Public input sought on new refuge
National wildlife sanctuary across Anne Arundel, Southern Md. proposed
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on a proposal to establish a national wildlife refuge spanning more than half a million acres in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties.
If approved by the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the proposed Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge would conserve up to 40,000 acres in fee-title acquisitions or perpetual conservation easements from willing sellers across four watersheds, helping to conserve habitats that support threatened and endangered species, waterfowl and migratory birds of conservation concern, according to a news release.
“The forests and wetlands of Southern Maryland provide special places for people and for wildlife. As these habitats come under pressure from climate change and other threats, this proposal would help conserve these areas for future generations,” Scott Kahan, chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System for the Service’s northeast region, said in a news release. “We look forward to working with local communities and partners and receiving their feedback.”
The proposed refuge boundary spans 577,420 acres across the fivecounty area, nearly 170,000 acres of which are undeveloped parcels of 20 acres or more. Its northernmost point borders the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, which supports conservation research and habitat management.
Though private land is included within the boundary, landowners’ rights will not be affected by the establishment of the refuge.
The possible acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of up to 40,000 acres would be managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Funding for the land acquisition would come from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would
continue to facilitate efforts to conserve important habitats across the remaining conservation area.
The refuge would consist of four watershed-based units: the Lower Patuxent-Calvert Unit, which is the only unit to include portions of Anne Arundel County; the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Unit; the Zekiah-Wicomico Unit; and the McIntosh Run-St. Mary’s Unit.
The areas proposed in the new national wildlife refuge support a wide range of species, including waterfowl, shorebirds, forest-interior and grassland-dependent birds. Threatened and endangered species, including the dwarf wedgemussel, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, Puritan and Northeastern tiger beetles and the northern long-eared bat, are also in the area.
Habitat loss is the greatest threat to biodiversity in the United States. More than half of Maryland’s forests and wetlands have been lost in the conversion of important natural areas to other land uses, with over 1 million acres developed since 1973, the agency said in a news release. That habitat loss represents the primary threat to Maryland’s fish and wildlife and the livelihoods and local economies that depend upon them.
If protected, the watersheds will continue to provide resilience to climate change, conserve waterfowl and other migratory bird habitat, aid in the recovery of listed threatened and endangered species, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for residents in the region.
Efforts to establish a national wildlife refuge in the area have been underway for several years and could take decades to complete. The recently unveiled draft proposal was drawn from a conservation plan the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed in 2018 in partnership with the Southern Maryland Conservation Alliance, according to a news release.
Harford County and the Eastern Shore are home to several of the state’s existing national wildlife refuges.
Increasing access to public lands and waters is part of the Biden administration’s approach to conservation under the America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to conserve 30% of the country’s lands and waters by 2030.
The public can review possible impacts and alternatives, along with the proposal, draft land protection plan and environmental assessment online.
Comments on the proposed refuge can be submitted to FW5southernmarylandplan@fws.gov. Comments must be received by April 22.
Following the public review period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will evaluate comments and make changes before developing a final plan to be submitted to the agency’s director, which will later be made available to the public.