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53-742: Savage River State Forest is mostly located on the eastern side of the Eastern Continental Divide , which means that most of its waterways will eventually lead to the Potomac River and thus the Chesapeake Bay . But some of its waterways flow into the Youghiogheny River . In 1800, there were roughly 1000 settlers who lived in Garrett County. But cheap land, improved transportation and growth along

106-450: A harvest quota targeting an approximate 8 to 12% harvest mortality. This was based on the objective of achieving 20 to 25% overall mortality (seasonal + non-seasonal mortality). Harvest quotas have ranged from 30 to 85 bears between 2004 and 2009. The harvest range for the 2010 season has been set at 65 – 90 bears." In May and June 2005, DNR conducted western Maryland’s most recent black bear population survey. A DNA-based mark-recapture study

159-504: A large proportion of the Savage River State Forest. In general, sixty-six percent of the area is composed of older, more mature forests, while thirty-four percent are younger and smaller. Old growth forests have generally been defined as forests in existence since pre-settlement times and lacking any significant Euro-American disturbance. The definition can differ according to climatic and eco-regional perspectives and

212-665: A network of diverging canals and natural waterways. As such, the land is not clearly divisible between the Gulf of Mexico watershed and the Atlantic watershed. The exact route of the ECD shifts over time due to erosion, tectonic activity, construction projects, and other factors. Because the divide is at or in proximity to the highest terrain, air is forced upwards regardless of wind direction. This process of orographic enhancement leads to higher precipitation than surrounding areas. In winter,

265-415: A permanent fixture on the landscape. The forests and trees within and around them change continuously. This would be true even if human influence could be eliminated. All forests, including old-growth, succumb to natural, destructive disturbances and regenerate over time. A functional old-growth ecosystem includes the loss of old trees due to natural disturbances and the death of old trees. An old-growth system

318-408: A time honored tradition that continues to provide recreation, food, and quality of life in Garrett County. The large amounts of public land in the county makes it a popular destination for non-resident hunters and those from more urban areas where there is little hunting opportunity. The most popular species of game animals continue to provide for most hunter recreation days in Garrett County." "During

371-526: A total multiplier effect of over $ 190 million contributed to Maryland’s economy. Deer hunting in Maryland supports nearly 2,300 jobs and generates $ 71 million in salaries, wages, and business owner’s income, $ 15 million in state and local tax revenue, and $ 16 million in federal tax revenue." "Hunting with rifles, handguns, shotguns, bows and muzzleloaders are permitted in all designated areas in accordance with state and federal laws. Possession or use of weapons

424-590: Is a hydrological divide in eastern North America that separates the easterly Atlantic Seaboard watershed from the westerly Gulf of Mexico watershed. The divide nearly spans the United States from south of Lake Ontario through the Florida peninsula, and consists of raised terrain including the Appalachian Mountains to the north, the southern Piedmont Plateau and lowland ridges in

477-484: Is greater than 0.5% in a watershed, brook trout will typically be extirpated. There are also long-term threats, of which global warming is the most serious. Current predictions indicate that warming water temperatures over the next 100 years could eliminate brook trout populations statewide except for western Maryland (Garrett County) by the year 2100." Savage River State Forest is located on the East-central edge of

530-566: Is not static, nor is it always dominated by old trees. Natural processes dictate the age composition at any time. The important factor in this process is that the trees have the opportunity to reach old age if natural disturbances do not intercede. "Savage River State Forest has been managed for industrial forest production for decades, and has been a major contributor to the region’s forest products industry. Numerous sawmills and New Page paper mill operations provide outlets for timber from local forests. Savage River State Forest makes up about 19.0% of

583-617: Is prohibited in State Forests outside of regular hunting seasons. Target shooting is prohibited except at the rifle range. All game birds and game mammals with open seasons may be hunted. Tree stands or blinds are limited to those of a temporary nature, which must be removed or dismantled at the end of each day. The hunting season in State Forests conforms to standard hunting seasons adopted by state and federal regulations." A rifle range, located on New Germany Road, provides opportunity to target practice and for sighting in firearms prior to

