Ban on swimming at Kilgore Falls area sought
Councilman would like parking restrictions and limits on people’s stays
A Harford County councilman wants the state to consider a ban on swimming at one of the most popular sites in Harford County — the Falling Branch area at Kilgore Falls in Pylesville.
Councilman Chad Shrodes, who represents the northern tier of the county where the falls are located, sent a letter in August to Mark Belton, secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, citing “numerous issues” at the state-owned parkland that features Maryland’s second highest vertical drop waterfall.
Shrodes notes traffic, illegal parking, heavy use, litter and other outcomes that he suggests are part of its growing popularity as a swimming hole.
In his letter, he says “obsessive sightseers and park overuse has led to dangerous parking situations, escalating litter problems, harm to the protected natural area and challenges for neighboring residents including trespassing, individuals parking on personal property and unruly weekend traffic.”
Shrodes said if swimming were banned, maybe fewer people would make the park a daylong destination.
“It’s getting out of control,” Shrodes said at a council meeting last week.
Stephen E. Schatz, director of communications for the Department of Natural Resources, said the agency is reviewing Shrodes’ letter and preparing a response.
“The department has been and will continue to work collaboratively with the local community and county — and its representatives — to address shared concerns and questions about visitation to the Falling Branch Area,” Schatz said in an email.
On its website, DNR states that park visitors “are permitted to wade and swim at their own risk” but “discourages leaping Visitors enjoy staying cool splashing in the water below the Kilgore Falls in Pylesville. The popularity of the Falling Branch area of Rocks State Park, which includes Kilgore Falls, has been causing problems with visitors trying to park along Clermont Mill and Falling Branch Roads. from the falls into the creek, as serious injuries have occurred.”
The site notes the popularity of the 67-acre Falling Branch area, which is north of the main Rocks State Park, another popular outdoor attraction in Harford County. The two areas are jointly managed as Rocks State Park.
State parks have become increasingly popular, causing some concern about overuse. The state manages more than 70 park sites, and officials say statewide park visits totaled 14.5 million last year, an increase of 40 percent since 2009.
Shrodes said in his letter that on any given weekend and sometimes during the week, the parking lot at Falling Branch designed to accommodate 28 vehicles is at its capacity, and visitors park along surrounding roads and private properties, including St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church.
Schatz said that park rangers have been on-site regulating the number of cars in the lot, turning them away when it’s full. The state, working with the Harford County sheriff’s office, installed “no parking” signs in recent years along roads and “is strictly enforcing illegal parking and traffic congestion.”
“These efforts and more remain ongoing as we continue conversations with community and county leaders,” Schatz said. “We look forward to a conducive and productive dialogue, and very much appreciate the community’s affection and appreciation for the state’s natural resources and state parks.”
Shrodes, who got married at Falling Branch10 years ago, said he can recall when Kilgore Falls and Falling Branch were “more of a sightseeing-type park.”
“You would go in, take some pictures, enjoy yourself and you’d leave,” he said.
“We have to stop what is occurring there. And that includes the immense amount of traffic, the swimming — folks are staying there all day long in the summer,” Shrodes said. “I and other local residents really no longer enjoy the park like we used to, so we have to join together and wehave to stop the activities that are going on out there, plain and simple.”
In addition to a ban on swimming, Shrodes suggested that DNR consider bans on smoking, buses, pets and wheeled equipment, such as wagons and handcarts. He said he has also discussed time limits on parking or online visitation registration as a way to help control use.
“People staying all day is allowing [other] folks no time to come because there’s nowhere to park,” he said.
Because of the swimming activity, he also suggested routine water quality testing. Falling Branch is a tributary of Deer Creek, a trout stream.
Harford County government has promoted Kilgore Falls in the past in a social media campaign, the Harford Streams Summer Adventure, but administration spokesperson Cindy Mumby said that shouldn’t cause the area to be overwhelmed or abused by visitors.
“I think what we promote is responsible visits to the streams and waterways in Harford County, and the Harford Streams Summer Adventure is specifically to promote awareness about the need to protect these precious natural resources,” Mumby said.
She declined to comment on Shrodes’ proposals, but said the county’s efforts encourage people to visit the parks, not leave trash behind or behave inappropriately.
“They’re there to be enjoyed, but at same time everyone has a responsibility to behave responsibly when they’re there, that includes [obeying] parking signs and picking up after themselves,” Mumby said. “We would hope everyone would follow those rules of civility.”