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MARYLAND'GREENWAYS ... A Naturally Better Idea Report to the Governor by the Maryland Greenways Co@mmission MIT=, f4j Nk 0", HT 167.5 .M3 M37 June 1, 1990 1990 Annapolis, Maryland 7" Greenways beneflit everyone Greenways are a great idea for Maryland today and for our future. Not only do they benefit everyone with added opportunities for outdoor recreation, but greenways also help protect our wildlife and From the moun- safeguard the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. tains to the shore, everybody benefits. By linking parks, William Donald Schaefer wildlife areas, his- Governor toric sites, open space - and protecting Maryland Department of Natural Resources watersheds - with a Torrey C. Brown, M.D. Secretary greenway network, ar the whole really is Greenways involve everyone. much greater than Learn how you can help. Contact: the sum of the parts. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Not only do green- Program Open Space Mways increase envi- X., 2012 Industrial Drive ronmental protection Annapolis, Maryland 21401 and recreational op- (301) 974-7231 Greenways help protect portunities, but they the Chesapeake Bay also enhance the County and City and its estuaries. quality of life for Recreation and Park Departments everyone. WOE Save Our Streams %0* , . " S1, 258 Scotts Manor Drive Greenways provide areas for hiking, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 biking, picnicking, fishing and strolling. (301) 969-0084 Chesapeake Bay Foundation Greenways safeguard migratory corridors 162 Prince George Street and habitat for wildlife and waterfowl. Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (301) 269-8816 Families enjoy Greenways. Greenways serve as traffic-free suburban and urban walkways to and from recrea- The Conservation Fund tion areas, schools, and parks. American Greenways Program Suite 1120 1800 North Kent Street 4 Greenways protect scenic vistas and Arlington, Virginia 22209 @4 landscapes. (703) 525-6300 A * Greenways are places to "get away from of MAI?), it all" in the middle of the city, * Greenways maintain open space which increases the desirability of adjoining Restoring properties. The V 7 Chesapeake 4 Greenways safeguard watersheds, river Photos copyright. 1990 by R. Harrison Wiegard (cover), and stream valleys, vital elements in im- Courtesy Anne Arundel County (cover inset), proving water quality in Chesapeake Bay. James Bleecker (scenic), Susan Bournique (wildlife). Maryland's are MiMFl&oaaa1.1qg'1. 01 conservation @........... tradition Greenways link city "RR V1141 with country. For over eight decades Marylanders I"',I have 7 '777"P_ worked hard to protect urban and rural open --n'r'i space, to safeguard rivers, streams and water- ways and to preserve their surrounding watersheds. Because of past concern and present efforts, we er(joy federal, state and county parks, refuges and outdoor recreation areas Wildlife use greenways for throughout our state. Thanks to the foresight of citizens and leaders in state and county shelter and as corridors for government, Maryland has a conservation feeding and migration. tradition that spans nearly a century. Excit* new idea Ing 'Ibday, we have a unique opportunity to continue our conservation tradition with an exciting new idea - creating the nation's first statewide network of greenways. And at the A greenway partnership same time - help protect the future of the Chesapeake Bay. in every county Greenways are corridors of open space con- Creating the new network means forming From the Alleghenies necting separate recreational, cultural and bold, new partnerships in every city and natural areas. Some greenways are publicly county. Individuals, businesses, city, county to the Atlantic owned; some are private. Some are open to and citizens organizations will need to work m 01 uil visitors, others are not. Some appeal to peo- together. Although the idea is new, greenways come ple; others attract wildlife. And because in many familiar forms. Rock Creek Park in undeveloped greenways frequently follow From the woodlands of the Allegheny Montgomery County, the Appalachian Trail, waterways, they trap pollution that would Mountains to the wetlands of the Chesapeake the C&O Canal, Gunpowder Falls State Park, otherwise flow into rivers, streams and the Bay, greenways are a naturally better idea Anne Arundel County's Baltimore and Anna- Chesapeake Bay. for Maryland. polis Trail are all greenways. Maryland Greenways Commission REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE MARYLAND GREENWAYS COMMISSION MARYLAND GREENWAYS ..A Naturally Better Idea/ June 1, 1990 Cover photo by Shawn Clotworhy Annapolis, Maryland TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter to the Governor from the Chairman of the Maryland Greenways Commission Executive Summary Greenways Commission Members Greenways Commission Staff Acknowledgements Page Introduction ..................................................... 1 Types of Greenways ................................................ 3 Stream Valleys .............................................. 3 Coastal Wetlands ............................................ 4 Barrier Islands .............................................. 4 Ridgetops ................................................. 5 Urban .................................................... 6 Connectors .................................................. 7 Findings ....................................................... 9 Greenways--a Network of Open Space Corridors ........................ 9 Quality Environment--Greenways Benefit Natural Resources .............. 11 The Chesapeake Bay ..................................... 11 Water Quality and Fisheries ............................... 12 Forest Resources .............. ......................... 13 Wildlife .............. 14 Quality of Life--Greenways Benefit People ........................... 15 Recreation ......... ................................... 15 Transportation ......................................... 15 Health .............................................. 16 Economics ............................................ 16 Community Building ..................................... 16 Cultural and Historical Resources ............................. 16 Education ............................................ 17 Implementing Greenways in Maryland ................................... 19 Tools for Protecting Greenways ................................... 19 Public Acquisition ....................................... 19 Registries ............................................. 20 Dedication ............................................ 20 Planning ............................................. 20 Regulations ........... ................................ 21 Incentives ............................................ 21 Local Approaches ............................................ 21 Master Plans .......................................... 22 Subdivision Regulations ................................... 22 Zoning .............................................. 22 State Programs .............................................. 24 Program Open Space ..................................... 24 Flood Management ...................................... 26 Scenic and Wild Rivers Program ............................. 26 Department of Natural Resources Forest Programs ................ 27 State Highway Administration ............................... 28 Agricultural Programs .................................... 29 Small Urban Waterfront Redevelopment Program .................. 30 Maryland Office of Planning ................................ 30 Natural Heritage Program ................................. 30 Maryland Rails-to-TTails Program ............................ 30 Regulatory Programs ..................................... 31 Federal approaches ........................................... 32 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ................................ 32 National Park Service .................................... 33 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ................. 33 Environmental Protection Agency ............................ Nonprofit organizations and Land Trusts ............................ 35 Private Sector ................................................ 36 Grassroots ............................................ 37 Real Estate Development .................................. 38 Agriculture ........................................... 39 Sand and Gravel Reclamation ............................... 39 Utilities ................................................... 40 Ownership ............................................ 40 Security .............................................. 40 Liability ............................................. 40 Trails ............................................... 41 Public Outreach ............................................. 41 Summary .................................................. 42 Action Agenda ........................... ........................ 45 Appendix ....................................................... 47 Vargland Greenwags Commission William Donald Sc haefer Governor June 1, 1990 0. James Lighthizer Chairman William C. Baker ViceChairman The Honorable William Donald Schaefer Governor State House Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Dear Governor Schaefer: The, Maryland Greenways Commission has worked hard and enthusiastically over the past few months, and we are now honored to submit our report to you for review and comment. We found that Maryland's land preservation and open space system for corridor protection is impressive, and our ability to do even more is beyond our greatest expectations. The infrastructure that exists for a Statewide network of greenways provides a foundation for what would certainly be an immeasurable gift to future generations. A greenway network will not only serve to protect our valuable natural resources, but will also provide Marylanders with access to outdoor recreation and enjoyment close to home. It will build partnerships among private enterprise, government agencies, and the general citizenry, while encouraging local pride. it will also diversify and,strengthen our local economies and life styles. Mumerous government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and private businesses already have existing programs that can be pulled together with strong and imaginative leadership to implement this program immediately. I . More important, we have found that the private sector and the citizens of the State are enthusiastic and eager to help. Everyone with whom we talked, everywhere we went, is excited about this idea. Ve have also found that the rest of the Country is watching us and is anxious to.,follow our lead. A major outreach campaign is needed to enhance awareness and stir these people to action. Charles B. Adams - John S. Arnick - Henry S. Baker, Jr. 4 Elizabeth Bobo * Daniel B. Brewster - Torrey C. Brown o Robert C. Embry, Jr. Charles J. Gaston - James W. Gracie - Ralph E. Grossi - Steven T. Hamblin - Ronald M. K itner - I-fans F. Mayer Joseph J. McCann e Herman I. Porten * Dennis F Rasmussen * Michael J. Wagner * rMeargaret S. 1@mell 2012 Industrial Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 - Phone: The Honorable William Donald Schaefer June 1, 1990 Page 2 Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve as Chairman of this Commission and for surrounding me with dedicated people to complete this report in a timely fashion. We look forward to proceeding into the next phase of work as outlined and would appreciate your comments and direction for proceeding on this task. sincerely, 0. James Light izer, C airman Maryland Greenways Co-mmission- Executive Summary Maryland is embarking on a bold adventure. The Old Line State will soon pioneer the Nation's first statewide greenways network. The State's heritage of protected river valleys forms the underlying infrastructure of the new system of interconnected recreation trails and wildlife corridors. Additional threads include the Appalachian Trail and other ridgeways, the C&O Canal and other waterways, and the B&A Trail and other railways. In fact, Maryland enjoys a wealth of streams, wetlands, barrier islands, ridgetops, pathways, utility rights-of-way, and abandoned railroad beds that can be woven into the emerging web of greenways. The benefits of greenways are clear: a natural filter system for trapping pollutants before they reach Chesapeake Bay; a buffer zone for improving the quality of water throughout the State; a rapid expansion of recreational opportunities for a burgeoning population; a safety net providing cover and passage for endangered species; 'a geneway for the enhancement of biological diversity; an outdoor classroom for teaching the history of the State and the ways of the environment; and a tangible enhancement of property values and an intangible improvement in the quality of life. Maryland enjoys a full complement of tools for pulling together the g eenways network. Legislative approval of the Governor's proposal to r uncap funds for Program Open Space means a significant acceleration of land acquisition is now possible. With the proper focus and dedication, an extraordinary array of Federal, State, and local agencies and authorities can be marshalled and brought to bear on the making of the greenways network. At the local level alone, available tools include registries, dedications, plans, regulations, and a variety of incentives. Finding a State agency without potential greenway responsibilities is difficult. In the Federal Government,'the key agencies are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Foundations, nonprofits, utilities, corporations, private developers, land trusts, and civic organizations can also play pivotal roles. The public at large has already demonstrated its overwhelming support for the greenways network. Maryland is ready for the adventure to begin. MARYLAND GREENWAYS COMMISSION MEMBERS Chairman Honorable 0. James Lighthizer County Executive, Anne Arundel County Vice Chairman William C. Baker President, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Charles B. Adams, President Maryland Society of Landscape Architects Honorable John S. Arnick Maryland House of Delegates Former Senior Executive Vice President Henry S. Baker, Jr. Maryland National Bank Honorable Elizabeth Bobo County Executive, Howard County Honorable Daniel Brewster Former United States Senator wn Dr. Torrey C. Bro ' , Secretary Department of Natural Resources Honorable James Clark Former Maryland State Senator Robert C. Embry, Jr., President The Abel Foundation Charles J. Gaston, District Director U.S. Small Business Administration James W. Gracie, President J. Gracie & Assoc., Inc. Ralph Grossi, President American Farmland Trust MEMBERS (Continued) Steven T. Hamblin, Director Maryland Chapter, Nature Conservancy Ronald M. Kreitner, Director Maryland Office of Planning Hans F. Mayer, Executive Director Maryland Economic Development Corp. Joseph J. McCann, Director Anne Arundel County Department of Parks & Recreation Herman 1. Porten, President The Porten Development Corporation Honorable Dennis F. Rasmussen County Executive, Baltimore County Honorable Michael J. Wagner Senate of Maryland Margaret S. Yewell Prince George's County Planning Board Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission ADVISOR Pamela J. Kelly Office of Governor ALTERNATE REPRESENTATIVES Jeffrey A. Bourne - Howard County Susan Davies - Senator Wagner's Office Patrick Lester - Delegate, Arnick's Office Robert A. Sheesley - Baltimore County MARYLAND GREENWAYS COMMISSION STAFF DIRECTOR William A. Krebs SENIOR STAFF Jonathan A. McKnight Tolly W. Peuleche Loring LaB. Schwarz Anne C. Sloan ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Joan C. Michetti Sandra L. Trent AUXILLIARY STAFF Ellen Alers Larry Duket Roland English Stark MacLaughlin Chris Rigby Douglass Lea Jack Lynn ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The preparation of this report was made possible through the cooperation and assi stan ce of many individuals and organizations who banded together for a common cause. All recognized greenways as an opportunity to preserve natural habitat, protect open space, and contribute to Maryland's quality of life. The greenways network can truly become a reality with a continuation of our team effort. I am pleased to acknowledge some of the key people and organizations without whose assistance this report could not have been researched and written. First and foremost, I would like to thank Governor William Donald Schaefer without whose leadership and vision this Commission and report would not have come to fruition. I also would like to personally thank the Governor for giving me the opportunity to chair a Commission which could change the face of Maryland and, indeed, set an example for the Nation. The ambitious schedule which the Governor set for us reflects the importance of the greenways concept. for preserving our valuable natural resources. The Commission Members. Sincerest thanks to the 20 Commission members who so graciously volunteered a great deal of time from their busy schedules. The schedule which was set called for them not only to attend bi-weekly meetings, but also to work as committees within the Commission. These committees worked in the interim to garner the information needed for the formulation of this report. I am especially grateful to the committee chairmen who took it upon themselves to organize and lead these working committees. They invested a great amount of time, energy, and professional skills in completing their missions in a timely fashion. The Department of Natural Resources. Secretary Torrey C. Brown encouraged the greenways concept and brought it to the Governor's attention. The Department of Natural Resources not only provided the professional skills for scheduling the announcement, but made this effort a priority for all of the Department. We are especially grateful to Dr. Brown for providing staff to this effort. The Conservation Fund. Patrick F. Noonan, President, served to advise the Commission and invested a considerable amount of time and effort to this initiative prior to and during the Commission's work. His guidance, as well as that of his staff, is greatly appreciated. The Conservation Fund's program, Greenways for America, was the incentive which propelled this action forward in the State of Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. William C. Baker, President, and Vice-Chairman of the Maryland Greenways Commission, provided expertise and facilities for meetings, workshops, etc., and lent staff.for assisting in the preparation of this report. His availability and consultation contributed considerably to this report. The National Geographic Magazine. Gilbert Grosvenor, President and Chairman of the Board, provided support for our greenways effort. He took time from his responsibilities with National Geographic to meet with our staff, the Maryland Greenways Commission, and Governor Schaefer. Morgan State University. Its School of Landscape Architecture assisted the Department of Natural Resources in preparing preliminary reports during the initial stage of this project using Anne Arundel County as a model for greenways. They prepared valuable case studies and important inventories. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Through a grant administered by the Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division, NOAA made funds available for the preliminary stage of this project for reports, brochures, and a slide presentation. NOAA continues to assist in funding for. this and upcoming phases of this program. Anne Arundel and Howard Counties. These Counties assisted in the funding for staff for this project.