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| Updates on Events and Activities Check here for current happenings!!! |
| Dobbins Boat Parade Saturday, September 1, 2007 |
| Dobbins Rendevous Saturday, September 1, 2007 |
| A Magothy Sunset Tuesday, September 4, 2007 |
Monday, March 31, 2008 - Presentation - Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD Representatives of the Magothy River Assn. and the Friends of Dobbins Island, today met with key members of DNR asking their assistance in protecting and preserving Dobbins Island. It was proposed that a Marine Recreation Area be established around the island and that the State of Maryland purchase the island for the future use of its citizens. Discussions were open and frank and we were encouraged by the interest shown by some members of the panel. Letter to the Editor – Maryland Gazette Article – Time to shift tactics on Dobbins Island Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Rick Hutzell, you are absolutely right, it is time to shift tactics on Dobbins Island. You simply have the next step wrong. You have accepted our County government for what it is and what it has been. Whether you do this because you agree with their approach, or out of sheer frustration with political malfunction, strikes at the heart of the question. Do County residents support critical area laws? Even if they don’t, do our citizens want a system that circumvents the authority of elected officials and places it in the hands of a few County employees? In other words, how much latitude is appropriate for variance applications and more specifically, what guidelines are County employees given to make these judgments? Does the average homeowner believe they have an equal chance at obtaining a variance as a waterfront homeowner? Do County residents approve of a system that creates influential, high priced consultants and attorneys (lobbyists) and rewards them handsomely for reducing the impact of laws? Does the average citizen accept County government as you do? I really don’t know the answers to my questions, but I think it is time we get those answers. The Magothy River Association has focused heavily on Dobbins, and Little Island as well. We believe that they are the poster children for critical area law. Why spend legislative time stiffening State laws that the counties will ignore. It is high time that Anne Arundel County articulates a clear position regarding critical area development and enforces it. If that means the status quo, then we have only just begun to fight. As for Dobbins Island, the “Sale” boat may have left port, but don’t be too surprised to see it return. Rough seas might make this a buyers market. Tom Hampton Chairman – Friends of Dobbins Island The article in the Sunday Sun, February 24, 2008, "Dobbins Island Sale talks are off", today prompted the following response from the Magothy River Assn. Letter to the Editor
impression that the Magothy River Association (MRA) had a June deadline to raise funds to buy Dobbins Island and has done little to pursue the purchase. MRA was never aware of any deadline and never intended to raise funds to purchase the island itself. MRA has mounted a campaign to acquire the island for the public and has: - notified several national conservation groups and local organizations; - suggested that the island and anchorage be part of the Captain John Smith historic water trail; - organized a summer boat parade and rendezvous at Dobbins Island to draw attention to the importance of the island and the surrounding waters; - instituted a petition drive, collecting over four hundred signatures; - formed a group “Friends of Dobbins Island with a website-savedobbins.org; - contacted government officials at the local, state and federal levels; - presented the case for acquisition of the island for the public’s use to the Anne Arundel Delegation as recently as February 8, 2008. As our campaign appears closer to success than ever, Mr. Clickner now says he is unwilling to sell the island. MRA believes that this island should not be developed as it is entirely within the critical area buffer-the most sensitive category under state law. We hope that Mr. Clickner will reconsider his position and work with MRA and others to make this island and the surrounding waters an undeveloped and unimpeded resource for current and future generations of Marylanders. Paul Spadaro President Magothy River Association Friday, February 8, 2008 - Presentation to the Anne Arundel County Delegation, Annapolis, MD Representatives of the Magothy River Assn. and the Friends of Dobbins Island, today appeared before the Anne Arundel County Delegation asking their assistance in protecting and preserving Dobbins Island. It was proposed that a Marine Recreation Area be established around the island and that the State of Maryland purchase the island for the future use of its citizens. Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - The following email was issued today by the Magothy River Association, Friends of Dobbins Island. Hello everyone, The Magothy River Association created the Friends of Dobbins Island for its petition campaign, attempting to bring the island to public ownership and continued public use. Until now, the Friends group has been nothing more than a list of names in support of this effort. We would now hope that some of you will volunteer to participate in a Friends of Dobbins Island Transition Committee. We currently envision the role of this group (6- 12 people) as support of the effort to purchase the island and planning for that possible occurrence. The support role might involve the planning and execution of outreach and promotional events and fundraising activities. Planning for public ownership means the development of a future organization structure that would allow volunteers to serve as caretakers of the island. This kind of volunteer maintenance function has worked well in other places. Having such a plan that is clearly thought out and visibly ready to implement could be a key to successfully securing public ownership of Dobbins Island . We would anticipate a committee meeting once each month to be held somewhere within the Magothy watershed area. We hope to have our first meeting by mid February. Our work is well underway, but more needs to be done without delay. We hope you will consider giving some of your time. Please email your response to info@savedobbins.org and include your name and contact information. If you wish, you may also provide the types of activities in which you have the most interest, and any experience that might be pertinent. If you prefer, you may call (410) 562-0920 and leave a clear voice mail message. Thank you. Tom Hampton Chairman, Friends of Dobbins Island Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - The following Press Release was issued today by the Magothy River Association. PRESS RELEASE November 14, 2007 Today, the Magothy River Association announced the next phase of its Friends of Dobbins Island Petition Campaign. It will now introduce its SAVEDOBBINS.ORG web link with a corresponding bumper sticker promotion to highlight the issues and opportunities surrounding the island. The island is of interest to boaters, environmentalists and homeowners alike because potential development on the island strikes at the heart of issues important to all three. Environmental impact is only the tip of the sandbar at this island, as construction of a home will mean the introduction of power cables, most likely underwater, which may disrupt the historical anchorage used by generations of Maryland boaters. Everyday homeowners are anxious to see how Anne Arundel County handles building variance applications on this small island, which is virtually adjacent to Little Island, where a huge home was built entirely without permits. The petition campaign has already collected several hundred signatures but many more will be needed to demonstrate the public’s desire to keep Dobbins Island in its current natural state, to maintain boating access and to see careful and consistent application of both critical area and building permit laws. There is now a real possibility for including Dobbins Island as part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. If structured properly, this could mean Federal funding to help maintain Dobbins Island in the future. This won’t occur without a clear indication of interest by many Marylanders, and the Friends of Dobbins Island now seek their signatures, to help send that signal. The Friends of Dobbins Island stand ready to assist the transition of the island from private to public hands. |
| SAVEDOBBINS.ORG |
| Dobbins Island Action Page |
| Magothy River Assn. P. O. Box 550 Severna Park, MD 21146 |
| Thank you everyone. |
| Click on the link and print the Petition. Complete at least the required information. Mail it to the MRA address on this page or scan and email to info@savedobbins.org |
| Dobbins Defense Update Don't forget that the MRA continues to defend the public right to use the beach at the island. This involves the clear legal definition of the 'Mean High Tide' mark which is the line between public and private ownership along waterfront property. In a number of state's this is defined as the vegetation line, but in Maryland, it is a complicated measure of historical tides. (Law Suit Filed:Court Date= September, 2009) Currently, this case has been heard and is awaiting a decision by the judge. The MRA also contends that the public should retain additional rights of use under prescriptive easement law. This law creates an easement for use when an individual, or group of people, demonstrate their continual use of land in some manner without the consent of ownership. This is similar to adverse possession laws, except title to property does not change hands. (Law Suit Filed:Court Date= September, 2009) Currently, this case has been heard and is awaiting a decision by the judge. The possible installation of an underwater electric cable to the island is also opposed by the MRA. This could well disrupt or even eliminate the decades old anchorage. If preserved, this anchorage might yet become a stop on the "Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail". (Ownership Change would be needed) MRA also continues to pursue the purchase by government of Dobbins Island to preserve it for future generations of Marylanders. We have proposed that the waters surrounding the island be designated a Marine Preserve and Park. |
| Magothy River Day at Dobbins Island |