(a) The Department shall promote, administer, and manage every State-owned or leased forest, park, scenic preserve, natural area, parkway, historic monument, and recreation area, administer every law and rule or regulation relating to forests, parks, scenic preserves, natural areas, parkways, historic monuments, recreation areas, fire control, roadside trees, the restoration of deforested or denuded areas, and […]
There is a Forest and Park Service in the Department.
(a) (1) There is a Sustainable Forestry Council in the Department. (2) The purpose of the Council is to advise the Department on all matters related to: (i) Sustainable forestry management in the State; (ii) The expenditure of funds from the Mel Noland Woodland Incentives Fund under § 5–307 of this title; (iii) Existing regulatory and statutory policies that are perceived […]
(a) The Secretary may commission any person to act as a forest or park warden, subject to removal at any time at the pleasure of the Secretary. While holding office, a warden has and may exercise the authority and power of a Natural Resources police officer or a law enforcement officer as provided in his commission […]
(a) (1) The Department may purchase and manage lands in the name of the State, suitable for forest culture, reserves, watershed protection, State parks, scenic preserves, historic monuments, parkways, and State recreational reserves, using for these purposes any special appropriation or surplus money not otherwise appropriated, which is standing to the credit of the Forest Reserve or […]
(a) The Department may condemn land, earth, gravel, stone, timber, material, or any improvements in the name of the State when action is necessary to carry out the purpose of any legislative act or advance the aims of forestry, parks, or recreation, and the work of the Department. The Department may pay any cost and expense […]
(a) The Department may make rules and regulations for the maintenance of order, safety, sanitation, traffic control, or for the protection of trees and other property and the preservation of the natural beauty within the State parks and forests, State reserves, scenic preserves, parkways, historical monuments, recreational areas, and any other lands under its control. The […]
The Secretary, upon request, shall assist other State units, counties, towns, corporations, and individuals in preparing plans for park, recreation and natural area acquisition and development, acquisition of multiple use areas including protection of watersheds, management, and replacement of trees, woodlots, and timber tracts under an agreement that a party obtaining the assistance, pay at […]
The Department shall prepare, print, and distribute on request, matter relating to the State forests, parks, scenic preserves, parkways, historic monuments, and recreational areas.
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Forest or Park Reserve Fund. (b) There is a Forest or Park Reserve Fund in the Department. (c) The purpose of the Fund is to enable the Department to purchase and manage in the name of the State lands suitable for forest culture, reserves, watershed protection, State parks, scenic preserves, historic […]
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) “Account” means the Forest and Park Concession Account. (3) (i) “Concession operations” means activities within a State forest or park that: 1. Raise revenue; 2. Function under a separate budget system; and 3. Supplement the operation of the facility where it is located. (ii) “Concession operations” includes: 1. Food concessions; 2. Boat rentals; […]
An item lost or abandoned within a State forest, park, or wildlife management area and unclaimed for one year becomes the property of the State, and the Secretary may dispose of the item in the best interest of the State.
(a) The Department shall develop a system for long-range renewable forest resources planning. The public and private forest land resources of Maryland, including, but not limited to, wood fiber, forest recreation, wildlife, fish, forest watershed, and wilderness potential, shall be examined and inventoried periodically. As part of the forest resource planning process, the Department periodically shall […]
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Deep Creek Lake Recreation Maintenance and Management Fund. (b) There is a Deep Creek Lake Recreation Maintenance and Management Fund in the Department for the maintenance and management of the land, recreational facilities, and services that are related to Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. (c) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs […]
(a) The General Assembly declares that: (1) Deep Creek Lake and the land under and around it possess unique and valuable scenic, ecologic, historic, recreational, fish, wildlife, and other natural resource values; and (2) A Deep Creek Lake recreation and land use plan will: (i) Protect the resources and natural value of the lake and surrounding land; (ii) Provide for […]
(a) There is a Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board. (b) (1) The Board consists of: (i) Five members appointed by the Governor in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection; (ii) The Senator of the Maryland General Assembly who represents legislative district 1 or the Senator’s designee; (iii) The Delegate of the Maryland General Assembly who represents delegate district […]
A person may not dispose of raw sludge sewage on State park land or State forest land, unless the disposal is part of a program designed and operated by the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of the Environment.
(a) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated: (1) “Corps” means the Maryland Conservation Corps. (2) “Youth” means a Maryland resident who is age 16 through 24. (b) There is a Maryland Conservation Corps in the Department. (c) The Corps shall provide meaningful and productive employment for available manpower of this State in the field of development […]
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) (i) “Reforestation” means the stocking or restocking of an area with forest tree species. (ii) “Reforestation” includes: 1. Site preparation by mechanical operation, application of herbicides, or prescribed burning; 2. Tree planting; 3. Release of seedlings from competing vegetation; 4. Animal damage control of seedlings; and 5. Other activities that the Secretary […]