- Throughout the course of the preparation of this document, various representatives of Federal, State, and local governments supplied invaluablesupport and information and encouraged me with the prospects of their continued support as the greenways initiative continues. Many thanks to those private organizations, conservation groups, park and recreation groups, utility companies, and others without whose assistance and enthusiasm we could not have continued. Responses to questionnaires, meetings, and on-going daily contact assured me on a daily basis that this was a worthwhile effort and that my time was being well-spent O.James Lighthizer Chairman INTRODUCTION Maryland is a land'of fertile valleys Greenways are not really new. In and serene rivers, of rolling mountains and 'Europe, their antecedents go back to the lush marshes, of sandy beaches and thick hunting and fishing preserves and royal forests. At the heart of the region is the highways of medieval kingdoms, the Chesapeake Bay, a resplendent estuary landscaped gardens and estates of 18th teeming with plant and animal life. century England, and the elaborate boulevards, promenades, and greenbelts of Located along this varied landscape more recent times. are corridors of green. Many of these corridors over the years have been protected In the United States, particularly the by Federal, State, or local governments, Baltimore-Washington area, planners had the thereby putting in place a framework for an foresight to lay out park systems to preserve extensive greenways network that could the stream valleys that lined the. piedmont become the model for the nation. coun try. With their varied, natural, and "self-contained" landscapes, they were logical The protection of greenways is places for parks in the expanding cities. perhaps the greatest single contribution that These plans, completed in the early 1900's by the citizens of today can make to those of the McMillan Park Commission in tomorrow. The commitment of the people of Washington and Olmsted Brothers in Maryland to continue preservation and Baltimore, form the foundation for a protection of the remaining natural Maryland Greenways Network. The environment is a commitment to the quality Olmsteds, in their report to Baltimore City, of life itself, both now and for all time. stated, "From the landscape point of view, it frequently happens that a great' deal of Faced with undeniable evidence that charming scenery is to be found along the America's green commonwealth is being stream; the water itself is interesting, the overwhelmed, the President's Commission on trees along the stream banks are apt to be Americans Outdoors made the following numerous and well-developed, and the valley proposal in 1987: "We have a vision for landscape is generally self-contained and full allowing every American easy access to the of interest. Moreover, it is generally true natural,world: Greenways. Greenways are that the lowlands are less valuable for other fingers of green that reach out from and city purposes than the uplands, so that they around and through communities all across can be more cheaply purchased, and their America, created by local action. They will withdrawal from occupation interferes less connect parks and forests and scenic with the productive occupation of the land." ,countrysides, public and private, in recreation corridors for hiking, jogging, wildlife Maryland's greenways evolved from movement, horse and bicycle riding. If the this foresight in planning, judicious use of creativity and enthusiasm and love of the financial resources, and an ever-present land of Americans are truly unleashed, conservation ethic. They. laid the framework greenways will link our communities coast to for what has become one of the best park coast, from 'sea to shining sea."' systems in the United States. Unfortunately, the recommendations were not fully implemented. inception in 1965, the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund has granted $63 During the intervening years, many million to Maryland. This was matched by levels of government, have contributed to the an equal amount to acquire and develop greenways system. The vision of stream outdoor recreation and conservation areas for valley protection was continued through the both state and local governments in every U.S. Congress' enactment of the Capper- Maryland county. Cramton Act in 1930, which made available federal funds on a cost-sharing basis for land State and local government programs acquisition along the. major stream corridors were greatly enhanced by the Maryland extending into Maryland from the District of General Assembly's enactment of the Columbia. This came'at a time when the "Outdoor Recreation Land Loan of 1969," Maryland General Assembly had just created generally known as Program Open Space. the Maryland-National Capital Park and This innovative program has made available Planning Commission (Montgomery and over $300 million for acquisition of outdoor Prince George's Counties), which had as part recreation and open space lands over the past of its charter a plan to protect stream valleys. 20 years. The 1990 Maryland General Assembly, with the support of the Governor, State, Federal, and local governments passed into law a bill that will, over the next implemented acquisition programs that put in six years, increase the annual funding for this place the framework for an extensive program from $39 million to approximately Statewide greenways network. Since its $100 million. 2 FACTS ABOUT GREENWAYS GREENWAYS: Greenways are corridors of open space that follow streams, ridgetops, rivers, or other linear features for recreation and conservation purposes. BACKGROUND: Maryland has in place the framework for an extensive greenways network. The C & 0 Canal, the Appalachian Trail, Patapsco Valley State Park, and the lower Pocomoke River are all greenways. Trail systems like the Northern Central Railroad Trail and Anne Arundel County's B & A Trail are recreational greenway connectors. Some greenways are local and urban in character such as Salisbury Park, Frederick's Baker Park, and Baltimore's Gwynns Falls Greenway. Greenways can be publicly owned and provide recreation opportunities or privately owned and provide wildlife habitat and water quality enhancement. BENEFITS: RECREATION: Recreational greenways provide trails for strolling or bicycling. Ball fields and playgrounds may be incorporated into the greenway, as may amphitheaters, nature centers, and other educational facilities. WILDLIFE: Greenways establish protected areas of natural vegetation for wildlife. Many of Maryland's endangered species live in greenways. Natural corridors also provide migratory paths that permit animals to travel throughout the greenway network. By linking together large natural areas, greenway corridors enhance natural diversity. WATER QUALITY: By providing forest buffers to streams, greenways purify runoff and remove silt and excess nutrients before they reach the stream. Trees along streams or rivers shade the water and keep it cool, enhancing fish habitat. By protecting streams and watersheds, greenways play a big part in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. EDUCATION: Greenways contain important cultural, historical and natural resources and offer associated educational opportunities. ECONOMIC: Greenways improve the quality of life and enhance property values. Greenways provide alternative commuter routes by connecting residential areas with businesses and schools. Maryland has more than 300 miles of greenways already protected, but the network is incomplete. As the State continues to develop at a rapid rate, it becomes increasingly vital that we fill missing links and complete Maryland's greenways network. TYPES OF GREENWAYS Greenways can be created in many types of terrain. The common greenway feature is linearity--they are all corridors of some type. They all g6 somewhere. In Marylan Id, some are based on, natural features with a linear character: streams, ridges, coastal wetlands, barrier islands. Others are man-made corridors, usually associated with the rights@-of-way of utilities or transportation facilities. Stream Valleys Over many years, the State of Maryland an important recreational resource close to and its local governments have been setting where people live. In some cases, stream a Iside stream valleys -for public open space, valley greenways also -support boating both through acquisition and through activities like canoeing or rafting; in almost dedication during the land-subdivision all cases, they support fishing and wildlife process. Stream valleys form the heart of observation. Indeed, a major function @of some . of the most-used. State parks, like stream valley greenways. is to provide for Patapsco, Gunpowder, Swallow Falls, and migration of wildlife. Seneca. Not all stream valleys can be used Surveys of various interest groups, appropriately for recreational pursuits or completed for the Greenways Commission, even for general public access. Some stream showed that stream valleys are considered by valleys are very small, little more 'than many to be the most important elements in a drainage swales meandering through greenways network. Besides the C&O Canal developed @ areas, and general access could National Historical Park in the Potomac interfere with private uses. Others contain River Valley, names like Patuxent, natural resources that could be damaged by Conococheague, Youghiogheny, Manokin human -access. Simply leaving a stream to and Monocacywere listed by respondents, nature's care may be the best prescription. in indicating the importance of these rivers to some cases. Recognizing important natural the people who live near them. Survey values with a greenways designation may help respondents also listed stream and watershed to keep human interference to a minimum. protection and wildlife habitat among the important benefits of greenways. Recreation Inclusion of nonrecreational stream was the third- benefit most often cited. valleys into a greenways network can serve other environmental and community Parks can be designed around stream development goals. Floodplains are best left valleys where light trail use can connect with undeveloped as a means of protecting both more active recreational areas. In some life and property. Undeveloped floodplains valleys not currently protected as parks'. the can also help define, and separate urban land basis for a trail may exist along a sewer right- uses and provide buffers and visual relief in of-way or abandoned railroad bed, since the urban landscape. these two uses also have gravitated to stream valleys. Where a stream -valley park is Valuable wetlands are: often. associated located in a densely settled area, it provides with stream valleys, while. naturally vegetated 3 buffer areas serve an important water-quality ment of Maryland's rivers must play a role, function. In any serious clean-up of since over 90% of the State's rivers feed into Chesapeake Bay, protection and enhance- the Bay. Coastal Wetlands f blessed with an abundance of tidal wetlands. seafood game and waterfowl, the tidal For a relatively small State, Maryland is tidewater. In offering up a bounty o Mostly marshlands, they are protected by wetlands of the Chesapeake have fostered, State law and the Federal Coastal Zone Maryland's unique and world-renowned Management Act. These strong regulatory cuisine, from roasted duck to crab cakes. protections, coupled with a general unsuitability for agriculture, industry, or Maryland's tidal wetlands remain largely development, have protected tidal wetlands intact, but they have been chipped away over from many of the ravages that have afflicted the years. During the '1920's and 1930's, drier uplands. marshland was grid-ditched to drain off water and stop the breeding of mosquitos. Many Constituting the interface between land marshes -have been used as pasturelands and and water, tidal wetlands are marginal in it is not unusual to find the remains of more ways than one. Half land and half barbed-wire fences in tidal wetlands far from water, they fringe most of Maryland's any modern agricultural area. . The tidal coastline, forming a band thousands of miles marsh has been used.as a dump for dredge long and comprising tens of thousands of spoil and household waste, and marshes have acres. Within this maze of twisting channels been cut, channelized, impounded, and and - lush marsh meadow, an incredibly burned over the years in a series of attempts complex and rich cycle of life has continued to "improve" them, as . if their natural for millennia. condition were somehow inferior. But coastal wetlands 'have refused to be tamed Tidal marshes are the nurseries for the and continue to function, though under oceans and for the Chesapeake Bay. Here greater stress. Filtering, cleansing, and life is reborn year, after year in great nourishing the Chesapeake, Maryland's tidal abundance.. The bounty of the marshes wetlands have survived to remain one of our guided the patterns of settlement on most precious natural landforms and an Maryland's Eastern Shore, and the harvest of important 'component of our greenways the mar sh forged the traditions of the resource. Barrier Islands Barrier islands are long, narrow sand undergoes @ cyclic warming and cooling, sea ridges that form an offshore chain along levels rise and fall by hundreds of. feet, much of the eastern coast of North America. creating new land features and destroying the The most important characteristic of barner old. Today's landscape reveals the remains islands-is their dynamic nature. They are a of barrier island dune systems miles inland land in motion, formed and erased at the from existing shorelines. Offshore, the whim of wind, current, and tide., Barrier immense sand bars that..once marked the islands change from moment to moment in an interface between land and water await endless, seemingly random evolution. another age when they will again rise from the oceans. In geologic. time, a. barrier island is a. mere flash in the pan. As our planet Barrier islandshave four major divisions: 4 the sandy beach; the fore-dune or primary islands have developed their own unique suite dune line; the dune-and-swale system; and of species, some of which exist in no other the back-bay. While these ecological types habitat. remain roughly distinct over the life of the island, their positions and size are dynamic. People are .able to use ingenuity and Their. 'constituent materials ate constantly technology to overcome the challenges of life moving from the beach to the dune and into in -the dune line, at least on a temporary the back bay,. so that the island is constantly basis. Seasonally attracted to ocean beaches rolling landward. in droves, seeking fun, sun, and surf, the human species is tempted to build houses and The inconstant nature of barrier islands cities on the fragile dune, making life even makes them difficult places to live. Men, harder for its native resident s..But anything animals, and plants make special adaptations built on land as transient as a barrier island to survive on them. has but a tenuous hold on exi stence. Sooner or later the sea will reclaim its own. For plants and animals, the sandy islands are a brutal, sparse habitat. Sandy beaches In Maryland, three quarters of the barrier are one of the harshest ecosystems on earth. islands remain in their natural state, The day-to-night temperature fluctuations are providing pristine plant and wildlife habitat. extreme, and the uniformity of the beach Maryland's barrier islands support offers little variation in habitat and precious concentrations of rare and endangered few places to hide. Many animals live off the species. Protected and managed as State beach and dunes, but they must be parklands and National. Seashore, theseareas exceptionally rugged. Plants must adapt to. provide quality recreation and educational an environment that is often saltier than the opportunities. Linear in their very nature, ocean itself and in which there is no substrate barrier islands were . greenways before remotely like the rich soils of the mainland. Europeans arrived to alter the landscape and As a result of environmental hostility, barrier create other greenway types. Ridgetops Although they occur throughout the State 'Because they have been inhospitable to in various forms, ridgetop greenways are human development, ridgetops have most characteristic of Western Maryland, remained available for wildlife and provide where they dominate much of the important habitat and migratory corridors. topography. Many of the mountains and The y often include unusual dry or rocky ridgetops were heavily timbered prior to the habitats for rare plants and animals. turn of the century. Now reforested and still unsuitable for farming or other intensive Ridgetop greenways offer scenic relief in uses, they have remained.in a relatively Central Maryland. They provide@' the natural condition. In the central part of the backdrop that gives the verdant valleys much State, ridges divide a largely agricultural of their special character. Hikers and landscape; further west they help to give horseback. riders enjoy the trails associated identity to "Western Maryland." As parts of with ridge summits, which also provide rustic the Appalachian chain, Maryland's ridgetop camping opportunities for those able to greenways also provide opportunities to ba ckpack their equipment and supplies. connect to greenways in neighboring States-- Rock climbing and hang gliding are like other natural greenway types, ridgetops specialized recreational pursuits that require know no political boundaries. the exposure offered by some of Maryland's 5 western ridgetops. may be encountered on some ridgetops, like the Civil War's Battle of South Mountain. Hikes on ridgetop trails can sometimes be The second Washington Monument is also on broken by side trips down into friendly small South Mountain. Sometimes a ridgetop towns. Here bits of Maryland history remain greenway intersects a stream . valley largely inta .ct as a result of the relative greenway, as where the Appalachian Trail isolation imposed by the rugged topography- meets the C & - 0 Canal near the historic Important parts of U.S. history West Virginia town of Harper's Ferry. Urban Recreation close to home and respite development of trails or bikeways protected from the ordinary urb 'an environment are two frorh competition with automobiles. functions of urban greenways. Because of Nonmotorized access to the country for city the density of development, greenways in dwellers can be provided in this way. urban settings will in many cases be different from greenways associated with stream IOpportunities to create urban greenways valleys, wetlands, and ridges in more rural exist in redevelopment and rehabilitation parts o'f the State. In some cases, they may projects, such as that being carried out along not even be very green--for example, the City the Patapsco river in Sykesville. Streams, of Frederick's riverwalk along the Carroll once consigned to back yards or to service as Creek flood control project downstream from drainage ditches, may be rediscovered and Baker Park. Even when very narrow, urban highlighted.during such projects, becoming a greenways help separate and delineate parts focus for community pride. Removal of of , the urban structure, . as seen in aerial vehicular traffic and conversion of a shopping photographs. street into a pedestrian area, planted with shade trees and provided with amenities like With some exceptions, notably in the city benches or flower planters, can also be of Baltimore, where remnants of Olmsted's undertaken as part of a redevelopment. original greenways plan can be found in Linked to natural greenways, such spaces can Gwynns Falls and Herring Run, most green help to extend the greenway into the most spaces in Maryland's densely developed densely built areas of downtown. urban areas are fragments. These pieces can be knit together in a greenways network. The Waterfronts offer additional opportunities available pieces include public parks, school for greenways in urban areas, perhaps most yards, golf courses, cemeteries and other famously realized in the redevelopment of historic sites, formal gardens and plazas, Baltimore's Inner Harbor but evident too in playgrounds, waterfronts, and cultural such towns as Annapolis, Salisbury, and facilities like museums and libraries, which Snow Hill. Boat access, whether by are often set in landscaped grounds. commercial water taxi or private canoe, can help to tie such areas together in the overall Some natural corridors, like stream greenways network. Clearing floodplains of valleys, connect urban open spaces with ill-planned or flood-damaged development suburban and rural areas. Rights-of-way for can help create urban greenways. electric power or water transmission lines might also serve this function once they leave the urban street network and enter undeveloped areas. Such rights-of-way also offer the potential for landscaping and the 6 The Appalachian Trail: South Mountain Greenway The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is the longest marked footpath in the world, stretching 2,100 miles from Maine to Georgia along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. The Maryland segment of the Trail meanders 38 miles along the crest of South Mountain between Frederick and Washington Counties. The Appalachian Trail, as a greenway resource, is unique in the way it is administered and managed. It involves a cooperative effort among a number of private organizations and public agencies. In Maryland, the trail passes through four State Parks, with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) designated as the lead on all trail-related matters within the State's jurisdiction. For specific trail maintenance and upkeep issues, responsibility lies with private trail-maintaining clubs that have been established along the entire length of the Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) is an umbrella group of the trail-maintaining organizations charged with overseeing the activities of the clubs. In Maryland, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club takes the lead on all trail maintenance matters. The trail enters Maryland from the north at Pen Mar, a Washington County park, and leaves South Mountain at Weverton Cliffs, entering National Park Service (NPS) property at the C&O Canal National Historic Park. The many natural highlights one encounters along the Maryland segment include Raven Rock, Devils Racecourse, Annapolis Rock, and Weverton Cliffs. In addition, South Mountain, a crucial location during the Civil War, has several locales (Fox Gap, Turner's Gap, and Crampton Gap) that combine historic preservation and education with recreation and natural resource protection, At present, all but six miles of the trail go through four State parks (South Mountain, Gathland, Greenbrier, and Washington Monument). The remainder passes through a number of private properties that have been identified by DNR and the NPS as priorities for protection. With the assistance of the NPS, Maryland anticipates the completion of the Appalachian Trail Protection Project within the next four years. This accelerated land- acquisition program is necessitated by the rapid rate of development in the vicinity of South Mountain and its associated rising real-estate costs. Permanent protection of the Appalachian Trail and its buffer corridor is important not only to complete Maryland's Appalachian