District IV—18 Office Street, Bel Air
(Baltimore, Cecil, Harford, Kent, and Queen Anne's Counties)

Henry E. Stasiek, Forester III
John E. Michel, Forester I
Ronald G. Antill, Forester I
James J. Burtis, Jr., Forester I
Robert P. Ford, Forester I
Warren Spencer, Forester I
Osmar G. Hebert, Superintendent III
L. R. Bettinger, Supervisor Fire Control
Paul H. Seward, Supervisor Fire Control
Eugene Bowers, Superintendent II, Elk Neck State Park
W. Dale Beaston, Superintendent I, The Rocks State Park
Guy Wells, Superintendent II, Gunpowder State Park
William H. Sigmore, Superintendent I, Susquehanna State Park

The Commission of Forests and Parks consists of five members
appointed by the Governor. One is recommended by the Maryland
Farm Bureau and one by the Maryland State Grange; one must have
had practical experience in the lumbering business; and two must have
had an interest in the advancement of State parks and recreation. The
members serve for five-year terms with overlapping tenure of office.
They select their chairman and appoint the Director of the Depart-
ment of Forests and Parks (Code 1957, Art. 66G, secs. 343-44).

A forestry department was first organized by Chapter 294, Acts of
1906, under the State Board of Forestry but was succeeded in 1941
by the present Department, which is associated with the Board of
Natural Resources. The Department is legally responsible for all
phases of forest, park and recreational activities. The forestry phases
consist of forest fire control and advice to landowners on timber man-
agement, including detailed plans of management and the furnishing
of seedlings for reforestation purposes. In order to demonstrate
correct forestry practices, the Department manages on a sustained
yield basis ten state forests on which multiplane use is demonstrated.
This includes timber management, watershed protection and recrea-
tion. Four developed recreational areas are maintained on state for-
ests which are extensively used by the public.

The Roadside Tree Law is administered by this Department. This
provides for supervision of all tree care within the right-of-ways of
all public roads and streets in the state. This program is financed by
charges to public utility companies and others who require this service.

The Department provides a well-distributed and accessible system
of parks and other recreational areas which include scenic, historic
and geological sites that are of State-wide significance. The Depart-
ment also provides a variety of informal types of outdoor recreational
activities and interests, facilities and accommodations for camping,
picnicking, swimming, fishing and hiking which generally brings the
public into contact with natural forces and resources so that they
may learn to enjoy and help conserve them.

State parks are located in wooded areas which are maintained in
their natural condition for the enjoyment of the general public. The
one exception is Sandy Point State Park near the Bay Bridge. This
is principally a bayside swimming area although picnicking facilities
are provided.

The Department administers fourteen developed park areas with a
total acreage of 17,105 and seven areas in various stages of acquisition
and development with a total acreage of 9,409, as of June 30, 1963.
The Department also administers eleven State Forests with a total
of 119,204 acres.