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636-467: Is recommended that trail users should wear blaze orange during hunting season. Savage River State Forest is one of the most used public lands for hunting. White-tailed deer is the most common species hunted in the forest and throughout the state. "A recent survey sponsored by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies found that deer hunting in 2006 generated over $ 113 million in retail sales, with

689-587: The Atlantic Coastal Plain to the south. Water including rainfall and snowfall, lakes, streams and rivers on the eastern/southern side of the divide drains to the Atlantic Ocean; water on the western/northern side of the divide drains to the Gulf of Mexico. The ECD is one of six continental hydrological divides of North America which define several drainage basins, each of which drains to a particular body of water. At its northern terminus,

742-846: The Canaan Valley in the Cheat River watershed, and the Mount Storm Lake basin in the Potomac River watershed. The Divide then rejoins the Allegheny Front. A significant portion of the Divide forms part of the border between West Virginia and Virginia along Allegheny Mountain and then Peters Mountain , separating the Greenbrier River and James River watersheds. It then makes a dramatic arc to

795-734: The Tennessee River from those of the Santee River . Its high point is on Grandfather Mountain at 5,946 feet (1,812 m); although Mount Mitchell is the highest point in the Appalachian Mountains, it is not on the Divide, but 4 miles west of it. In Georgia , the Divide generally separates the Apalachicola River watershed in the west from the Savannah River and Altamaha River watersheds to

848-400: The U.S. Olympic Trials and was the site of the 1989 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships on June 24–25. The usual put-in for whitewater boats is 0.7 miles (1.1 km) below the dam, where the highway crosses the river. The slalom racing section begins 0.5 miles (800 m) further downstream, below the 5.0-foot-high (1.5 m) Piedmont Dam, and ends 0.35 miles (560 m) downstream at

901-482: The 2009-10 hunting season, Garrett County had the seventh highest reported deer harvest in the state. This is significant considering that most counties have a much more liberal bag limit and therefore, higher harvest potential. The reported harvest for Garrett County during the 2009-10 hunting season was a total of 4,922 deer." "In October 2004, DNR implemented Maryland’s first bear-hunting season in 51 years. Subsequent hunts have been held each year since. DNR established

954-1116: The Allegheny Mountain region of the Appalachian Plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. To the West is Deep Creek Lake State Park, Swallow Falls State Park, and Garrett State Forest; to the North is New Germany State Park and Casselman River Bridge State Park; to the East is Dan’s Mountain State Park; to the South is Potomac State Forest; and Big Run State Park is located within the forest’s grounds. Nearby notable mountains include Backbone Mountain , Big Savage Mountain , Conway Hill, Elder Hill, George Mountain, Lewis Knob, Little Mountain, Little Savage Mountain , Marsh Hill, Meadow Mountain, Negro Mountain , Rich Hill, Roman Nose Mountain, Snaggy Hill, Whites Knob, and Zehner Hill. Despite

1007-503: The Casselman River that runs to Pennsylvania. Non-native species have also been found in the watersheds of the grounds, such as the fathead minnow, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, and bluegill. Larger wildlife includes white-tailed deer, black bears, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and various small furbearing mammals such as canids, opossums, rodents, and skunks. Additionally, birds that populate

1060-803: The Chesapeake Bay Drainage and Casselman River , Youghiogheny River and Deep Creek Lake in the Ohio River . The majority of Savage River State Forest is located within the Savage River watershed (57.8%) with smaller amounts in George’s Creek (12.7%), Casselman River (17.9%) and Youghiogheny River (10.7%) watersheds. Very small amounts of the State Forest are located in Deep Creek Lake (0.4%) and Upper North Branch of

1113-682: The Divide begins to separate the Youghiogheny River and Potomac River watersheds. In Maryland , the Divide runs significantly west of the Allegheny Front , following Backbone Mountain , and passing near the source of the North Branch Potomac River at the Fairfax Stone . The Divide then passes through a plateau of the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia , passing between the north end of