Trail Program but also to further the State's greenway protection efforts. At present the Appalachian Trail is already connected to an existing protected greenway, the C&O Canal. Additional linkages being considered include the Weverton to Roxbury Rail-Trail and a possible connection to the Catoctin Trail. Connectors Although not all connectors are George's, and Anne Arundel counties. greenways, connectors are essential elements Limited use of these corridors for in the greenways network. Connectors are transportation facilities in the future can be linear spaces often lacking a significant compatible with greenway use. vegetative component that join people with greenways. There are only limited opportunities for separate, dedicated rights-of-way for hiking Connectors offer wonderful recreational or bicycling trails within the densely opportunities near homes, businesses, and developed urban fabric. Outside of stream schools. In fact, they are the places where valleys dedicated to park use and abandoned more and more Americans are pursuing their railroads, which sometimes share the same favorite recreational activities: walking, corridors, connectors are most likely to be jogging, and bicycling. found where utilities have required underground or overhead corridors, leaving Some connectors, such as canals or the land surface available for another use. abandoned railroads, may be steeped in local Most opportunities for connector history. Old railroad lines frequently had a development in urban areas, however, will be distinctive style to their stations, such as the in corridors already developed for some Monkton Station on the North Central purpose. Walkways and bicycle routes in Railroad Trail. In Southern Maryland, the developed areas might be designated as Chesapeake Beach railroad line was a connectors in urban greenways systems by popular route to the resorts at Chesapeake special paving and the addition of benches, Beach from the turn of the century through lighting, and landscaping to set them off from the 1930's. One day it may become popular nonpedestrian facilities. once again as a travel corridor, this time for bicyclists and hikers from congested suburban Often public utilities extend considerable areas making their way down through distances through the landscape. In some Patuxent Park to the Bay beaches. cases, these utility corridors, like railroad beds, make fine walking and bicycling trails, Railroad rights-of-way are common serving to link one urban community to connectors, in urban areas. Where railroads' another or to a park, recreation area, or rural are no longer in constant use for freight or countryside. passenger traffic, their corridors offer potential for landscaping and joint use for Connectors are the threads of the walkways and bicycle paths linking greenways network that one day may link recreational facilities or larger parks with one individual river valley greenways to each another and with residential, commercial, or other or may allow someone to walk from a office areas. The B&A Trail in northern ridgetop greenway in Western Maryland to Anne Arundel County is one example; others the wild Atlantic greenway of Assateague. are under study in Montgomery, Prince 7 I i i i I I I 1@ I I I I . I I I i 8 1 1 Nfl r."", 7, erg, 16 IIN FINDINGS Greenways--A Network of Open Space Corridors Maryland has unique opportunities to complete a whole network of greenways-both to protect its precious natural resources and expand multiple benefits for its growing population. Chances to complete this network are disappearing in much of the State as development pressures intensify and land prices escalate. The time to move forward is now. Some greenway types, notably ridgetops and barrier islands, were linear features in the primeval landscape. As such, they functioned as corridors for the migration and dispersal of flora and fauna. But prior to European settlement, Maryland was essentially green; corridors were the exception rather than the rule. The pre-settlement landscape was a series of natural ecosystems that abutted or blended into one another and blanketed the entire region. it was only with the advent of agriculture that.these natural systems were pushed back and began to take on linear qualities. The developing, urbanizing landscape consumes productive lands and leaves behind a remnant mosaic of marginal lands isolated in a sea of development. Isolated ecosystems have a number of five) years will b,e'lean times for squirrels, distinct disadvantages. When a block of who need oaks for, acorns. . Meanwhile, forested land is first separated from bobcats, wh,' o have been well fed in, past years- surrounding natural land, it contains roughly with a large squirrel population, are left with the same plants and animals. as the larger little choice but. to go elsewhere in search of forest of which it was a part. But the species food, causing a temporary crash in their composition of that tract immed'iately Populations. Such is the*rouind-about nature becomes impoverished. Certain. species of of forest wildlife population dynamics. Add animals that require a critical minimum to the above scenario the immense acreage for successful reproduction will soon complexity of interactions, the diversity of be lost. Because of their stringent habitat creatures and plants found in the forest, and requirements, these will be animals that are the fact that a new tangent begins with every already absent in other fragmented habitats. new event, and it becomes clear that the Over time, more plants and animals will be forest is a constantly changing system whose lost through a variety of mechanisms. inhabitants endure boom and bust and must be ready to move to greener pastures when As the world goes through cyclical the necessity arises. climate changes--wet and dry years, hot summers and cool--plant and wildlife In an isolated habitat, a crash in a populations fluctuate. Within natural particular wildlife population can become systems, all populations regulate and are permanent, setting off a new series of regulated by each other. Thus a given dry changes. If the area in question is isolated by year might have great climatic conditions for a superhighway, the act of emigration can, ,gypsy moths, which eat oaks. As a result, have immediate and deadly results, with oaks have a poor year (or two or three). evacuating wildlife being squashed on the This means that the next three (or four or road. If there is no suitable habitat near the 9 isolated parcel, emigration is impossible and riding. As participants in these activities, animals are faced with the options of staying. people like to have a place to go, a put and starving or wandering about in destination, whether it is another park, a unsuitable areas, like city streets. More stream, or the Chesapeake Bay.. A importantly, when the adverse conditions that recreational greenways network increases caused the original crash dissipate, there is their options and access. no contact with surrounding forest that can be used as a corridor for wildlife (or plants) In addition to offering trail-based to repopulate the area. The net result is that recreation, linear parks themselves go places, environmental stress, already compounded by bringing the park to more people. This is the original fragmentation, can permanently simply a function of geometry. When natural remove species from isolated tracts. In the areas have linear outgrowths into the long run, species diversity within the isolated surrounding community, more people have parcel. becomes depauperate and a few nearby access. common species are all that remain. Consider again the natural landscape in The natural landscape contains many the urbanizing world. Most of the land is habitats, each expanding and contracting as covered by housing, agriculture, commercial climatic changes occur. When conditions centers, and transportation infrastructure. favor one habitat type over another, the Yet a residual natural component is also a favored habitat migrates slowly into the kind of infrastructure. Large parcels have other, the end result being that throughout been set aside as parks, forests, or wildlife cool and warm periods, wet cycles and dry, areas. Other areas are in natural covet but there is always a native 'habitat complex will soon be developed for houses or overlaid onto the landscape. Fragmentation, factories. Some areas are unsuitable for most by reducing diversity and blocking migration, uses and have been left in their natural impedes this process. In the long term, as condition. These include mountain ridges, well as over year-to-year cyclic changes, the wetlands, unusual geological or topographic isolation 'of natural -areas results in an features, and some stream corridors. increasingly barren biota. Planning for the greenways network means viewing all open space as a whole, as a Connections can enrich isolated areas. natural-lands infrastructure that must coexist Wooded corridors act as lifelines between with everything else placed on the landscape. lands which would otherwise be completely cut off from each other. Wildlife and plants The following pages identify a number of can use natural corridors to evacuate areas values in greenways. Each represents an that can no longer support them and to overlay on a map of the greenways network. repopulate these areas when conditions In some areas, all of these values will stabilize. This is the fundamental basis for coincide. In others only one or a few values greenways, at least from a conservation will be present. But a greenways network standpoint. consists of the whole, and the evaluation of the network must take each into account But a number of other advantages can be That is what is really new about greenways. gained from a network of greenways. The By taking a view that is regional, holistic, and same corridors that ferry wildlife from forest aimed at connections, work can proceed on to forest can ferry people from home to the entire system, even as it is assembled work, or from school to play. The people of part-by-part. In a landscape that is rapidly Maryland want to get out and recreate. That filling with houses, roads, and shopping recreation increasingly involves trail-based malls, it is none too soon to complete the activities like hiking, bicycling, and horseback natural infrastructure--the greenways matrix. 10 The point is* coming soon when many poten- tial greenways, left unprotected, will be gone forever. * The State of Maryland should implement a statewide Greenways Program, with strong local government input, in order that the strengths of a network be available for natural and human values to all citizens of the State. * The Governor's Commission on Growth in the Chesapeake Bay Region to the Year 20,20 should integrate a statewide greenways network into its recommendations to the Governor. Quality Environment--Greenways Benefit Natural Resources We cannot separate man's actions on the land from, what happens to our waters. Greenways offer the best way of protecting our waters, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, from what we do on the land. As a means of organizing the State's land-preservation and recreation-planning efforts, gre Ienways offer the most effective way of protecting the natural resources Maryland's people consider vital to their well-being. The Chesapeake Bay, the rivers leading to it, their fishery resources, and the State's forest cover and its wildlife are beneficiaries of the corridors in a greenways, system. Creation of a greenways network will secure these natural resources for fu.ture generations. The Chesapeake Bay lack of understanding of the effects of unregulated industry and uncontrolled growth The Chesapeake Bay is at the heart of has led to increased environmental stress and Maryland, both geographically and culturally. the slow strangulation of the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake is Maryland's original main But there is a growing awareness of the Bay's street, the single most important influence on plight, and in recent years much has been the history and unique character of the done to reduce pollution. It is no longer Chesapeake region. The Chesapeake Bay is possible to view the Chesapeake Bay as a the largest estuary in North America and was separate entity, removed from the rest of the once, the most productive in the world, State. As Maryland continues to develop at offering an annual bounty of waterfowl, a rapid pace, it is becoming increasingly clear oysters, crabs, and in'numerable fish that has that everything that occurs on the land has made Maryland a pleasant and secure place ramifications in-the Bay. to live since prehistoric times. Greenways protect the Chesapeake, In recent years, Marylanders have cleaning and purifying the waters that flow watched with growing concern as the Bay's into it. Protected river valleys provide food waterfowl have declined, seafood catches and shelter to wildlife and spawning grounds have been dramatically reduced, and the for aquatic life. The key to life in the water quality of this once-pristine national Chesapeake Bay lies in the unimaginably treasure has become gravely degraded. A complex interaction of land and water, a delicate balance of factors that,have taken reduced seafood catches, the depletion or millions of years to stabilize. Stream valley extinction of sensitive plants and animals, and greenways protect the places where this water unsafe to touch, much less to drink. interaction occurs, mitigating the effects of man that disturb the natural 11ife cycles of the Recently, heightened awareness of these Chesapeake and could eventually destroy it. problems has led to new laws and programs to protect watercourses. Industry and Marylanders now realize that the tiny municipal waste treatment facilities must now stream nearby is as much a part of the Bay as conform to higher water quality standards. its verdant, expansive marshes or its sandy Grading and building permits also require beaches. New laws have! been passed to special measures to prevent. the erosion of protect the land and the water, and topsoil from building activities. However, communities are organizingto save the Bay. natural buffers are still extremely valuable for New regional agreements extend the removing sediment, nutrients and toxic coordinated clean-up effort ,to most of the materials. A number of programs now states in the Chesapeake watershed. The require or promote buffers and protect non- degradation of the Chesapeake Bay has tidal wetlands, another important watercourse slowed, but much remains to be done. By protection. some estimates, Maryland will have to absorb another 850,000 people within the next 10 to Wooded buffers keep stream courses 15 years, further stressing the Bay. Little clean through four actions: time remains to establish a protective network of greenwayson Maryland's streams, 0 Forest canopy reduces the velocity of rainfall, but the Chesapeake Bay is simply too protecting steam banks from direct erosion. important to die. 0 Vegetation reduces the energy of surface runoff, which, when slowed, drops suspended Neighboring states should be particles in the buffer. When the material dropped is inert sediment, it stays in the buffer approached, through the 'Executive as a soil component. When it is rich with Council of the Chesapeake Bay nutrients, these are used as fertilizer by plants Program, to establish greenways. in the buffer. 0 Subsurface runoff, which often carries high concentrations of excess nutrients, passes through the roots of buffer vegetation and is Water-Quality and Fisheries absorbed. The buffer plants use these nutrients to accelerate growth, binding them As Maryland's landscape has undergone up as leaves and vascular tissues. dramatic changes since settlement, so the water quality of streams, rivers, and 0. The simple act of shading the streambed can estuaries has undergone drastic changes-- have important benefits to water quality. usually for the worse. Topsoil has washed off Shading reduces photosynthetic processes in agricultural fields and building projects, the stream, curbing the growth of oxygen- silting over aquatic resources and clogging depleting algae. Water's capacity for holding harbors. Excess nutrients like nitrogen and dissolved oxygen is directly related to water phosphorous have caused oxygen-depleting temperature, so shading increases dissolved oxygen content. High dissolved oxygen levels algal blooms, killing native, aquatic grasses, mean enhanced fisheries and nurture a healthy fish, crabs, and other aquatic life. Toxic stream biota. materials from automobiles and industry have washed into streams and the Bay, disrupting Nontidal wetlands have similar effect on normal aquatic life cycles. The gradual watercourses. Water is slowed by vegetation degradation of water quality has resulted in 12 causing sediment to fall out. Nutrients are tops, so large and extensive was the eastern utilized by plants, which remove them as the forest. Early on, the forests of Maryland water passes through. provided fuel, food, and building materials for homes and ships. The forest was viewed The nutrient removal functions of both as an inexhaustible resource and used as wooded buffers and nontidal wetlands are such. It was also feared as a haven of Indians vital to the easing of eutrophication. In a and "wild men". Clearing for agriculture and pristine natural system, plants deposit detritus expansion of towns and villages continued to into streams, where it is slowly broken down reduce the forested acres until, by 1900, less by aquatic animals as it moves downstream. than SOW of Maryland remained forested. Many nutrients in modern runoff, however, Over the past 80 years, forest' land has are in simple, inorganic forms that can be continued to be reduced for all uses, with an quickly utilized by algae. By converting average of over 3,000 acres per year lost in these inorganic compounds into complex the last two decades. chemical forms that. require' extended decomposition to become -available as Throughout Maryland the establishment nutrients, wetlands and wooded buffers and implementation of- Best Management return aquatic systems to their natural Practices (BMP's) on forest lands and farms condition. is underway. Traditional forest management practices, which utilize the forest to produce fiber and timber,, are now incorporating * Stream buffer areas should receive wildlife, recreation, and watershed values and priority for greenways designation. outdoor education into the planning process. Maryland has over 130,000 Acres designated * Greenways planning should include as State forest lands, and the various forest- water quality and aquatic biota based industries in Maryland own a nearly studies, even if problem sources are equal amount of land. off-site. Greenways@ can co-exist with' forest management through wise multiple use and the, application of BMPs. Forest can Forest Resources berenewed, recovered, and established as part of any greenways complex. Interest in "The forest is. as beautiful as it is useful. reforestation, afforestation, and urban tree The old fai y tales which spoke. of it as a plantings is increasing across the state. ry terrible place are wrong. No. one can really Millions of seedlings and trees are produced know the forest, without feeling the gentle in State nurseries and provided to landowners influence of one of the kindest and strongest each year. Thousands of acres of hew forest @arts of nature. From every point of view it are established, yet the gain never equals the is one of the most helpful friends of man. loss. Perhaps no other natural agent has done so much for the human race and has been so Greenways can aid in new forest recklessly used and so. little understood. establishment and 'in retention of existing Gifford Pinchot, forest lands. The vast majority of forest land in Maryland is privately owned. Over two When Captain Smith first explored million acres of woodlands @are in ownerships Maryland over 350 years ago, the state was that range from five to 1000 acres. Although covered by forest. It has been said that a privately owned, these wooded lands offer resourceful squirrel could travel -from the many public benefits. Every acre contributes Chesapeake to the Mississippi in the tree to cleaner water and air, free range for. 13 wildlife, and aesthetic values. Greenways protecting native wildlife. Corridors give partnerships with private owners can expand continuity to wildlife habitat and prevent and preserve these shared. forest values. forest fragmentation, which can devastate wildlife populations. Greenway corridors allow wildlife a natural -highway within which Dialogue should be encouraged, with, they can migrate to new territories, escape and incentives provided for, large famine, . and repopulate restored or private forest owners to expand recovenng habitats. Many wildlife species opportunities for pu blic recreation use greenways for seasonal migrations, and greenways themselves provide important -on their lands. I habitat. Forest cover should,be maintained Stream valleys, ridgetops, and other (or planted, where it does not linear features protect natural migration presently exist) on all, steep slopes on routes. They also constitute some of the State- owned lands. most important natural habitat types, especially wetlands, a resource that has undergone hard losses. A new awareness of the importance of wetlands and the threats to them has led to regulatory protection that Wildlife may in the future become an important mechanism for protecting g*reenway corridors. The wildlife that Marylanders enjoy,today is far different from that which once roamed over the State. Those spep !ies most sensitive * Wildlife corridors are priority areas to landscape alteration; notably large mammals .and birds that require large or for green .ways designation. diminishing habitats are gone. Our wildlife species are those that adapt well to,. even * Large blocks of contiguous natural thrive in, Aisturbed, fragmented habitats. habitat should be provided to ensure Few Marylanders are aware that bear, elk, that not all protected area is edge wolves, and" a startling number of birds, habitat. reptiles, amphibians, fish,' and uncounted other animals once thrivedhere. The loss in Trails through large, contiguous, plant species is even more@extensive. Most and pristine habitat blocks should be extinctions and extirpations@are due to habitat loss. The decline of species diversity is an designed to follow the edges of those ongoing process; eventually, we could be left areas rather than bisecting interiors. with only the wildlife that live in parks, alleys, and garbage dumps.. Wildlife corridors should be a minimum of 12 meters in width Open space protection is the best wherever possible. response to this trend. Arranging open space in greenways is the most beneficial means of 14 Quality of Life.