The Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pursuant to Natural Resources Article 4-1103 of Maryland´s Annotated Code announced that the following area of the Patuxent River, Calvert County, will be closed to shellfish harvest for the purpose of establishing an oyster reserve effective Friday, September 14, 2001. This area is in the vicinity of the Kitts Marsh oyster bar and is approximately 28 acres in size. This closure has been coordinated with the local County Oyster Committees.

The Kitts Marsh oyster reserve is all the area defined by: A point at or near Latitude 38°27´18.0” N, Longitude 76°37´29.8” W; then running southwesterly to a point at or near Latitude 38°27´14.4” N, Longitude 76°37´43.2”W; then running Northerly to a point at or near Latitude 38°27´33.0” N, Longitude 76°37´40.7” W; then running easterly to a point at or near Latitude 38°27´33.6” N, Longitude 76°37´36.9” W; then running Southeasterly to the point of beginning. This area will be closed until further notice and reopened in consultation with the county oyster committees.

The department´s goal is to restore oyster population in this area and to designate these grounds closed to harvest in order to contribute to the ecology of the river. Seed oysters will be planted on the site to rebuild populations, if needed.