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1166-696: The Divide generally follows the western edge of the St. Johns River , meandering into the low country of Northern Florida until it reaches central Florida. The southern terminus of the Eastern Continental Divide is at the northern edge of the Kissimmee River watershed, part of the Lake Okeechobee drainage basin. . The elevation here is about 70 ft (21 m). South of here, the terrain consists of low swampland covered by

1219-676: The Eastern Continental Divide originates at the Eastern Triple Divide , its intersection with the St. Lawrence Divide on a summit named Triple Divide Peak in Potter County , Pennsylvania , about 10 mi (16 km) south of the New York-Pennsylvania border. This point divides the eastern United States into three watersheds, those of the St. Lawrence River to the north, the Atlantic seaboard to

1272-650: The Indian Reserve; the proclamation border ran along the Appalachian Divide but extended beyond its Pennsylvania-New York terminus north into New England. Savage River (Maryland) The Savage River is a 29.5-mile-long (47.5 km) river in Garrett County, Maryland , and is the first major tributary of the North Branch Potomac River from its source. The river was named for 18th-century surveyor John Savage . Tributaries of

1325-551: The MD Forest Service were primarily fire suppression. On January 8, 1929, the state purchased 9,352 acres of cut-over forest land from the N.U. Bond Company. This was the beginning of Savage River State Forest. Since that time there has been a number of acquisitions both big and small. Now Savage River State Forest consists of 54,324 acres. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps assisted

1378-503: The Potomac (0.6%) watersheds." "Maryland first began licensing hunters in 1916, with hunting license sales peaking at 180,000 in the early 1970s. Sales have since declined to about 135,000 now and today a smaller fraction (3-4%) of Maryland residents hunt. Maryland hunters are mostly males, who live in urban settings, between the ages of 30-49 years of age. Residents of Baltimore County bought 11.9% of licenses sold statewide. Residents from

1431-637: The Savage River upstream of the Savage River Reservoir include Carey Run, Mudlick Run, Little Savage River, Bluelick Run, Blacklick Run, Warnick Run, Poplar Lick Run, and Bear Pen Run. At the southern end of the reservoir, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the Savage River Dam for flood control and recreation. It has trout fishing for brown , rainbow , brook and sometimes cutthroat trout. Pine Swamp Run, Dry Run, Middle Fork Crabtree Creek, and Crabtree Creek flow into

1484-432: The Savage River's whitewater section is 75 feet/mile (1.4%), with sections at 100 feet/mile (1.9%), giving the rapids a whitewater class III to III+ at the typical recreational release of 800 cu ft/s (23 m /s). The rapids are fast and continuous, with very few eddies or calm spots. 39°30′05″N 79°06′40″W  /  39.5015°N 79.1112°W  / 39.5015; -79.1112 This article about

1537-404: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggest that American woodcock numbers have been declining by an average of 1.9 percent per year since these surveys were started in 1968. However, population estimates are stable over the most recent 10-year period. Most woodcock biologists suspect that alterations of habitat, losses to development and changes due to maturation of abandoned farmland are the cause of

1590-455: The area include wood ducks, bald and golden eagles, mallards, black ducks, woodcocks, and neo-tropical migratory birds. Savage River State Forest has over 54,000 acres for many recreational activities. There are biking trails, boat launches, cross country skiing, campsites, fishing, flat water canoeing, hiking trails, hunting, picnics, snowmobiling, and white water canoeing. There are ten trails at Savage River State Forest totaling 78 miles. It

1643-489: The area that was historically inhabited. A major difficulty in managing the brook trout resource is that only 11% of all brook trout streams and stream miles are fully within state lands, the vast majority of habitat is on private land and a mix of private/public lands. Of the immediate threats to brook trout populations in Maryland, urbanization is the most serious. In watersheds where human land use exceeds 18%, brook trout populations cannot survive and if impervious su rface area

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1696-549: The burning that was taking place, the Garrett Brothers, in 1906 gave 2000 acres to the state with the proviso that an agency would be created to manage the property and to institute scientific forestry- this led to the birth of the Maryland Forest Service. The rapid exploitation of the forests came to an end by the 1930s and logging companies moved west or converted to coal mining. The early efforts of