- Greenways Benefit People People need greenways --- for recreation, health, transportation, and aesthetic enjoyment. A statewide trail system is the most important recreational opportunity the greenways network can provide. Whether people. actively use them or passively enjoy them from a distance, greenways offer Marylanders numerous benefits. The quality-of-life factor is the most far- abandoned railroad rights-of-way have the reaching and pervasive benefit for humans. additional benefit of not being in sensitive Greenways enrich lives; they offer respite natural areas, so trails can be sited with. from the workday world and provide places minimal disruption and can offer easy access to learn about the natural world. These ideas even to those with,physical disabilities ' Light w .ere stated , in many ways by those rail corridorsmay be, incorporated in a joint responding to questionnaires prepared by the development with a trail system. Committee on Recreation, Parks, Cultural Resources, Grassroots and Environmental There is a large, relatively untapped,. Education. (The summary of this constituency among equestnian. groups that . questionnaire is available in Greenways would support greenways and even assist in Commission files.) trail maintenance. Many in Maryland have horses and use linear park trails on a daily A "sense of environmental harmony" is basis. Equestrians are one of the many the way one person described the feeling of interest groups that could be encouraged just seeing a greenway each day. Aesthetics during the outreach phase of the Greenwa s 'Y and general environmental benefits were also Program. listed. as important. Whether it provides a breathtaking vista, the sound of water lapping Hiking, bicycling, and equestrian trails against a bank, a glimpse into a world long are not always compatible with each other, or past, or a-walk in the evening with a friend, with fragile hillsides or floodplains. Trails a greenway enhances the quality of life in need to be designed and built to protect both urban and rural settings. natural resources and'accommodate specific uses in appropriate locations. Recrea'tion Opportunities for recreation rank very A statewide trail network should be high on - the list of reasons people want part of the greenways plan. greenways. - Hiking, jogging,. bicycling, nature study, birding, fishing'and canoeing The State's Rails-to-Trails program and horseback riding are activities frequently should continue to be implemented enjoyed by people in linear greenspaces. It to enhance the greenways network. comes as no surprise that people want these opportunities close to home. A Commission Appropriate fishing access areas survey of Maryland Parks and Recreation should be identified and developed Directors made it clear that easily accessible as part of the greenways plan. trails and scenic trail conneCtOTs between communities are major county needs. Survey respondents urged implementation of the Transportation Department's Rails to Trails Study (Dec., Rails-to@trails projects offer especially 1989). - Unlike undisturbed .river corridors, good potential as commuter routes, although 15 other trail systems can also, provide this Finally, the contribution of greenwaysto t he benefit. Maryland's existing rail-trails 'are environmental quality of an area, which in, indeed used by people going to and from turn may attract desirable economic work, both on foot and by bicycle. development or revitalization, should not be Opportunities for commuting by trail should overlooked. be encouraged and publi ized. as much as possible. The B&A trail, now being completed from Ferndale in Northern Anne The Commission should stimulate Arundel County to Annapolis, runs through development of public-private joint many communities and' makes local ventures that would complement commuting by bicycle' a reasonable greenway use. alternative and a way of avoiding the woes of daily automobile traffic. Health Community Building Trail use, for transportation or recreation, has the important additional benefit of Greenway construction and maintenance improving physical fitness. Walking, can be a cornmunity-buil ding project. All bicycling, or jogging is great exercise. Even aspects can be carried out by private more important is the overall sense of individuals and community groups. Fund- wellness that greenways pr 0@vide. raising, working. on legal questions, organizing work teams, participating in As the President's Commission on workdays, providing services for workers, Americans Outdoors points out: "Diverse like food and child care--all of these activities recreation programs that require people to can- galvanize a community and generate use their legs, arms, lungs land minds should community spirit. The resulting greenways be available to support the full array of project, whether it be a new trail, a cleaned- personal health and wellness goals." Wellness up stream valley, of a planting to encourage is not just related to active Use of Greenways; wildlife, will belong to the people who made it come about. The construction and clean- the trees and other vegetation that greenways contain help cleanse the air and moderate up days will be memorable social events in temperatures, particularly in urban areas. the life of the community. Economics. Recreational greenways can become meeting places for neighbors out -for a stroll Greenways offer economic benefits both or a ride. Community involvement will also in the form of higher property values for reduce long-term maintenance and policing private properties located near the greenways requirements, since "owners" tend to take and in opportunities for economic activities responsibility for their property. supporting their use. Examples include equipment sales or rentals, dining and Cultural and Historical Resources overnight accommodations, and. commercial enterprises selling outdoor recreation items. Greenways may contain and preserve cultural and historic resources. These can be In large greenways, there may be architectural features, such as railway opportunities for concessionaires. There may stations, houses, taverns, mills, andraceways; also be substantial employment opportunity sites where historic events occurred; or associated with maintenance and operation archeological remains of a historic or and the purchase of 'equipment and materials. prehistoric nature. These can be featured in 16 interpretive programs and help people nonprofit -outdoor education programs can understand their past. The protection of a play An important role in environmental greenway may have its genesis in a historic education as applied in greenways. One preservation campaign. Alternatively, example is found in' this State's participation preservation of cultural artifacts may be an in a national program known as Project add-on benefit of a project to protect a WILD and Aquatic WILD, cosponsored by natural area. DNR and the Maryland Department of Education. Project WILD is.an education program featuring curriculum materials about Incentives should be provided to wildlife and habitats. Project Learning Tree groups - acquiring and maintaining is. a similar, somewhat older, program that focuses on the forest ecosystem. The historic or cultural sites to consider the setting of the feature of interest Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other nonprofit groups conduct many popular and to acquire suMicient land lo link educational programs. Site visits are often the site to other gre enways. made to greenways as a part of class work, and 'the nearer they are to the users the better. Education Many of Maryland's State and local parks have . ongoing- environmental education As The' Report of the President's programs. These programs are for diverse Commission on Americans Outdoors stated audiences, including schoo*,] groups and the so succinctly: "Outdoor education will help general public, adults, children, and special create an activated citizenry which is more populations. Environmental educators and effective at preserving environmental quality park naturalists should. all be aware of and protecting natural resources." Maryland's new Greenways Program and Greenways and outdoor education are linked asked to assist in- developing programs to in important ways. explain the benefits of greenways. Joint venture opportunities between counties and Man y schools are located near. greenways, greenway parks for environmental education particularly stream valleys, in which teachers can be encouraged.. - For example, the' already focus some of, their environmental Maryland Department of Natural Resources education curriculum. In Baltimore County, and.. other State environmental agencies are for example, schools near the Gunpowder well versed, in'natural resources facts, while Falls have adopted the river and have many Aeachers know the techniques of teaching; school activities relating to it, with special Such'an opportunity for cross-pollenization of skills is being developed in Gunpowder Falls emphasis on water-quality studies. In new school construction, serious consideration State Park, atthe Days Cove Environmental should be given to.sites that-are within safe Education and Training Center. walking distance of stream valley greenways so that they can be used- as outdoor Cultural history is another part of laboratories. An additional benefit is that environmental education.. Many of our school parking facilities can be used on existing river valley parks are.rich in history weekends to give 'convenient trail access to and pre-history, and often these features are the general public. In addition, e'veningadult... discussed in brochures and programs. In the education programs can. use nearby future, trails could be expanded to link greenways. cultural features together. One area of great potential is the Patuxent River, where many State and, county agencies and various historical contexts still coexist. A. heritage 17 trail could be 'de Iv'eloped which would tie A final connection between greenways together pre-historical, proto-historical and and outdoor education is indirect. When historical elements and culture. people have a greenway nearby, they absorb information about it. A general appreciation There is a need for tying cultural history can lead to a desire to learn more about it, to and environmental education opportunities understand some of the processes that make together with greenways, perhaps by creating the natural world so fascinating. Informal a central clearinghouse for information about education is extremely important; Maryland where the resources and programs , are must continue to provide opportunities for located. In this way, all entities providing local, daily contact with the natural world. outdoor education programs can begin to This conviction is echoed by environmental coordinate, avoid duplication, and expand educators . who answered the recent where gaps are obvious. greenways questionnaire. � A program with the-State and local boards of education should he developed to provide a portion of a greenway for an outdoor laboratory for each school in the State. � A computer-based education program, such as National Geographic Kids Network. should be developed to allow schools to communicate with one another about their greenways. Water quality monitoring and other weather-related. monitoring, such as acid rain, should be incorporated in the computer network. The linkage between land use and water quality.must be stressed in the public education' component of greenways. 18 IMPLEMENTING GREENWAYS IN MARYLAND State leadership in development of a coordinated plan for a greenways network is a necessary step in order to6vercome present fragmentation and duplication of effort. A.plan is needed to ensure that a timely exchange of information'takes place and, that all tools necessary to implement greenways are available to all participants."' A greenways network in Maryland has over the years evolved out of many different initiatives at all levels of government. For the most part, it has been the inadvertent byproduct of these initiatives, however, rather than an intentional creation. While most of the necessary pieces are in place, responsibility for implementation is fragmented and lacks coordination. Some existing programs could better support greenways creation and development with relatively minor modification; others might require restructuring. Leadership is essential. Programs are in place at all levels of add up to a whole that is at least as great as governmen t-- Federal, State and local--and in the sum of its parts--these are major tasks for the private and nonprofit sectors., The which responsibility has not been assigned programs range from regulation of private nor funding provided. action, which has the. effect of restricting certain kinds of development through public The following pages describe some of the encouragement of private activity by planning, wide range- of tools available--from planning and incentives, to private philanthropic and zoning techniques to outright acquisition. approaches and outright,public acquisition The discussion then focuses on the many and deve lopment of greenway components. possible actors and programs which can contribute to the network in Maryland, from Keeping communication flowing among Federal, State, and local government to the multiple participants in greenways private corporations, utilities, and nonprofit implementation, and tracking, mapping, and organizations. coordinating many varied activities so they Tools for Protecting Greenways Public Acquisition entire, bundle of sticks and controls the use of the land to the extent allowed by law. Public -Many people compare owning a piece of acquisition of title to the land is the strongest, property to a bundle of sticks, each stick most permanent form of protection, since representing a land-use right--to live on it, owners share the greatest 'control over what walk across it, farm it, chop down its happens on their land. Fee-title can be trees .... each right can be separated from the bought or 'donated. This is the. most others and sold at an agreed price. appropriate form of protection for the most compelling greenway priorities, or for In fee ownership, the 'Owner holds the gr eenway segments that require heavy public 19 access. To date, fee simple ownership is the dffered to individual landowners. Examples most common, approach to public land of registries operating in the State.include preservation. The Nature Conservancy's Natural Heritage Registry, The Wild and Scenic Rivers A private landowner can sell or donate Inventory (DNR), and The National Park certain exclusive land-use rights, or a portion Service's National Registry of Historic Places of his "bundle of sticks"; this is usually called and National Natural Landmarks Registry. an easement. Restrictions ikuse are legally binding either for a specific period of time, or in perpetuity. Property taxes may be reduced by the value of the donated land-use rights, Important links in Maryland's making this alternative appealing to those greenways system , should be who want to retain ownership of land while designated, and landowners of contributing to the greenways network. In designated , areas should be certain cases, less than fee interest is all that is needed to promote greenways creation encouraged to tie into the network (wildlife corridors, for example, And water voluntarily. resources protection). Since only certain rights transfer to the easement holder (a government or nonprofit group), the cost can be substantially lower than fee acquisition. Easements can be useful in areas where there Dedication is resistance to removing land from tax roles, or where the owner is sincere about Dedication provides recognition that managing the land for greenway values. certain pieces of land are critical to the State's greenways system. A limited number Purchase of easements alone is rarely of parcels are identified in a legally adequate in intensively developing areas established State system and protected by where the cost of an easement limiting str.ong statutory language- against. development approaches the fair market condemnation and conversion by private and value of the property. The flaws inherent in public interests. Long popular in the easement use can be minimized by selective Midwest, dedication of significant nature use -of this tool on less critical greenway preserves recognizes the highest, best use of segments. natural lands. This technique, which adds a measure of protection to greenways acquired Registries by the State, could be added to Maryland's greenways arsenal in the future. A registry is a:roll of important lands 'whose presence on the list begs for constructive attention. These priority areas Legislation to establish a dedication must have cleared a rigorous evaluation system for greenways in Maryland process. Although. registries rarely provide real pr.otection for areas, Federal and State should be investigated. agencies and nonprofit groups use them to monitor lands requiring future protection. Often the current landowner is notified of the importance of his land and asked to protect it voluntarily. As a gesture to cooperative Planning civic-mindedness, plaques can be awarded to the owner. Management expertise may be Plans are expressions of policy and 20 desired direction that can be used to guide can have the effect of preventing private and public. actions. Local and State development of some lands, which then agencies in Maryland both can develop and become available for greenways, sometimes implement greenways plans. State laws and directly and sometimes following public policies related to natural resource protection acquisition. are often expressed most effectively in local land-Use, functional, and recreation plans. Incentives Public awareness of plans for a network of greenways can assist developers to plan Incentives involve a variety of means for individual projects to complement the inducing private property owners to take acquisition and development of public open actions which allow their lands to become space. Publication and wide dissemination of elements of a greenway. Favorable tax plans also serves to educate the public and treatment, such as farmland assessment generate support for other actions. provisions or tax exemptions for some land s, as under the cooperative hunting program, Regulations are familiar examples of incentives. Incentives in a greenways program can also Regulation is the means by which a public take the form of public assumption of liability entity restricts what a private owner rhay do on lands open for public access, public with his land. State regulation, -found in provision 'of services like policing or many agencies, is largely designed to protect maintenance, and provision of technical natural resources, while land use regulation, assistance, such as is common in some including zoning, is a local function. Both agricultural and forestry programs. Local Approaches Greenways systems tailored to a county's needs and resource limits have already made a great difference: in forward-thinking localities that have been planning for greenways and acquiring component lands for years. Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, for example, boast an extensive stream valley park system and are now engaged in designing links between those segments. Ecologists help local planners site recreational development at suitable nodesalong the corridors. Many other counties have along history of protecting stream corridors through both regulation of development and public acquisition, which have become thefocal points for open- space protection in county master plans. Maryland has made remarkable progress implemented locally by professionals with an since 1970 in protecting greenway corridors. intimate knowledge of the County's Because of these efforts, over 300 miles of resources. In addition, local protection tools, protected river corridors reach across the such as easements, tree-cutting ordinances State. Much of the credit for that network, and revegetation policies, subdivision review, including connections to it, belongs to the special zoning ordinances, stream valley counties, as does the responsibility for dedication, tax incentives and penalties, developing thegreenways network further. cluster development incentives, landscaping requirements, and construction standards are In Maryland, land planning is a local critically important complements to statewide issue. State and Federal laws addressing greenways acquisitions. The concept of resource development and conservation transfer of development. rights (TDR) has (critical areas, flood plain restrictions) are particular relevance for greenways protection; 21 several Maryland counties have TDR Subdivision Regulations programs in effect. Most jurisdictions have general powers All of Maryland's local jurisdictions have within the subdivision regulations to prevent the basic ingredients for creating a greenways the disturbance. of sensitive environmental network, though some may have a broader areas and require the provision of open space array of tools than others. County interests areas in new developments. Many range from general policy for stream subdivision regulations call for pedestrian protection to rather explicit recommendations links between homes and.school sites. In for greenway connections in county master most localities, however, subdivision plans. The following review of County regulations do not have a specific focus on master planning, zoning ordinances and the uniform or systematic creation of subdivision regulations demonstrates the greenways and linkages to public parklands. broad scope of resources currently available for greenways planning. One promising approach to using subdivision processes for greenways is County Master Plans illustrated in Baltimore County. Here pre- development conferences are held with local Master plans have been developed by all developers who must adjust plans to the counties as a means of coordinating long- accommodate greenways elements in the term land-use policies and goals. A Master Plan. Dedication of easements in greenways system within a county can be pre- cluster developments is encouraged and land identified as "infrastructure" and zoned to is then managed by the Parks and Recreation prevent encroachment before it can be fully Department. Subdivision review enforces protected. buffers for water resources, steep slope protection and sensitive habitats. With a few exceptions, even the older county master plans and open space and Zoning recreation plans contain the basic policy ingredients upon which to build -a Greenways Certain types of zoning tools used by Program. These include policies that call for local jurisdictions present opportunities for the preservation, or protection of stream the creation of greenways networks. These valleys, wetlands,. , forests, farmland, include planned unit development zones shorelines, marshes, swamps, beaches, and cluster zones, comprehensive design zones: historic and cultural features. Sorne plans and other floating zones, such- as the relate these policies to recreation, while floodplain overlay. The opportunity for others merely note . the importance of creating greenways grows out of the preserving open space and rural character. requirement that open space and recreation land be designated on a site or development The newer plans-, such as Baltimore and plan that becomes part of the zoning approval Calvert Counties' Plans and Howard County's process. Draft 1990 Plan, make specific recommendations for greenways networks to In a state with diverse planning interests tie together local' and State parks and other and capabilities it is not surprising that there land uses and attractions. Some recent plans is great unevenness between counties, in both have a more narrow greenways focus: Prince the application of planning and regulatory George's County focuses on stream valley tools and in the status of open-space networks, for example, while Washingto ' n acquisition. Some of the unevenness is County emphasizes the C&O Canal, the accounted for by the lack of staff capable of Appalachian Trail, and bikeways. carrying out the analysis or activities 22 necessary to use the tools. Differences in plan allowing creation of linkages to a local financial resources clearly play a role. greenway. Many local officials have questions about how and when to develop a Some localities have abundant active greenway. In some areas, greenways .recreation land., with no policy for sensitive resources are managed by such a variety of land designation, while others are struggling players that management for long-term health to..increase land suitable for active recreation, of the resources is nearly impossible. Many. or access to the Chesapeake Bay. In some developers are mystified as to what is areas the Commission found there may be a required of them, and yearn for a unified set conflict between the two desirable goals of of regulations for their own planning preserving agricultural land and preserving purposes. All of the localities say they need forest cover. In cities, land that has been long additional planning, acquisition, and developed is being redeveloped with a site maintenance funding. Appropriate county autho rities should formulate and provide assistance to developers for compliance with reforestation and tree-cutting policies. Floodplains delineated during the zoning, site plan.review, or land subdivision processes should be deeded to public or quasi-public organizations to enhance the greenways network. Counties should indicate bike/hiker patlis, wildlife corridors,, and safe sepa rate crossings during site plan review and subdivision processes and highway-planning and construction process. All local zoning regulations should allow clustering. and provide for transfer of development rights from designated greenways. Local jurisdictions should be encouraged to adopt a stream valley protection system such as Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties' programs. Each local government should be encouraged to implement a Greenways Program that includes a local advisory board. 23 State Programs Numerous agencies in the DNR, and some in other departments, have roles to play in a .state-Aride greenways system. Some programs are primarily planning; some, regulatory; some, funding. Some provide technical assistance. Some are closely tied to local government programs, and some operate more independently. Some agencies are major landowners and managers, often carrying out functions that,. on their face, have little to do with open space or recreation. Shared by all these agencies and. programs is the fact that none of them have protection or establishment of greenways anywhere in their statements of legislative purpose. The following pages focus on those State Various agencies within Maryland's programs having large potential impacts on a government have been protecting greenways greenways network. Other major land- for over 50 years. Although not officially owning agencies--Departments of Health and called a "Greenways" program, it has Mental Hygiene, Public Safety and evolved into one. The sheer breadth of State Correctional Services, Juvenile Services, and coverage, and the number of actors, suggests General Services--could usefully evaluate the importance of planning and coordination -portions of their holdings for 'greenways required to 'develop and. implement a applicability. Two of these agencies, coherent statewide Greenways Program. Corrections and Juvenile Services, as well as' When local and federal participants and the Military Department, have access to myriad private and quasi-public actors are manpower resources tha -t might be applied to added, coordination becomes, truly particular greenways construction projects. formidable. � Every State agency should designate a Greenways Liaison to the Commission. � State agencies with land management responsibilities should require that best management practices be implemented on their land. � State-owned land currently not in the greenways network should be reviewed for possible inclusion in the system. � Cooperative work programs should be instituted with the Maryland Correctional System, Juvenile Services and Maryland National Guard to use available manpower for greenways projects. I Program Open Space (POS) the past 20 years that it was cited by the President's Commission on Americans POS is the State's funding mechanism for, Outdoors as the premier way to foster acquiring land for forests, parks, wildlife greenways. management areas, environmentally sensitive areas, Bay access, agricultural lands, and POS also acts as a funding source for heritage areas. Program Open Space, local subdivisions. This past year, land trusts administered by the Capital Programs became eligible to receive grants. By Administration, has been so successful over enlisting the service of not-for-profit 24 organizations, the State can move more network in A timely fash 'ion while still effectively to preserve critical pieces of land. meeting other open space heeds. Adding to Although POS helps to fund easement the pressure on available POS funds is the programs through the Maryland escalation of real estate prices, particularly in Environmental Trust and Maryland important waterfront areas. Agricultural Lands Preservation Program, fee simple acquisition is the preferred -technique The General Assembly and Governor, for ensuring complete protection' and sharing this concern, dir 'ected DNR, development control on land used for public Department.of Budget and Fiscal Planning, recreation. The recent lifting of the POS cap and the Office of Planning to evaluate the by the Governor and the Maryland General feasibility, consistent with debt affordability, Assembly will dramatically increase annual of utilizing some or all of the State transfer funding, which will continue to serve.as the tax revenues allocated to Program Open main financial ' resource for preserving Space to support bond financin g, which could greenway lands by State and local accelerate land acquisition. A report on this governments. matter is due by September 1, 1990. According to DN R, a critical 86,400 acres Concern for the adequacy of POS funds must still be acquired 'to complete led the Private Sector Committee to discuss Trogrammed acquisitions for State forests, a number of additional financing mechanisms parks and wildlife, management areas. This that might be employed to help implement does not include links between major greenways. These discussions also projects. Furthermore, opportunities to close recognized the need reflected in many gaps in existing river valley park acquisition comments from local government personnel, lines are often lost because of inherent particularly, about funding for. maintenance, slowness in the State acquisition process. program planning, and administration. Among the tools suggested were tax The Commission recognized that although increment financing, user fees, special tax Program Open Space funds would grow over distriUs, and various means to leverage POS the next. several years, they might still be funds to increase their effectiveness- - Further insufficient to complete the acquisition of all evaluation of funding arrangements' remains critical elements of the, greenways outstanding. 'POS should be the major fund source for greenwAys acquisition. Jo be sure that current data are being used, the.IDNR should thoroughly review State acquisition boundary maps as soon as possible. Creative means must he found to take care of the land once it comes into public ownership. 25 Flood Management relate to land ownership and maintenance re.sponsibilities. The stream valley components of a greenways network are clearly related to the There is presently no uniformity in the State's interest in reducing flood damage and ownership and maintenance arrangements for loss. Stream valleys left undeveloped sustain floodplains from one local jurisdiction to very little flood.damage. another, or even from one -floodplain to another within a jurisdiction. Frequently, Maryland's approach to flood floodplains that are not turned over to public management includes a ..grant program parks and recreation agencies become administered by DNR's.Water Resources orphans, with no one caring for them. Administration. The major emphasis has Formalizing maintenance responsibility might been on the acquisition and removal of flood- be facilitated through a greenways prone structures from floodplains. After a designation, and associated education local government recipient of a flood programs couid stimulate better stewardship management grant. acquires a property and among nonpublic owners. Alternatively, removes the structure, the land must remain local land trusts might be established to take as permanent open space, usually in public ownership and caretaker responsibility for ownership. floodplains set aside in the subdivision process that are not suitable for public park Acquiring and removing floodplain development. structures is a means of correcting past mistakes in land-use decision-making, as at least one participant in the Greenways The Flood Management Program Commission's workshop for local government should give priority to funding recommended. The flood management grant projects which will contribute to program is voluntary, however; local expansion of a g reenway. governments do not have to participate, and individual property owners certainly do not he Fl have to sell their property, even if the local T ood Management Program government does participate. There is no should modify its rules and .State policy on removing structures from the procedures so that it can more floodplain. e Iffectively contribute to greenways objectives. The contributions of this program to establishing and protecting a greenways network have been less than extensive. The program could play a more active role in the. re-establishment of floodplains as natural' Scenic and Wild Rivers Program greenways if changes were made in its operation, including -integration of flood The Scenicand Wild.Rivers Program, management plans and local open-space administered by DNR's Capital Programs recreation plans as a condition for flood Administration, was created to serve as the management grants. state's comprehensive river planning and conservation program. The program is Besides changing the flood management required to inventory and assess all rivers grant program, there are other approaches to within the State, and, with the assistance of floodplain management that might be made local citizen advisory boards, to prepare river more effective in establishing and protecting management plans that emphasize protection, greenways. Some are regulatory. Others preservation, and enhancement of the 26 natural,. cultural, and recreational resources of river corridor protection. The program's of those rivers that are designated scenic or inventories and studies could be used to wild by the General. Assembly. Nine rivers identify rivers that should be considered as are currently classified in the legislation as part of a statewide greenways network'. scenic or wild and are. in various stages of Finally, staff are available to assist local planning: Anacostia River, Deer Creek, g.overnment in efforts to enhance river Monocacy River, Patuxent River, Pocomoke corridors. In the future, the program hopes River,. Severn River, Wicomico River to have regional planning representatives (Western Shore), and Youghiogheny River. statewide. The Scenic Rivers Program thus far has DNR Forest Programs completed three statewide inventories evaluating a total of 45 rivers. These provide Within the DNR, the Forest, Park and a comparative analysis of rivers based on Wildlife Service provides many forms of .their resource value and help identify rivers assistance to the private and public sectors and related shorelines eligible for inclusion in through its foresters-, biologists, and support the program. In addition, the program has staff. Some major programs are as follows: assisted 'in the preparation of a number, of river resource studies, including "A Green Shores 6@eenway Strategy for Weems,.Creek," "Gems of the Severn," and "Strategies for @.Maryland's Nutrient Reduction Plan, the Chester River." ..developed -as a result of the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement, relies - heavily on the The program is currently working with establishment of vegetative buffers to reduce the National Park Service, other sections of agricultural and urban non-point source DNIZ, local governments, and citizen pollution. Green Shores is a tree-planting organizations on a greenway concept for the program created to establish forest buffers Pocomoke River and an assessment of along Maryland's waterways. Green Shores resource conservation and recreational provides seedlings and technical assistance to opportunities along Deer Creek. 'On the, private groups for plantings. Forested buffers Youghiogheny River, the program @ has along stream banks and other water bodies coordinated a recreational capacity study and provide a cost-effective method of waterway oversees the Department's land acquisition protection. Forested buffers do many things: program. The program also administers State besides improving water quality, they act. as land-use regulations inside the Youghiogheny a natural air filter; they are a key component scenic corridor and assists the Forest, Park in perpetuating the natural circulation of and Wildlife Service in the administration of water; they create wildlife corridors; and they commercial whitewater-rafting regulations. absorb rainfall, releasing it slowly into the ground. Given its legislative mandate and its focus on river corridors, the Scenic and Wild Tree-Mendous Program Rivers Program is in an excellent position to contribute to the promotion of the greenways To help Marylanders join the effort-to concept. The program can provide a reforest the State, Tree-Mendous Maryland measure of protection for -river corridors and evolved from the realization that, when - all can provide the necessary technical assistance the laws to help save the Chesapeake Bay to develop management plans that promote were passed and enforced, we would still face river conservation. Its planning process a losing battle unless and until Maryland's brings together local landowners, river users, citizens change the way they live and treat and government officials to discuss methods the land. Trees and shrubs can help us heal 27 the scars of past abuse. and keep us from doing further damage to the Bay. The various State and local forest The basic pro .gram is the Gift of Trees. programs should be coordinated.to Marylanders are asked to consider buying a emphasize - tree planting. in tree or trees in honor or in memory of a greenways. person or event. Already, over 100 groves have been established throughout the State as lasting memorials. State Highway Administration Tree-Mendous Maryland is reaching out The Maryland Department of to community groups and schools who want to plant in public spaces that need trees. In Transportation's State Highway Baltimore County, over 250 trees were used Administration (SHA) has the responsibility by public. schools, and, through the local to assure that the needs of bicyclists are forestry board, 750 trees were planted in considered in conjunction with maintenance median strips, to shield. unwanted land uses and improvement of State highways. or to turn grassy abandoned areas into small Shoulder construction and surfacing are *of forests. Montgomery County is using 100 particular concern. SHA guidelines suggest Tree-Mendous trees to . help the Keep planners "take into, account -available right-of.- Montgomery County Beautiful Committee's way, additional project cost, long term efforts. IKEA is the. first sponsor, in a, maintenance cost, potential, bicycle use,'Iocal corporate program that allows' major tree and community bikeway systems and other plantings along State highways. relevant information." Tree-Mendous Maryland is working with SHA's policy statements concerning all State agencies, the Department of General bicyrles focus on developing the existing Services, the Department of Health and State transpo 'rtation system for shared bicycle Mental Hygiene, and the Department of and motor vehicle use while improving Public Safety and Correctional Services in bicycie access to this system. The SHA is .tree-planting programs. The Department of willing to consider separate bikeways on a Transportation may plant tens of thousands limited basis where they may connect existing of trees throughout the State over the next or planned bikeway systems, but "will strive few years. to make its.highways compatible for shared bicycle use rather than designate and mark Other Incentive Programs special bikeways." To stimulate forestry in Maryland, several The SHA has numerous planning- other programs are available, including guidelines that allow for coordination with Urban and Community Forestry Assistance, local governments in bicycle transportation Woodland Incentives Program, and the planning. A Bicycle Affairs Coordinator is Forest . Conservation and Management available to assist. Program. From a tax standpoint, there are several State and Federal programs that The SHA is responsible for bicycle access encourage the planting of trees through tax across major waterways where feasible, credits or cost sharing. These include the practical and consistent with legal Maryland State Reforestation Tax, the requirements. As the State and counties Conservation Reserve Program, and the acquire and develop more and more major Forestry Incentive Program. hikeT[bikeT trails, this guideline will become very important. 