Maryland General Assembly has directed DNR to manage in way that “provide[s] for their protection, preservation of their wildland character.” Md Code Ann .Nat’l Res. section 5-1203(a). The General Assembly prohibits any “temporary road [or . . . ] motorized equipment . . . within any [wildland] area.” Id. section 5-1212.

The ban on mechanized equipment in the Patuxent River Wildlands, while noble, presents public safety concerns because the wildland is open to the public to fish, hunt, trail ride, coon hunt (with coon hounds), rabbit hunt (think beagles and bassets), and fox chase. Rigid adherence to the “no motorized equipment” rule can have life-threatening consequences.

MHC Board Member and emerita Master of Foxhounds for the Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds, Crystal Brumme Pickett, explained the gravity of the concerns in recent testimony to the Howard County Delegation:

“In 2017, one of my field members was knocked unconscious deep in the Patuxent Wildlands. Within minutes, the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company first responders were at the ready (helps to have the local chief’s personal number after the 911 dispatch sends the call to wrong county), as was a medivac unit. But because of downed trees that cannot be cleared without the use of mechanized equipment, it took over an hour to get her out of the woods. Instead of being able to zip into the woods in an EMT-equipped ATV, the first responders had to trudge deep into forest and then carry her on the backboard, heaving her over massive trees – squandering valuable time for medical attention. This was unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. (Thankfully, my field member made a full recovery).”

We have heard similar concerns from other user groups – the fisherman that had the heart attack. The injured gun hunter. The deer hunter who fell out of a tree stand. In each instance it was virtually impossible each time for the first responders to get the victim out quickly. (See below.)

In July 2023, and at the request of DNR, MHC solicited feedback from trail riders about Maryland’s extensive system of equestrian trails. Many of the respondents had concerns about Annapolis Rock:

  • “Most trails are very primitive. The local fox chasing club would clear many trails but I understand that they may not be able to do that. They help to preserve the trails.”
  • “Why has the park stopped letting the hunt clubs maintain the trails? When is the park going to start fixing the damage?”
  • “Many parts of Patuxent River State Park are completely neglected.”
  • “Wish the trails were better maintained.”
  • “These trails get very overgrown and are not marked.”
  • “Horse trails at [Annapolis Rock] need a lot of work.”

The laws governing wildlands do allow mechanized equipment in certain limited circumstances – “in emergencies involving the health and safety of persons” and to maintain existing fire access roads “in a passable condition” to protect “privately owned land adjoining or located in close proximity to” the wildland. Id. section 5-1213.1.

It is not clear, however, whether this covers DNR personnel only, or whether it also covers volunteers who wish to help the park keep trails open for public safety reasons.

In 2017, after the medivac accident, Pickett and Don Reuwer (both were masters of Howard County-Iron Bridge at the time) began working with DNR to try to get permission for motorized equipment to clear emergency trails. Reuwer owns Pleasant Prospect Farm, which borders the Patuxent River Park, and he, his family, his friends, and his clients regularly ride in the wildlands. Pickett and Reuwer started with the local park ranger, and learned that, unfortunately, DNR did not agree that volunteers could use motorized equipment in the Patuxent wildland. Pickett and Reuwer kept at it, working their way up the hierarchy. Reuwer engaged the elected county and state officials to help; Pickett wrote the letters and handled the communications. The Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company Chief Carey McIntosh stood side-by-side with them in meetings with DNR, underscoring the need for emergency access for first responders.

In 2020, Pickett and Reuwer took then-Secretary of DNR Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Program Director for Land Acquisition and Planning Emily Wilson out for a trail ride on horseback so that they could see the situation for themselves. After that trail ride, the Secretary directed DNR’s legal department to work with Pickett and Reuwer. Unfortunately, the subsequent turnover in both DNR (due to the Moore Administration coming into office) and the local volunteer groups temporarily derailed progress. As Pickett put it, “just when you think you are making progress, appointees and staff change. Two steps forward, three steps back.”

Pickett and Reuwer went back to the drawing board, which meant going back to the Howard County elected officials. Sen. Katie Fry Hester had worked hard during her first campaign to build relationships in the equestrian community – her daughter is a horse lover – and in return, Sen. Hester received strong support from our community. Today those relationships are bearing fruit.
Last month, Senator Hester introduced Howard County Bill Ho.Co 5-25 to allow DNR to “enter into use agreements with volunteers to facilitate the use of motor vehicles and motorized equipment within the Patuxent River Wildland,” for the narrow purpose of “maintaining existing paths to ensure clear and safe access to the wildland.”

This bill, if passed, would remove any doubt that volunteer groups in the Patuxent River Wildland are allowed to help DNR keep the trails open for first responders while also allowing DNR to “set the rules” for volunteers by requiring user agreements.

Getting to this point has taken nine years of dedicated, grass-roots advocacy. Although Reuwer and Pickett have retired from the Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds, they continue to hunt with a private pack and continue to lobby strenuously on this issue. Meanwhile, other equestrian organizations have gotten involved, such as MHC member organization TROT (Trail Riders of Today), represented by their president Carolann Sharpe (also an MHC Director and chair of the MHC Trails Stewardship Committee); and HCIBH (which is a lifetime member of MHC) which is now represented by Ann Moxley. Pickett observes:

“This has been a long and frustrating journey for something that seems like common sense: first responders need to be able to quickly and efficiently access park users suffering from injuries or other medical emergencies. Over the years, more and more park users have also begun to complain about access to the interior of the wildlands, and to agitate with DNR. Have we finally reached a tipping point?”

The Howard County delegation introduced the bill in the Senate on February 3, and the delegation then heard testimony from local organizations and Howard County residents on February 5. Two members of the MHC Board of Directors spoke. There will be a full committee hearing in the Senate on March 4, at 1 p.m., at which witnesses and organization from outside Howard County will be heard. For more information, contact our Government Relations team at governmentrelations@mdhoursecouncil.org.

The bill still has a ways to go to get it over the finish line before sine die on April 7. But it is a start – and the equestrian community is cautiously optimistic.

On behalf of all park users, we offer a big THANK YOU to Senator Katie Fry Hester for working so hard to help first responders in the Patuxent River Wildlands finally reach those in need!