1749-617: The divide is often much snowier than surrounding areas, due to orographic enhancement and cooler temperatures with elevation. Prior to about 1760, north of Spanish Florida, the Appalachian Divide represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions in North America. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 separated settled lands of the Thirteen Colonies from lands north and west of it designated

1802-791: The east around the Sinking Creek valley, and then follows the hill crest east of Blacksburg, Virginia , until it meets the Blue Ridge Mountains , which take the form of an escarpment separating the headwaters of the New River from that of the Roanoke River . Just before the Divide passes into North Carolina , it begins to separate the New River and Yadkin River watersheds. It then separates upper tributaries of

1855-520: The east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. From north to south, the divide passes through the broader Allegheny Plateau region, following the boundary between the Allegheny River and Susquehanna River watersheds through most of Pennsylvania. At Blue Knob near Altoona , the Divide begins to follow Allegheny Mountain and then Little Savage Mountain . A few miles before the state border,

1908-570: The east, passing through the Atlanta metropolitan area and extending past the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains southeasterly across the Georgia plateau . This marks the first time the western watershed drains directly to the Gulf of Mexico without reaching the Ohio River first. In southern Georgia, it separates the Suwannee River and Satilla River watersheds. In Florida ,

1961-457: The eastern seaboard led to a settlement boom. The national road was completed in 1818 and the rail road arrived in 1852. The transportation system better connected the resource rich Garrett County to the growth needs of the east. Increased quantities of lumber, coal and wheat were shipped east. By the early 1900s, narrow gauge railroads were used to facilitate logging on steeper slopes as the demand for wood products continued to increase. The result

2014-400: The extirpation of brook trout from 62% of their historic habitat in Maryland. Of the remaining 151 populations, more than half are found in Garrett County, the westernmost, mountainous, and least developed area of Maryland. The vast majority (82%) of the remaining populations are classified as 'greatly reduced,' meaning that within the sub-watersheds where they occur they occupy only 1% to 10% of

2067-470: The five lower shore counties accounted for 9.7% of hunting licenses sold statewide." "The majority of the Savage River State Forest acreage is open for public hunting, with the exception of safety zones and other similar areas. Hunting opportunities are primarily for white-tailed deer, but other species, depending upon the site, include bear, turkey and upland birds." "There are more than 40 species of game animals that occur in Garrett County. Hunting has been

2120-594: The forest service with fire suppression efforts, tree planting, and constructing facilities for recreational activities. The CCC boys helped with the early snow skiing activities on the forest – later to become New Germany State Park . They helped build many trails where hiking, biking, horseback riding, and ORV riding are still taking place. The Savage River State Forest covers approximately 54,324 acres of land in Garrett County (40 acres are in Allegany County). Mature mixed oak and northern hardwood forests comprise

2173-410: The ground, reaching up to 9 feet deep at some points. The many streams that run through Savage River State Forest serves as habitat for many types of rare and/or endangered species, such as: Johnny darter, striped shiner, mottled sculpin, stonecat, brook trout and hellbender. The brook trout population in Savage River State Forest is among the healthiest in Maryland and stonecats have only been found in

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2226-428: The growth characteristics of specific native forest systems. In Maryland, an old growth forest is defined as a minimum of five acres in size with a preponderance of old trees, of which the oldest trees exceed at least half of the projected maximum attainable age for that species, and that exhibits most of the following characteristics: It is also important to recognize that old-growth forests are not static and may not be

2279-810: The hunting season. Trapping on portions of the Savage River State Forest for furbearers is permitted through the issuance of a trapping permit. Savage River State Forest offers many fishing areas in the Savage River Reservoir, and the tail waters that follow. The river is stocked 5-6 times per year and is usually stocked with trout. Some of the species of fish you can catch at Savage River include, large and small mouth bass, trout, yellow perch, blue gill, pickerel, musky and many more. Savage River State Forest offers an extensive forest road system for hiking, biking, horseback rising, and observing nature. Savage River offers white water rafting, flat-water boating, and canoeing. No gasoline motors are allowed on