28 Where roads tire planned near to or crossing greenways, the SHA.should facilitate connectors for wildlife and safe separate crossings for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. When it purchases land for highway projects, the State Highway Administration should consider acquiring entire parcels rather than the minimum portion needed for highway construction, where this would contribute to furthering greenways objectives. A hiker/biker trail is needed from Terrapin Beach Park to Sandy Point State Park via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. A hiker/biker trail should be incorporated into the design and construction-of the new Route ,450 Severn River Bridge to connect the B & A Trail with the Annapolis Trail System. Agricultural Programs A belt of agricultural land, forest land, parks, wetlands, or other natural land could The Maryland Land Preservation create a buffer between the urban sprawl in Foundation was created by the General metropolitan areas and the rural character of Assembly in an effort to preserve productive outlying areas. This greenbelt would create agricultural and forest land. The program a landscape in Maryland. that would enhance provides for the establishment of agricultural the quality of life; greenways within this preservation districts and the sale of broader belt would be important development-rights easements. The program contributions to the network. is completely, voluntary on 'the part of landowners and is dependent upon the cooperation@ of local governments. When an agricultural easement is The combination of State development acquired for a property contributing policies, land preservation, efforts, and a to the Igreenways , net-work, variety of local government initiatives to especially along the State's waterw protect the State's farmland have merged to create. an environment very favorable to a courses, Best Ma .nagement Practices' permanent and secure agricultural land base. should be made part of the easement. Acquisition of agricultural easements, when combined with other land preservation- The Commission should explore initiatives, could provide connections vital to .,Opportunities and means to enhance the entire,network. Agricultural easements the farmland preservation program could contribute even more effectively' if for properties adjacent to or in the priority in acquiring them were given to properties contributing to expansion of the viewshed of a designated greenway. State's greenways, or to properties providing additional buffer protection for existing greenways. 29 Small Urban Waterfront- Redevelopment Many elements of the current plan mesh Program directly with the recommendations of the Maryland Greenways Commission. Some of The Small Urban Waterfront the issues identified.are: safeguarding water Development Program is a cooperative quality of the Chesapeake Bay; preserving interagency effort administered by the stream valleys, railroad rights-of-way, and Department of Housing and Community public and private lands that provide access Development to . assist . waterfront to Maryland's open space system; preserving communities to take advantage of a diversity of natural habitats; increasing development -opportunities, to encourage opportunities for close-to-home recreation; water related tourism activities, and to enlarging trail systems and connecting improve the quality of the Chesapeake Bay. greenways across the State; educating the. public about recreation and open space This program encourages the controlled opportunities; and coordinating recreation development of under-utilized shoreline and open space issues among Federal, State, areas. It thus offers a particularly good local and private groups. opportunity to coordinate with the Maryland Greenways Program on urban greenways. Also, it encourages the development of Bay- Maryland Office of Planning should related activities, such as Bay parks, inns, include a greenways element in and boat landings, that will be promoted guidelines for local recreation and through creative marketing. These activities open space plans.. will help accomplish the objective of encouraging public access to the Bay, which is part of the State strategy to comply with the Governor's 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Natural Heritage Program The Small Urban Waterfront Program The Maryland Natural Heritage Program makes it easier for small and medium sized (MNHP) is the State's rare, threatened, and communities to use more effectively the endangered species team. Formed in 1979 as waterfront development funds available a joint effort between the Maryland DNR through various State ` departments and and The Nature Conservancy, the Program is programs. Each participating agency has linked to sister programs. in all 50 states via. committed funds and staff to conduct the The Nature Conservancy's main computer in reviews nec .essary to -bring projects to Arlington, Virginia. MNHP operates a fruition. database of rare species, unique habitat s and significant natural features throughout Maryland Office of Planning Maryland. Through its technical and scientific staffs, the Heritage Program The Maryland Office of Planning is evaluates the potential impacts of land-use responsible for broad statewide planning changes on rare species, conducts research efforts including the preparation , of the and education programs, and advises in Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation management and acquisition decisions. Plan. This document discusses in a general way the State component of a greenways Maryland Rails-to-Trails Program network for Maryland. It provides a framework that local governments can build DNR completed its Rails to Trails Study on in local land preservation and recreation in late 1989 in response to a legislative plans. mandate. As a result, the.General Assembly 30 passed into law a bill requiring DNR to work property adversely. The purpose -of the with the Department of Transportation and Federally mandated local regulations is to the Office of Planning to coordinate efforts reduce flood losses, primarily to property. regarding 'acquisition of railroad corridors For this reason,, most local floodplain suitable for recreation use. The long-term ordinances are designed primarily to ensure value of retaining networks@ of abandoned that new construction in -the floodplain is railroad corridor lines is substantial in terms carried out in a manner to withstand flooding of providing access to public open space and with minimal damage. Explicit requirements linking together other community -areas that to consider retention of natural values in are often only accessible by vehicle. issuing permits for floodplain modification could make floodplain regulation a more The bill states: "The General Assembly important tool for greenways implementation. finds that in order to provide the public with access . to the use, enjoyment,. and Both the Maryland Department of appreciation of the outdoor areas -of Environment and. local governments regulate Maryland, it is declared to be public policy of stormwater ma nagement in new this state to provide the means and developments. Recent approaches to -procedures, for establishing and expanding a managing stormwater have seen an emphasi is network of recreational and scenic trails." on the creation of wetlands and natural facilities that can become contributors to a Regulatory Programs greeriways system. Even old er facilities can be retrofitted, as is occurring in the Limited additions to a statewide Anacostia watershed in Montgomery and greenways network can be provided by the Prince George's Counties, and new ponds can State's regulatory programs, sometimes be designed to be more in harmony with their implemented by requirements imposed on natural, surroundings. new development through the planning 'and' zoning provisions of local governments. Since 1970 WRA has regulated tidal Regulations generally apply to wetlands in an effort to stem the loss of these environmentally sensitive areas. potential components of a greenways system. The major threats to these wetlands have Although there is a widespread public been bulkheading to prevent shore erosi .on, perception that floodplains are protected and. dredging, which is often undertaken to from development, few local ordinances expand recreational opportunit -ies. Regulated prohibit such development, according to a to protect wildlife habitat and, to a lesser s&vey conducted by the Greenways degree, water quality, wetlands as Commission staff. Similarly, the State's components of a greenways network.will waterway permit program, administered by likely remain largely inaccessible for the Water Resources Administration (WRA), recreational purposes other than limited regulates the conditions under which hunting. floodplain development may occur but does not prohibit such development. State laws preventing mining on steep, slopes and some local regulations restricting Regulation of the floodplain under either development on slopes exceeding a specified State or local program is not done for the percentage grade offer some protection for purpose of protecting or enhancing natural hillsides or mountain ridges, which thereby values; rather, the intent of the State law is remain available as wildlife corridors. to maintain the conveyance capacity of the floodplain and to prevent one person's WRA regulates surface mining encroachment from affecting another's. operations@ which, particularly in the coastal 31 plain, affect large acreages. Stringent use, making public acquisition more reclamation requirements now imposed on problematic. this activity have made mined-out lands Regulation is inherently a negative means valuable for inclusion in State and local park of adding components to a greenways and wildlife management areas. Here, the network--it tells people what they can't do intent of the regulations is simply but has very limited capacity to gain positive environmental protection; the effect,, contributions. In the greenways, context, however, may well be an addition to the regulations of various types may help to greenways system. ensure that natural landscapes are not developed into alternative. uses; they have. One area of State regulation in which 'a -little capacity to assure that these landscapes greenways benefit might have been intended are maintained for wildlife and. human is in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas benefit. Public access, particularly, cannot program. This program's limitations on be provided through regulatory means. development within 1000 feet of the Bay and its tidal tributaries, @ and restriction of almost all development within a 1 00-foot-wide buffer along these waters, clearly has the effect of Regulatory agencies should report to preserving bands of , green along the the Greenways Commission by waterfronts. Private recreational uses, such December 1, 1990, on how their as marinas, 'are among the exceptions to the programs can be administered or ban on development in the 100-foot buffer. amended to further greenways Public benefits of the resulting open-space reservation will be largely limited to objectives mo re effectively. aesthetics and improved wildlife habitat in the absence of additional steps to acquire land for public use. Ironically, perhaps, the price of waterfront land may have been forced upward by these efforts to regulate Federal Approaches The State of Maryland is unusually rich in land and water resources and qualifies for a variety of Federal programs designed to help manage those resources. Also, the declining health of the Chesapeake Bay has drawn the direct involvement of special Federal programs focused on improving its condition. Following are brief descriptions of the major Federal programs that address some aspect of greenways planning, acquisition, or management in Maryland. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) facilities management, non-point source The Chesapeake Bay Estuary Program runoff control, public awareness, and data management. meets responsibilities identified by the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement. As a result, The Regional FWS Office is important to the regional FWS office established a FWS to preserve environmentally sensitive separate presence in Annapolis, Maryland, to estuaries that sustain aquatic and wildlife coordinate activities - relating to this resources. Since these concerns over-lap with agreement. Major efforts include: wetlands, greenways goals, the FWS signed a fish and wildlife resources, anadromous fish Memorandum of Understanding with The research and restoration, biological Conservation Fund to work cooperatively monitoring, resource contaminant analysis, tow ard the identification and protection of 32 greenways in the regi on. A survey of government entities. possible funding and FWS policies supporting greenways, work has already been completed. National Park Service (NIPS) The Regional Office oversees the The Recreational Resource Assistance administration of several funding programs Branch encourages partnerships among available to provide money for fisheries and Federal, State, and local governments and wildlife acquisition, planning, and technical the private sector to: assistance. Dingell/Johrison, Wallop/Breaux, and Pittman/Robertson funds are distributed o help identify outstanding river, trail and on a matching basis through State fish and greenway resources and develop policies wildlife agencies, whic h have some flexibility for their protection; in how they are spent. o provide State and local entities with The North American Waterfowl Plan technical skills needed to increase river, (signed by the United States and Canada in trail and greenway resources-, 1986) offers an opportunity to protect remaining wetlands and conserve waterfowl. o help in the conversion of abandoned The Maryland Atlantic Coast Joint Venture railroads to trails. (ACJV) is this State's implementation committee for the plan. The group Two ongoing projects in Maryland encourages public and private partnerships to address Chesapeake Bay , access and protect and restore wetlands and other Chesapeake Bay watershed planning. With migratory habitat for birds, fish, and other the help of a grant from The Conservation wildlife. The ACJV has identified five'focus Fund, the Recreation Resource Assistance areas in Maryland for wetlands and upland Division is producing two greenways buffers: Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bay documents--one promoting economic values; Marshes, Blackwater and Nanticoke River the other, the environmental design of Marshes, Lower Eastern Shore Marshes, greenways. Dickerson Bay, and Patuxent River Marshes. The ACJV is an -obvious forum for NPS administer's the Land-and Water cooperation in greenways protection when Conservation Fund, originally establish edin priority areas overlap. 1966 as a shared responsibility between Federal agencies and the States. Now the The FWS administers a refuge system Fund is primarily divided among Federal responsible for the national network of lands agencies -for the planning and acquisition of and water acquired for wildlife. The system parks and natural resource areas. In recent in Maryland is an important component of years, chronic instability has led to a variety the State's overall greenways network.* of ideas for replacing it. Finally, the National Wetlands Priority National Oce anic and Atmospheric Conservation Plan, developed under the Administration (NOAA) Emergency Wetland Resources Act of 1986, identifies wetlands that should - receive The Fede 'ral Coastal Zone Management priority attention for Federal Land and Water (CZM) Act of 1970 requires States deriving Conservation funds. The Plan can assist Federal aid for coastal planning to address states in meeting.the requirement under the issues outlined in State plans. ' Section 306 Act that wetlands be addressed as an Funds 'are apportioned nationally by a important recreation resource. The Act formula based on pop ulation and miles of promotes cooperation among private and coastal zone. 33 Wetland conservation and non-point priority in funding requests. Since 1983, pollution control, major considerations in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the greenways development, are shaping up as Susquehanna River Basin Commission have the new focus of the CZM Act as addressed the health of the Chesapeake Bay, reauthorization works its way through focusing on interstate data management, Congress. Strong efforts are focusing on economically important living resources, increasing funding in the national program toxicity, and citizens' water-quality and passing amendments that address the monitoring networks in each State. variety of land-use problems affecting coastal waters. The Federal CZM Program has Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) already shown great interest in greenways for their ability to buffer important coastal The EPA Administrator and the director waters from non-point pollution. of the Regional Office have strongly endorsed greenways and have voiced support The Maryland CZM Program, approved for Maryland's program. in 1978, is based on the networking of existing State laws and authorities. EPA's research findings concerning the Implementation is accomplished through Bay's decline and its recommended remedies memoranda of understanding between DNR led to the signing of the 1983 Chesapeake (the lead agency).and other State agencies Bay Agreement, which forged the first links and is coordinated and monitored by the in an enduring commitment to the restoration Coastal Resources Division of DNR's of the Chesapeake among Maryland, Tidewater Administration. The Program's Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of definition of the coastal zone includes 16 Columbia, The Chesapeake Bay Commission, coastal counties and Baltimore City. Major and EPA. A second Agreement, signed in components of Maryland's plan include December 1987, goes well beyond the implementation of Chesapeake Bay Initiatives original compact, establishing major and the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. objectives and specific commitments for action to achieve the overall goals of the Initial phases of Maryland's Greenways Chesapeake Bay Program. Bay Program Program, including brochure-printing and the goals address living resources, water quality, production of the "Greenways for Maryland" non-point pollution, population, develop- audio-visual show, were paid for in part by a ment, public information, public access, and Maryland CZM grant. governance. NOAA's Marine and Estuary Sanctuary Both the Federal Clean Water Act and Division administers the National Estuarine the 1987 Agreement give EPA a role in Research Reserve System for the United establishing a greenways network through its States. This program focuses on protection Chesapeake Bay Program. of natural and cultural resources, environmental education, monitoring, and EPA's national environmental programs-- research within a system of representative including Superfund, water quality programs, reserves illustrating the nation's varying hazardous waste management requirements, coastal waters. The -Maryland Chesapeake groundwater protection, wastewater Bay Reserve System includes Monie Bay, treatment regulations and air quality Otter Point Creek, and Jug Bay, all in standards--also contribute to the protection of various stages of completion. Maryland's greenways- Interstate projects covering shared water There are several opportunities for bodies or estuaries receive the highest greenways coordination through EPA's 34 existing programs. Non-point pollution gram that greenways, function as critical controls call for a 40% reduction by the year elements for water quality and living 2000 in nitrogen and phosphorus entering the resources in the Bay. Bay. . Runoff from street s, farms and construction sites is a major focus for control. EPA also conducts special studies that As noted above, greenways are an attractive may strengthen. local greenways efforts. For way to address 'non-point pollution. EPA example, current interest in funding a model distributes large grants for non-point project on the Patuxent River presents an pollution control to the states. (In Maryland, opportunity to coordinate greenways, plans. funding goes largely,to the Departments of Environment and Agriculture.) Finally, the Executive Council of the Chesapeake Bay Program, which includes the Federal agency coordination and support governors of Virginia, Maryland, and of the State's Greenways Program could be Pennsylvania and the EPA Administrator is strengthened by persuading the Living an ideal vehicle for encouraging neighboring Resources Committee within the Bay Pro- States to initiate greenways programs., A memorandum of understanding with Federal agencies participating in greenways should be developed to address mutual goals. * Funds for greenways acquisition, planning, or development should be provided through. existing programs. * Formal agreements on existing Federal lands (military, Interior, Agriculture, etc.) should be obtained to protect corridors that will further the implementation of the greenways network. * The Commission supports the -transfer of surp lus land at Fort Meade to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or the State of Maryland for integration into and enhancement of the Patuxent Greenway. Criteria to identify, protect, and manage greenways resources should be developed for all Federal lands. Nonprofit Organizations and Land Trusts Nonprofit organizations can make a very important contribution to land preservation in Maryland. Relying on philanthropic donations to fund land acquisition programs, such groups have managed to preserve thousands of acres in Maryland. Besides actually acquiring and managing important landscapes, nonprofit organizations at the national level are sources of technical expertise and organizational