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MARYLAND MANUAL 113
The State Forest Management Program is developed on the multiple use principle, State Forests being used in many ways, for timber production, watershed protection, wildlife habitat and natural beauty. Protection and conservation of the natural environment is the prime basis in carrying out these projects. Since proper management of forest resources represents a long term investment, State Forests serve as guides to local woodland owners in the management of their lands. They provide timber products for local industry, public hunting and fishing areas, open spaces for hikers and campers and a place just to enjoy and appreciate the natural environment. There are five Boys' Forestry Camps located on State Forest prop- erty in Western Maryland which serve the rehabilitation of boys from correctional institutions. The Parks Division provides a well-distributed and accessible sys- tem of parks throughout the State. These areas include scenic and historic sites, plus a variety of informal types of outdoor recreation. Included in the system are facilities for camping, picnicking, swim- ming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and similar activities. Last year, more than nine million visitors utilized the facilities ad- ministered by the Department, from Swallow Falls in Western Mary- land to Assateague on the Atlantic Coast. By 1976, the Department expects a total visitor load of twelve million persons each year. The Department also expects that this figure will zoom to twenty-five million by the year 2000, an increase of 625 percent over the present use. At the present time, there are thirty-one State parks in operation while fifteen others are under acquisition and development. The Department has operational parks located in every section of the State, and many are slated for acreage expansion. In Western Maryland are Cunningham Falls, Dan's Mountain, Deep Creek, Fort Frederick, Fort Tonoloway, Gambrill, Gathland, Washington Monu- ment, New Germany, Big Run, Herrington Manor, Swallow Falls, Greenbrier and Casselman. Those in Southern Maryland include Cedar- ville, Sandy Point, Smallwood, Patapsco, Point Lockout, Calvert Cliffs and Seneca. Shad Landing, Wye Oak, Martinak, Milburn Landing, Assateague, Janes Island and Tuckahoe are located on the Eastern Shore. Elk Neck, Deer Creek, Gunpowder and Susquehanna are located in northern Maryland. Maryland, like other States, is faced with a steadily increasing population. This factor, combined with anticipated boosts in personal income, automobile registration and leisure time, has created a pressing demand for more recreation areas. Recogniz- ing this, the Department has compiled a master plan for outdoor recreation to study the demands and needs for these facilities and to present an action program to provide them. The Department's land acquisition program continues to expand. Last year, more than 5,000 acres were purchased for State park purposes. In addition, some 150 tracts, are now in various stages of acquisition. The Planning Division was created in 1964 to plan and design forests and parks facilities. Planning personnel also collect and amass data to determine future needs, perform all phases of planning from reconnaissance of the area to inventories of its resources, com- pile master development and site plans for proposed new parks, do the necessary field work, prepare maps for land acquisition and sup- ply the working drawings submitted to contractors for bidding. To study and appraise the recreation needs of the State, the De- partment has established a recreational service which cooperates in the promotion and organization of local recreation systems for politi- |
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Maryland Manual, 1971-72
| Volume 175, Page 113 View pdf image (33K) |
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