Police, Park Officials Work to Reduce Illegal Activity at Gunpowder River

With the summer months approaching, police and Gunpowder Falls State Park officials are preparing for tubing season at the Gunpowder River in Monkton and the criminal activity that accompanies it.

Tubing on the river isn’t prohibited or discouraged, but the littering, rowdy behavior and illegal parking commonly associated with the “tubers” is a huge problem for area residents.

Carroll Stevenson, who lives near the river, joined the Sparks-Glencoe Community Planning Council, a land preservation nonprofit, because of her concerns about tubers.

“[The tubers'] actions go against our goal of restoring Monkton back to its rural state,” Stevenson said.

Sarah Witcher, northern area manager of Gunpowder Falls State Park, can appreciate Stevenson’s worries.

“We really need to value the natural resources we have,” Witcher said. “We have to consider the impact of littering on the environment.”

And the environmental impact is only part of the problem.

“We have a lot of crowds, illegal parking that clogs up the roads, alcohol,” Witcher said. “You have kids drinking and they don’t want to get caught so they leave their trash behind.”

Alcohol is prohibited at the Gunpowder River.

Witcher and other Gunpowder Falls employees are facilitating discussions between law enforcement officials in an effort to reduce criminal behavior. 

Lt. Robert McGraw of Cockeysville Precinct 7, in conjunction with Department of Natural Resources rangers and the Baltimore City Watershed police, plans to have patrols in the area throughout the summer.

“It’s really a blitz to prevent illegal parking and disorderly behavior,” McGraw said. “We’ll have patrol cars in the area and bicycle trained officers zipping around.”

The patrol cars will be driving through Monkton Road, Blue Mount Road and other feeder streets.

“We’re trying to promote public safety,” he said. “All Baltimore County posted signs will be enforced.”

For those interested in learning to river tube the responsible way, Witcher offers a proposition.

“Gunpowder Falls has an introductory course in tubing that teaches people to properly tube and be mindful of the environment,” she said.