Senate committee okays bill to close a Monroe Bay creek to hunting, citing public‑safety concerns

Senator Stewart told the committee that local officials in Colonial Beach and Westmoreland County asked the General Assembly to designate a stretch of Monroe Bay as off‑limits to hunting because the creek is densely populated and hunters were using blinds and small boats near homes and restaurants. He read a letter from a longtime resident and said the change is a last resort to protect public safety.

Ryan Brown, director of the Department of Wildlife Resources, told the committee officers or local law enforcement could enforce closures under state law and noted the General Assembly has previously authorized closure of other densely developed waterways. Local speakers, including a farmer and residents, said hunting had increased and that some hunters were not retrieving game. One resident testified his family had measured elevated PFAS in fields where biosolids were applied and supported stricter controls generally.

Opponents were limited in the hearing roster; some senators questioned whether the measure would unfairly affect lawful hunters using public waters. The committee voted to report the bill (ayes 11, no 4).

What happens next: the bill advances from committee and if enacted would identify the statutory description of the closed area and rely on DWR and local law enforcement for enforcement.