skill. At the local level, nonprofit groups often provide volunteer. labor for greenway projects, as well as legislative and financial support. Land trusts have been involved for more throughout the country. In some cases, land than 100 years with preservation activities trusts purchase or receive donations of fee 35 interest in land; in other cases, they hold Because these tools rely primarily , on easements. The greatest addition to trust- charitable gifts from private property owners held acreage has occurred over the past 20 who value privacy, they are more appropriate, years as development pressure on lands has for protecting scenic landscapes, farmland, increased. Currently, Maryland has nearly and natural wildlife habitat than for providing 75,000 acres preserved in land trusts. public access for recreation. The largest land trust in the United The Maryland Envir on miental Trust States, The Nature Conservancy,'has a long (MET) is the State agency that is expressly history of preserving greenways and other designed to help nonprofit organizations form natural are 'as in Maryland. In addition, the and maintain land trusts and hold Conservancy pioneered the concept of conservation easements itself. MET, in voluntary landowner registry programs, which cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay could provide a model for buffers in future Foundation (CBF),. formed the Local Land greenways. To date, 130 Maryland Trust Assistance Program with funds from landowners are enrolledin the joint Nature the Coastal Zone Management Program. Conservancy/State of Maryland natural areas MET and CBF work together to encourage registry program. the formation of land trusts; they provide legal services and technical assistance for To meet the management and incorporation . and establishment of tax- preservation goals of a nonprofit organization exempt status. They also provide training in and a landowner, each easement or land land conservation techniques and trust agreement is structured individually. organization. � Incentives, leadership, and training should be provided for local land trusts and conservation groups who wish to protect, manage, and maintain greenways. � Partnerships with influential land conservation organizations that have large supportive memberships or can move swiftly to protect land should be created or strengthened. Private Sector Government cannot-create a greenways network on its own. Not all of the land important to the network's integrity can or should be publicly acquired. Nor can -all land in the greenways system be open to the public. Although most of the greenways examples cited in this report have been public areas, privately owned lands play a vital role. Developing strategies,for weaving private and public properties together is one of the most challenging tasks facing the Greenways Program. We already , know that greenway connectors can be rights-of-way owned or connectors are critical components in the controlled by public utilities, such as electric overall system; they are pathways by which' power producers or gas pipeline companies. people or wildlife can travel back and forth Other privately owned lands that could between other parts of the system. Future connect to established greenways include 36 cemeteries, agricultural buffers, private' areas for future greenways, projects. The schools and college campuses, industrial park results of the surveys indicated a strong open spaces, and floodplains. willingness to participate personally in making the greenways network a reality. Some of these areas might be available for limited access to particular publics, such The efforts of individuals joining together as employees in the industrial park, or are already making a positive difference residents of the neighborhood abutting the without the expenditure of a large amount of floodplain. Open spaces set aside during the public money. subdivision process might be available. for use only by residents of the subdivision. Some Adopt-A-Stream Program privately owned open spaces, like cemeteries or campuses, might be more. generally Adopt-A-Stream, a statewide program available. Other greenways would be jointly administered by DNR's Tidewater available to no one but the owner, as in the Administration and Save Our Streams, is an case of the farmer who maintains the stream example of a partnership between a State buffm on his land. Even without human agency and a private organization. it access,. these greenway elements are demonstrates how @stre,arn valley greenways important for wildlife habitat and, in urban are already being monitored, protected, used, areas, for visual relief from pavement and and enjoyed throughout Maryland. buildings. The Adopt-A-Stream Program recognizes To explore opportunities to coordinate the value of citizen involvement in. the with private interests, the Private Sector monitoring and care. of stream valleys. Committee initiated meetings with staff from Citizens are often 't'he first to notice sediment the Urban Land Institute and the National and erosion Problems, illegal dumping, and Association of Home Builders and with other activities that threaten the health and various landscape architects. The full well-being of their nearby stream valley. Commission is continuing to work with these Addiiionally, local knowledge is often very groups and other private sector interest reliable and helpful to State agencies when groups like the Maryland Homebuilders, that trying to determine the source and extent of Will add to the expertise available to the violations. Commission.' Forging common areas - of interest and experimenting with incentives for The beauty of the Adopt-A-Stream private involvement in greenways are Program is its flexibility. Groups of any size challenging tasks. Examples of large-scale or affiliation may participate, and the land development and sand-afid-gravel ' mine activities and levels of commitment are as reclamation that have already contributed to varied as the groups that join. It is designed land preservation in the region were to involve citizen organizations in the -explored. The Commission will give future protection of their local waterway . through attention to these models. hands-on. educational'. civic, and scientific activities. Activities include watershed and Grassroots stream surveys, storm-drain painting, water quality assessments, and simple stream clean- Early in the Commissi *on's work, UPS. questionnaires were prepared and sent out by several of the working committees. The Thousands of Maryland's citizens are objectives were to identify the grassroots showing the.ir Support for the Adopt-A- supporters of greenways and the level of their Stream Program. Since September 1989, support, as well as to identify some priority over 6,000 miles of streams have been 37 adopted more than one third of Maryland's 17,000 miles of streams, 9501o of which drain Adopt-a-Stream Program should into the Chesapeake Bay. expand to include all gree.nways connectors. Adopt-A-Stream is an excellent example of a public/private partnership that benefits One Million Marylanders for the Bay natural areas and wildlife habitat, provides an should implement. projects ' that opportunity for civic stewardship of resources preserve and enhance the water and education, and at the same *time quality along our stream valley enhances technical knowl edge. greenways system. One Million Marylanders for the Bay Real Estate Development "One Million Marylanders for the Bay" initiated' by Governor William Donald Private land development projects can Schaefer, is a Statewide campaign designed to sometimes make major contributions to the involve the citizens of Maryland in preserving conservation of important greenway the Chesapeake Bay. By educating people resources. A limited development centered on how they can help clean up this precious around the Laurels in the Brandywine Valley natural resource, sometimes by making of Pennsylvania shows how'.protection and simple changes in their daily lives, the profit are not mutually exclusive goals. program aims to guarantee the Bay's long- term survival. Where .a land trust or conservancy becomes involved in a limited development, According to Governor Schaefer, "it is a large tract of important privately owned everyone's responsibility to clean up the Bay. natural land is subdivided into large building If we all join this critical effort, we can make lots (in the Brandywine Conservancy project, a difference in its preservation and these averaged 30 acres); the lots are then restoration." sold to private investors, along with Marylanders can carry out simple steps easements that severely restrict what can be outlined in "Ten Easy Ways You Can Help done with them. In the case of the Clean Up The Bay." These steps include Brandywine, the Laurels was donated to the everything from water conservation to proper Conservancy by investors as a permanent lawn care and sensible pest control and can nature preserve. easily be implemented on a regular basis in On. a smaller scale, real , estate homes and workpla .ces. development in Maryland already provides Upon joinin g One Million Marylanders models for local grdenway project 's. For members receive a button and Chesapeack, example, at Solomon's Landing, in Calvert the Governor's quarterly newsletter. To County, natural area conservation and trail development guided the site development date, One Million Marylanders has process. .In the Sandy Oaks project in Anne distributed over a million brochures. Arundel. County, State requirements for Many of the activities -related to this wetlands and endangered species 'protection campaign are helpful directly or indirectly to and mandated local open-space needs led to the greenways network plan. Future well planned set-asides within residential subdivisions. In the future, linkage of cooperation between the'two projects will be helpful to both. subdivision open spaces with one another and with established greenways -can make the network available at the neighborhood level. 38 Local Action: The American Chestnut Land Trust The residents of Scientist's Cliffs, a small residential community on the Chesapeake Bay, had watched with increasing unease as Calvert County grew and developed at a fevered pitch. Unparalleled growth and rocketing real estate values in nearby Washington, D.C., had pushed that city's commuting belt out to include this rural peninsula, and a development boom was on. When a 450-acre tract adjacent to Scientist's Cliffs went on the market late in 1986, residents decided to take direct action. Forming a non-profit corporation, the community solicited donations for "shares" in the property at the rate of $4000 each. Through careful planning and a highly successful fund-raising campaign, the American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT), named after one of the few American Chestnuts that had survived the blight and still lived on the property, was able to make a down payment of $400,000 in 1988. Using an innovative county land preservation program, the ACLT then sold off the development rights to the property, which went into the county's development rights bank. The advantage of such a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program is that landowners can perpetuate their land as open space while recouping the value of the development rights. The TDR's are then sold to developers who want to increase the density of their projects above that allowed by existing zoning. The net effect of this process is to cluster development, maximizing open space and concentrating new homes into centralized villages rather than large-lot suburban sprawl. After its unparalleled success with its first acquisition, the ACLT continued to raise funds and acquire additional acres, forming a greenbelt around the community, and it plans to continue protection efforts. The lands now border tidal waters to the north of Scientist's Cliffs and may soon border the Chesapeake on the south. When the ACLT first bought the preserve, it knew that the property was special and beautiful and that the American Chestnut and old woods on the site were worth protecting. But as the property was studied further in cooperation with biologists from Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, a number of additional values were identified, including seven threatened and endangered species, one of which occurs nowhere else in the State. The ACLT protects one of the major tributaries for Parker Creek, a unique natural area. The American Chestnut Land Trust's success has spawned a growing number of similar ventures throughout Maryland and has been recognized by National Geojzraphic Magnine and other major publications. ACLT lands are maintained by a dedicated force of volunteers and are open to the public. Prince George's County recognizes the mined for sand and gravel and that must be importance of these linkages in its upcoming reclaimed under State surface-mining work plan. Smaller local governments may regulations provide an important opportunity need assistance to realize this potential. for private sector involvement. Agriculture A representative of Genstar Stone Products, a company currently working with The Committee on Water Resources, DNR to create the Days Cove section of Fish, Wildlife, Conservation and Agriculture Gunpowder Falls State Park, presented its explored the issues surrounding greenways reclamation plan to the Commission. and greenway buffers on agricultural lands. Benefits to the State include expedited, low- While there is general consensus that cost park development. Genstar, on the agricultural areas are among the State's most other hand, is proceeding with extraction in important, if "unofficial," open spaces, a timely fashion, while improving its public preservation of agriculture as a viable part of image, even gaining national recognition. the economy, and of agricultural lands as components of the greenways network, This success story should be a model for remains problematic. Issues of public access, other resource extraction companies, interference with farm operations, possible particularly the sand-and-gravel industry, environmental damage, and liability were which in Maryland operates largely in identified as problem areas during the floodplains, where the resource is found. Committee's initial review. Better The companies are often left with ponds, integration of farmland preservation efforts lakes, wetlands, and floodplain, which are with greenways interests is an area requiring generally unsuitable for commercial, additional exploration. industrial or residential redevelopment. Park use of the mined-out river corridors has great Sand and Gravel Reclamation potential for linking with river greenways. Reclamation of lands that have been � As incentives to private groups to open their lands to recreational or wildlife management uses, government should consider providing liability, security, and public safety coverage and technical expertise in trail-building, maintenance, and wildlife management. � The Commission should explore incentives to encourage wildlife enhancement on agricultural lands. � The State should provide recognition to those community groups or private landowners who dedicate their land to enhance the greenways network. � Alliances with private corporations should be set up to protect greenway corridors through land reclamation on mining sites. � Business and industry should he encouraged to dedicate lands for greenways. 39 Utilities Land and water corridors, such as stream valleys and ridgelines, are the skeletal frame of the greenways system. Often overlooked are linear rights-of-way for oil, gas, electric, and water transmission. It is no accident that utility corridors placed. Limited easements may pose legal criss-cross population centers and serve those and operational restrictions to greenway use areas where people spend most of their time. of the land. Even with fee-simple ownership, Relief from street traffic makes trails on restrictions on surface use may remain. utility corridors immensely popular, and Regardless of ownership, regulatory many localities have already worked out use requirements may restrict whether utilities agreements with utilities to allow access for can provide additional services to the public. recreation, trail use, and gardening. Trail Disincentives may also come in the form of maintenance agreements are varied, and opposition from adjacent landowners, who tailored to suit individual circumstances. may have problems with recreational trail Negotiations with utilities identify parties use. responsible for signs, maintenance, and security. The agreements also specify the On the positive side, public support for utility's needs for line maintenance ' and greenway connections may help utilities repair, permitted herbicide use, and even secure new rights-of-way and local closure of the trail if necessary to fulfill the transmission centers, making an attractive utility's obligation to its customers. partnership for both sides. Also, while most utility lands are narrow corridors of specified Utilities are already a major provider of width, some companies own large tracts wildlife greenways. Through routine utility throughout the State that have greenways; maintenance, a great deal of habitat is values of their own. provided at no cost to the State. Utility rights-of-way, particularly in wooded areas, Security create corridors of vegetation--short, scrubby babitat rich in wildlife food, cover, and One of the barriers preventing utilities habitat diversity valuable for promoting many from welcoming the public onto their' types of wildlife. Even in agricultural areas, corridors is undesirable activity invited by shrubby vegetation at the base of powerline open gates--garbage dumping, vandalism, and poles and towers provides an island effect trail-biking. State and local policing of which attracts wildlife. In the East, it is very opened trails on utility land would make the common for white-tail deer, cottontail prospective greenway links more attractive to rabbits, ruffed grouse and song bird utility cooperators. In areas where policing populations to be attracted to utility rights-of- is not feasible, greenway corridors could way. remain managed for wildlife habitat without public access. Formal and official There are several issues important to the designation as greenways could also deter utility industry, which must be explored and vandalism and promote respectful use of the addressed if we are to understand and attract rights-of-way. utility partners in the greenways system. Liability Ownership Liability concerns are perhaps the major First, utilities may or may not own the barrier to public access on utility land. land upon which their lines and facilities are Liability relief provided by the State or local 40 Greenways as Good Business: Sandy Oaks Mandarin Construction Company, a homebuilder in northern Anne Arundel County, had cleared its zoning and permit hurdles for the Sandy Oaks Subdivision when one of its wetland delineation consultants made a highly unusual discovery. Hidden within the wet stream corridor, which bisected the project, was a large population of one of the rarest flowers in the world. Growing up to three feet tall during its short blooming period, the swamp pink lily, with its oval cluster of pink flowers and blue anthers, looked like The Flower from Outer Space, and there was no mistaking its identity. Swamp pink had declined to a few widely dispersed populations on the East Coast and was listed as endangered in Maryland and threatened on the Federal list. Project managers sat down with county planners and biologists from the Maryland Natural Heritage Program, the State's endangered species team, to work out a solution to the dilemma. Since the project was already approved under the subdivision process, and since State and Federal laws protecting plants were less than stringent on this kind of project, the various parties decided to innovate. By concentrating the subdivision's open space around the stream corridor, additional buffer was afforded the swamp pink. Open space design was arranged so that passive-use areas were close to the streambed and active-use areas were placed outside, but adjacent to, the passive buffer. The unique character of the wetlands along the stream corridor was due in large part to the unusual hydrology of the area. A sandy ridge borders the stream and acts as a small aquifer, catching and storirg rainfall. This rainwater is slowly discharged into the stream corridor, forming a seepage wetland. To preserve the existing hydrology, the developer radically altered his stormwater control plLn, replacing two planned ponds with a dozen stormwater recharge units. The recharge units clean runoff from developed areas and reinject it into the ground so that it can continue to the seeps. With buffers established and hydrology protected, the planning team set about the problem of public access. Building a huge fence around the area might keep most people out, but sooner or later holes would develop. On the other hand, uncontrolled access could lead to the trampling and picking of swamp pink. Neither of these options would have provided any educational benefit to the community. So it was decided that access to the stream valley would be encouraged and controlled by the establishment of a formal nature trail, complete with boardwalks, bridges, and interpretive signs. The trail winds through most of the stream area, although it bypasses an isolated swamp pink population that will remain undisclosed to the public. The developer gave up a building lot where the trail begins, to allow for parking and a