2332-608: The population decline. Woodcock use areas of State River State Forest as breeding and wintering habitat. Woodcock prefer moist soil areas with dense seedling/sapling cover and rich humus layers because earthworms, their primary food, are most plentiful in these habitats. State Forest lands are important to woodcock as breeding and nesting areas." "Brook trout are Maryland’s only native freshwater trout species. Brook trout in Maryland are valuable for aesthetic, recreational, economic, and biological reasons. Because of their habitat and life history requirements, brook trout are typically found in

2385-482: The pristine, aesthetically pleasant areas of Maryland. While there is no commercial fishery for brook trout, recreational angling has been occurring for centuries, and there is increasing local and national recognition of the uniqueness and quality of fishing for native brook trout. Anthropogenic alterations to Maryland’s environment over the last several centuries, including clear cutting of forests, establishment of large agricultural areas, and urbanization have resulted in

2438-470: The productive forests in the Garrett County area. However Potomac-Garrett State Forest is managed in a similar manner as Savage River State Forest and these two state properties comprise almost 25.4% of forest in the county." "The Savage River State Forest is located within six (6) of Maryland’s 8-digit watersheds. Those watersheds are Savage River , Upper North Branch of the Potomac and George’s Creek in

2491-503: The reservoir. Savage River State Forest currently has 72 campsites. Designated camping areas include Big Run Road, Savage River Road, Westernport Road (Elk Lick), Blue Lick Road, Poplar Lick Trail, and Whitewater sites. If you do not want to stay at one of the camping sites you are allowed to backcountry backpack, with a pass, throughout the entire forest. Eastern Continental Divide Download coordinates as: The Eastern Continental Divide , Eastern Divide or Appalachian Divide

2544-689: The reservoir. Aaron Run joins the Savage River just upstream of its merger with the North Branch Potomac River . The last 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of the river, from the Savage River Dam to its confluence with the Potomac at Bloomington, Maryland , is a destination for whitewater paddling and slalom racing, on the infrequent occasion when sufficient water is released from the dam. There were three one-day recreational releases in 2011, two in June and one in September. The Savage has been used for

2597-464: The spring season statewide. Garrett County ranked number one in harvested turkeys in 2010 with 345 birds reported (about 12% of the total statewide harvest)." Waterfowl associated with wetlands "Important waterfowl areas occur throughout Garrett County. Bottomland hardwood floodplains, beaver impoundments, lakes, farm ponds, and wooded wetlands serve as wood duck, mallard, teal and black duck habitat." "Spring 'singing ground' surveys coordinated by

2650-437: The streams and valleys that run through much of the forest, most of the soils are acidic and naturally low in plant nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The soil is often steep and stony and is ideally suited for woodlands, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Water drainage is often stunted; locally called “glades” (poorly drained areas) are abundant throughout the forest and surrounding region. Peat covers most of

2703-564: The viewing stand above the pedestrian suspension bridge. The 1989 race was the first time the Slalom World Championships were held in the United States. The next occasion was a quarter-century later in 2014 when they were held on artificial whitewater at the nearby Adventure Sports Center International , constructed in 2007 as a more accessible alternative to the seldom-watered Savage. The average gradient for

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2756-494: Was conducted across Garrett and Allegany counties. A similar study had been conducted in 2000. The results of the DNA analysis were entered into Program MARK which yielded a population estimate of 362 adult and subadult bears across the study area. The 95% CI ranged between 242 and 482 animals. "In Garrett County the turkey season is split with both a spring and a fall season. It is estimated that over 10,000 hunters pursue turkeys during

2809-426: Was that Garrett County was heavily cut-over, essentially clear cut, within a 20-year period. The train engines frequently caused forest fires in the tops and slash that were left from the clear-cutting. As a result of the fires, a new forest was created. This legacy we can see today as most of our older forests are the same age and are approximately 100 years old. In part, as a reaction to the rapid cutting of trees and

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