kiosk. The nature trail will be managed by the homeowner's association and much of the success of this project will depend upon a few dedicated homeowners taking care of the site. Sandy Oaks is an ongoing project, and only time will tell whether it succeeds. With luck, the people who buy homes there will recognize the natural, recreational, and quality-of- life values of their greenway and Nivrill nurture and protect it and its unusual resident flower. They will all certainly be aware of it, from the first time they see the picture of swamp pink on the entrance sign. And whether they live on Pink Lily Lane or Nature Trail Drive, they will always own their own piece of nature close to their back yard. governments would be a major incentive to potential through cooperation with this opening corridors to the public. segment of the private sector. Maryland, like many other states, does have a recreation liability statute that The Commission should work with provides coverage for private landowners utility representatives and other offering their land for public use. At least @quasi-public agencies to formalize an one utility company in Maryland considers arrangement for planning, this coverage adequate for public use of its land. evaluating and developing rights-of- way for additional greenway Trails connectors. The Public Service Commission should be included Potential for trail development on utility when reviewing projects that could lands lies largely untapped. Utility corridors enhance the greenways network. provide an opportunity for counties and the state to expand recreation and wildlife habitat Public Outreach Greenways cannot be successful without the,public's understanding and. participation. During numero us meetings in the spring of 1990 with groups and individuals, members of the Greenways Commission and staff found wide interest and support for establishing a greenways network. It also found widespread recognition of the need for involvement and cooperation from all levels of government and various private interests in order to create a comprehensive system. The uniqueness that each county brings to recreation, as described in this report, need the proposed greenways network must be wide dissemination. Gaining financial acknowledged and used to make the system support for greenways that serve wildlife or better. water quality goals but are closed to human access, will require particular outreach Improved communication will be a major efforts. Implementing greenways may be requirement to implement a program. Such possible at the price of changing common communication is two-way, including both behaviors, rather than by expending dollars; letting the general public and other actors 'this, too, requires understanding and know what is being done and what is needed cooperation from many interests and from them and hearing from affected publics individuals. as to their wants and needs. Maintaining necessary support for greenways will depend Outreach efforts have already begun. A on the success of continuing communications. slide show (and a video tape version of it) has been developed and shown and is Concepts such as the importance and available for distribution. , Surveys were value of greenways and how they serve both prepared and distributed, and their results resource conservation and outdoor have been used for this report., Presentations 41 were given to interested groups, and dialogue ipate effectively in the program. has opened between both current and potential actors from the private sector, such While efforts directed toward identified as the Association of Home Builders and a interests have begun, little has been done to number of the State's utilities. reach less organized and local interests through the mass media. Displays and hand- One tool that could be used to enhance out materials can be prepared for major support for the program is the creation of a events, such as fairs and festivals. Reaching coalition of supportive' organizations and broader publics can also be accomplished businesses. Workshops could be held each through information packets sent to year focusing on particular greenways community organizations for inclusion in their benefits, and awards given to organizations or own materials. A copy of the video taped individuals doing the most to help create, slide show can be distributed to local groups greenways. Other ways to recognize support as a supplement to meetings. Grassroots for and contributions to the greenways operations, such as Adopt-a-Stream, can be network could include: plaques; encouraged to emphasize completion of proclamations; patches saying, "I walked the- important greenways components. --greenway"; a discount card for use in greenways throughout the State; tree planting Providing technical assistance to ceremonies; and leadership awards given by community groups and organizations like Boy service organizations. Scouts and school PTAs is another means of public outreach that is already part of some Roundtables for special interest groups agency programs. If expanded in those offer a means for regular information agencies, and initiated in others, this activity exchanges. Displays and workshop sessions would support greenways development. at professional conferences and association Establishment of a clearinghouse to match meetings offer other opportunities. potential pfojects with funding sources, as Additional private interest surveys, such as well as technical and volunteer support, is one being developed for the agricultural another vital component of overall program community, can help provide input on issues development. affecting particular groups' ability to partic- Summary The preceding pages indicate the broad spectrum of programs, tools, and actors that could implement greenways. A mechanism for integrating these programs and players and insuring that they are coordinated is missing. A comment heard on several occasions during the Commission's meetings with interest groups was that one planning/implementing agency does not know what another is doing--local governments are ignorant of State plans and both are ignorant of Federal plans and activities. Even within each level of government, agency personnel are often ignorant of related activities being carried out in sister agencies. All actors could participate more effectively, our respondents felt, if better communication were available, leading to better coordination. Existing regional bodies, like the development - of a state greenways plan, Baltimore Regional Council of Governments, incorporating local greenways plans. Such could provide forums for coordinating the plans might be made conditions for multiple efforts related to greenways in their participation in Program Open Space. areas. Another mechanism would be 42 Where plans are required as elements of variations in map scale and resolution. other State programs, such as flood Automated mapping procedures, which could management grants, greenways considerations help agencies share mapped information, are could be required. Simply designating a lacking. Where geographic information greenways coordinator within each agency of systems are in place, they may not be state government that has greenway-related compatible with one another. responsibilities, and similar coordinators in each county, would go a considerable way While overcoming the mapping problem toward achieving improved cooperation. will be expensive and time-consuming, surmounting other obstacles may be less Probably the most significant impediment costly. Areas needing attention include the to development of a unified State greenways lack of any kind of greenways mission program is the lack of standard or even stateme 'nt in authorizing legislation and compatible mapping procedures and products constraints on personnel time and availability. from agency to agency. The Commission. Clear designation of leadership responsibility found it is not possible to consolidate mapped will help coordination. information in a timely fashion because of A geographic information system compatible with existing Federal, State and local systems should be instituted to map the existing and proposed greenways network and to make maps and data accessible to local planning and parks agencies. The Department of Natural Resources should act as, a clearinghouse for informational materials and case studies on greenways. 43 I I I I I I I I I .1 I I Ii I I I I I I 44 1 ACTION AGENDA The Commission finds that a complex demonstration project that will incorporate as many opportunities and raise as many issues as possible. is a necessary next step in implementing a statewide Greenways Program. The Patapsco Greenway embodies the full range of issues and opportunities likely to arise in such a program. The next phase of work on greenways will be multi-faceted. Several major efforts should proceed concurrently: continuation of statewide outreach; creation of a long-range workplan that will include a more defined study of administrative and legislative strategies for greenways implementation; development of a State model project (Patapsco); and development of a national model project (Potomac). Statewide outreach will entail a public almost every imaginable issue and dialogue aimed at keeping alive the opportunity that could occur in a greenway. enthusiastic support that the greenways It can even include a greenways connector concept has received to date. Implementing that would join the Patapsco to the Patuxent many of the approaches outlined in the River. The project is centrally located in the "Public Outreach" section of this document State and provides a large population the must be considered a priority. The Governor chance to realize the close-to-home benefits could add to the visibility of the project by of a greenway. The land involved is largely highlighting various local greenways projects in public ownership, yet has potential for on his tours throughout Maryland andgiving public-private partnerships as well as awards to individuals, businesses, and other interjurisdictional cooperation among four organizations for contributing in some way to counties and Baltimore City. The a greenway. Commission feels that implementation of the Patapsco Greenway can have visible and The long-range work plan for the dramatic impacts. The first step will be to completion of the greenways network in refine the existing plans for Patapsco and Maryland should involve an immediate effort develop strategies that may show some on- to integrate various local and State mapping the-ground results by the end of the year. systems into a central database. Maps should The Patapsco model is significant for the show existing open space, whether public or entire State because it will demonstrate the private, agricultural easements, scenic processes of greenway-creation. The great easements, abandoned rail corridors, and variety of skilled and dedicated professionals utility rights-of-way. Mapped information involved will provide a needed case history should be shared with all jurisdictions. A for future greenway activities. phasing proposal should, be designed that will help organize what must be accomplished and The Commission will also take the lead in estimate the time needed to complete each identifying and developing a national model element. It will be very important to study for greenways. The Potomac River has long administrative and legislative methods to been recognized as the nation's river. The improve greenways implementation on a C&O Canal already runs along the river from coordinated, statewide basis. the nation's capital to Cumberland. The river itself, along our border with Virginia The Commission will work on a State and West Virginia, lies totally within our model greenway,-the Patapsco. This choice state. Points of interest in three separate was made for many reasons. The Patapsco is states, as well as Washington, D. C., are very complex, containing an example of. many and varied, including historic sites, 45 recreation areas, and natural areas. In The diversity of government entities and interest Report of the President's Commission on groups within three States and the District of Americans Outdoors, "A Hiker's Greenway Columbia, all working toward a national Odyssey" exists mainly within this corridor. model, will create an exceptional project. The designation of the Potomac River' The Commission feels strongly that this corridor as a national greenway is a prime upcoming phase of work will be extremely example of how the network can radiate into important and time-intensive. The multi- adjacent States. All three States participate, pronged approach outlined above will speed as do County and local governments, our progress toward the long term goal of nonprofit groups, and the Federal completing the Greenways Network for government (NPS, FWS, U.S. Army Corps of Maryland. Engineers, Department of Defense). This 46 APPENDIX The Commission's Work Governor William Donald Schaefer announced the appointment of a Maryland Greenways Commission on March 5, 1990, at the Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center in Anne Arundel County. The announcement was the culmination of months of work within the Maryland. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) focused on the potential for a greenways network in the State, including a six-month contract, funded by a NOAA grant, with The Conservation Fund to assist in assessing Maryland's greenway options. As part of this study, a series of workshops was held with a number of interest groups, both private and public, to help develop ideas and strategies for greenways. The formation of the Commission was the outgrowth of these early efforts. The Governor appointed The Honorable 0. James Lighthizer, County Executive for Anne Arundel County, Chairman of the Commission, with Mr. William C. Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, as Vice-Chairman. The Commission has 21 members representing the business and agriculture communities, conservation groups, recreation interests, and government. To meet a tight schedule, for reporting its findings and recommendations, the Governor advised the Commissioners that it would be necessary to invest a great deal of their time, energy, and professional skills. The Commission was organized into four working committees: Water Resources, Fish, Wildlife, Conservation, and Agriculture - chaired by James Gracie; Recreation, Parks, Cultural Resources, Grassroots, and Environmental Education - "chaired by Joseph J. McCann; Private Sector - chaired by Hans F. Mayer; and Government and Quasi-Public Agencies chaired by Torrey C. Brown. . Each committee gathered information through meetings, research, questionnaires,phone calls, and presentations to the full Commission. Some of the groups that contributed were the Baltimore Association of Landscape Architects, major utility companies, Baltimore Region Planning and Zoning and Recreation and Parks representatives, Urban Land Institute, Hudson Valley Greenway Council, and National Association of Homebuilders. The full Commission met bi-weekly from March 5 through May, while the Committees met frequently in the intervals. Greenways staff also made presentations and showed the video/slide show to a number of organizations, including: Department of Economic and Employment Development's Marketing Roundtable, Baltimore Regional Council of Governments' Open Space Committee, State Planning Commission, National Rails-to-Trails Workshop, American Society of Civil. Engineers Symposium, Maryland Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference, and National Geographic Board of Trustees. 47 Meetings of Greenways Commission and its Committees (*Indicates Minutes are on file at Commission office.) Commission Meetings March 5* March 19* April 2* April 16* April 30* May 4 May 16 Committee on Water Resources, Fish, Wildlife, Conservation and Agriculture March 19* April 2* April 16* Committee on Recreation, Parks, Cultural Resources, Grassroots and Environmental Education March 15* March 30* April 5* Committee on the Private Sector March 16* April 5 - with Baltimore Association of Landscape Architects April 11* - with Urban Land Institute April 19 - with National Association of Home Builders Committee on Government and Quasi-Public Agencies March 15* April 4* - with Utility representatives April 5* - with Baltimore area local government representatives April 17* 48 Commission File Material Used In Report Responses to and Summary of Survey conducted by Committee for Recreation, Parks, Cultural Resources, Grassroots and Environmental Education. Responses to and Summary of Survey conducted by Committee for Water Resources, Fish, Wildlife, Conservation and Agriculture. Responses to Staff Floodplain Management Questionnaire. Proposals from members of Baltimore Association of Landscape Architects. The following is a list of the many individuals who helped the Commission to complete its work: Cindy Abbott 0 Ronald Adkins 0 Robert Agee 0 Jeanette Anders 0 Jack Anderson 0 Robert Arciprete 0 Bill Ashe 0 Jay Baldwin 0 Norm Bartlett 0 Debra Bassert 0 Mrs. Bauer 0 Eric Bauman 0 Bette Baureis 0 Susan Beck-Brown 0 Peter Becker 0 Robert Beckett 0 Norman Berg 0 Yvon Bergevin 0 Thomas Beyard 0 Frank Biba 0 Thomas Black 0 Ruth Blackburn 0 James Bleecker 0 Dan'l Boone 0 David Bourdon 0 Andres Bowden 0 Joan Bowling 0 Earl Bradley 0 Chris Brown 0 Steve Bunker 0 Steven Burkett 0 David Burwell 0 Sally Cairns 0 Elizabeth Calia 0 Paul Campbell 0 Philip Caroom 0 Charlotte Cathell 0 Robert Chance 0 Joseph Cheung 0 Bob Christopher 0 Andy Clarke 0 Willard Cleavenger 0 Thomas Clime 0 Shawn Clotworthy 0 Marlene Conoway 0 Mary Corderman 0 John Crim 0 Alan Cruikshank 0 Ned Cueman 0 Terry Cully 0 Lynn Davidson 0 Gary Davis 0 Flannery Davis 0 Robert Davis 0 Deanna Dawson 0 Grant DeHart 0 Steven Dodd 0 Mary Dolan 0 Teresa Dowd 0 Carol Dubel 0 Bob Dulli 0 Ajax Eastman 0 Mark Edwards 0 Joseph Elbrich 0 Ted Erickson 0 Michael Erwin 0 Ilia Fehrer 0 Dwight Fielder 0 Gail Fields 0 Karen Firehock 0 Thomas Fisher 0 A.J. Fletcher 0 Daniel Folk 0 George Forlifer 0 Sisi Foster 0 Tom Franklin 0 Scott Franzak 0 Jim Fremont 0 Gorman Fry 0 Larry Fykes 0 Wilbur Garrett 0 Don Gartman 0 John Gates 0 Bill Gates 0 Deborah Geisenkotter 0 Frank Gerred 0 Dixon Gibbs 0 John Gill 0 Catherine Gilliam 0 Nancy Gillio 0 Carleton Gooden 0 Amelia Grady 0 August Grat 0 Ernest Gregg Jr. 0 John Griffin 0 Gary Griffith 0 Bernie Grove 0 Noel Grove 0 Guy Hager 0 Donald Halligan 0 Bruce Hancock 0 Robert Harrington 0 Kenneth Hart 0 Harold Hartman 0 James Haught 0 Keith Hay 0 Johnston Hegeman 0 Robert Fletcher 0 Russell Heyde 0 Al Hickman 0 Sandy Hillyer 0 David Holden 0 Andrea Holdredge 0 Jan Hollmann 0 Bruce Holmgren 0 Clark Holscher 0 Jeff Horan 0 Margaret Hornbaker 0 Douglas Horne 0 Jackie Horney 0 Benedict Hren 0 Aileen Hughes 0 Bill Hughey 0 Michael Humphries 0 Anne Hurn 0 William Hunter 0 Becky Hutchinson 0 Charles Iliff 0 Nancy Ingram 0 Julia Irons 0 Frank Jaklitsch 0 William James 0 Mark Jeweler 0 Paula Johnson 0 Judy Johnson 0 Ray Johnson 0 Offutt Johnson 0 Eric Johnston 0 Greene Jones 0 Thomas Jordan 0 John Joyce 0 Jack Keene 0 K.C. Keith 0 William Kelly 0 Bill Kennedy 0 Glen Kinser 0 Stefan Klosowski 0 Jayson Knott 0 Stefan Koczerzuk 0 John Kowalski 0 Stan Kozenewski 0 Elizabeth Krempasky 0 Edward Kroeger 0 Rob Kyle 0 Len Larese-Casanova 0 Edwin Lawless 0 Bob Lee 0 Rochelle Levitt 0 Tom Lewis 0 Jake Lima 0 Ethel Locks 0 Brad Lushbaugh 0 Bunny Lynn Q Jacquelyn Magness 0 John Maple 0 Nick Maravell 0 Lisa Marquart 0 Ed Mason 0 Paul Massicott 0 George Maurer 0 Kevin McBride 0 Patrick McDougall 0 James McFadden 0 Barnabas McHenry 0 Dick McIntyre 0 Marsha McLaughlin 0 Barbara McLeod 0 Dan McLeod 0 Helen McMahon 0 George McManus 0 Patrick Meckley 0 Paul Meyer 0 Mark Middleton 0 Howard Miller 0 Joseph Molinaro 0 Stuart Morris 0 Ernie Moseby 0 Doreen Mullen 0 49 Gene Neff 0 Suzanne Neimeyer 0 John Nelson 0 Michael Nelson 0 Vivian Newman 0 Rob Northrop 0 Crystal Omokaro 0 Jeffrey Opel 0 Gail Owings 0 Jim Paddock 0 Richard Pais 0 David Pardoe 0 Michelle Park 0 James Parsons 0 Michael Pawlukiewicz 0 Elaine Peiffer 0 Geneva Perry 0 Paul Phelps 0 Allen Pitts 0 Irene Poulson 0 Robert Prenger 0 Paul Prodonovitch 0 David Pyles 0 Jennings Quillin 0 Alan Quimby 0 Mark Raals 0 Diane Ramsey 0 Denise Rankin 0 Susan Reinhart 0 James Richardson 0 Derek Richerson 0 Deidra Richie 0 Chandler Robbins 0 Lynda Rogers 0 Debbie Romero 0 Eric Ruby 0 Quentin Rudolph 0 Robert Ryan 0 David Sampson 0 Ted Sanderson 0 Benjamin Sansom 0 Darlene Schepling 0 Nancy Schmidt 0 Tanya Schmieler 0 James Schumacher 0 Rai Sharma 0 Michael Shibley 0 Bill Silverman 0 Barbara Snider 0 Daniel Snyder 0 F. Spellman 0 Darnell Spence 0 Mark Spencer 0 Frank Spink 0 Charles Spooner 0 Lynn Sprague 0 Randy Stadler 0 David Stahl 0 Wayne Stallings 0 Rodney Stark 0 Jean Stewart 0 Jerry Stokes 0 David Stotler 0 Ed Stuebing 0 Marti Sullivan 0 Lee Summerville 0 Ann Swanson 0 Diane Szeckley 0 Barbara Taylor 0 Gary Taylor 0 Sarah Taylor 0 Helene Tenner 0 Tamara Thiel 0 Joanie Thomasson 0 Ed Thompson 0 Edith Thompson 0 George Thompson 0 Michael Thompson 0 Josephine Thoms 0 Greydon Tolson 0 Chari Towne 0 Guy Turenne 0 Mrs. Hal Tray 0 Maggie Vinciguerra 0 Thomas Vint 0 A.L. Waldron 0 Donald Walker 0 Ben Wallace 0 Ginny Walsh 0 Joan Ward 0 Charles Ware 0 Morris Warren 0 Michael Watson 0 John Watson 0 Mark Weber 0 Henry Wells 0 Bernard Wentker 0 Charles Wheeler 0 Juanita White 0 Ed Wibner 0 Malcolm Wilkerson 0 John Wilson 0 John Wolf 0 Wendy Wydra 0 James Young 0 Robert Ziehm 0 Scott Zimmerman 0 Craig Zinter 0 Our thanks are also expressed to those who may have inadvertently been omitted. 50 i- limillimll 1 1816 @