State Agencies

The programs that remain with the Depart-
ment of Natural Resources, Water Resources
Adminstration, are the nucleus of the State's wa-
ter resources management and development pro-
grams. These programs include Watershed Per-
mits (the management of activities in fresh water
streams and floodplains), Wetland Permits (the
management of activities in Maryland's State and
private tidal wetlands), Surface and Groundwater
Appropriations (the management of water re-
source uses), the Water Supply Program (the
management of the availability of water re-
sources), Sediment Control Programs (assisting
local jurisdictions in managing programs to pre-
vent water pollution from erosion), the Surface
Mine Reclamation Program (the management and
reclamation of areas affected by and the proper
operation of surface mining activities of minerals
other than coal). Oil Control Program (a pro-
gram to prevent and to respond to oil spills), the
Flood Management Program (management pro-
grams to address stormwater runoff in watersheds
and prevent manmade flooding problems), and
Dam Safety (management of the inventorying and
maintenance of dams and other impoundments of
the State).

Program activities have been divided into three
program elements: Resource Management (Water
Supply, Wetlands, Surface Mining); Watershed
Management (Erosion and Sediment Control,
Watershed Permits, Watershed Planning, and
Dam Safety); and the Resource Protection Pro-
gram.

The Resource Protection Program includes the
enforcement of permits, licenses, and certificates
issued by Water Resources and the Oil Pollution
Control Program. The Water Resources Adminis-
tration operates a twenty-four hour a day oil and
hazardous spill emergency number. For assistance
weekdays call (301) 269-3551; weekends, eve-
nings, and holidays call (301) 269-3181.

WILDLIFE ADMINISTRATION

Bernard F. Halla, Director

Tawes State Office Building
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 269-3195

Natural Resources/'243

The Wildlife Administration, created by Chap-
ter 348, Acts of 1972, is responsible for the main-
tenance, management, and protection of freshwa-
ter fish, marine mammals, birds, land based
reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. This in-
cludes game species, non-game species, and
threatened and endangered wildlife.

In the course of discharging its assigned duties
the Administration engages in field surveys and
research projects to evaluate public demands on
the wildlife resources, fish and wildlife popula-
tions, harvesting parameters, and relevant envi-
ronmental factors.

The Administration applies modern profession-
al wildlife management techniques to both
control and assure continuing wildlife production
while affording a maximum of public recreational
opportunities compatible with the welfare of
those resources.

Among the Administration's projects and pro-
grams is the development and management of 35
state-owned Wildlife Management Areas (Public
Hunting Areas) encompassing a total of 78,612
acres located throughout the State.

In addition the Administration also manages,
administers, and controls recreational use of co-
operative wildlife areas and some State park areas
for a grand total of some 250,000 acres, plus the
Albert M. Powell Coldwater Fish Hatchery, the
Manning Wannwater Fish Hatchery, and rearing
stations.

Management activities include the construction
of ponds (primarily waterfowl habitat), planting
food and cover vegetation, construction of dikes
to. control water levels where needed, and the
stocking of hatchery-reared trout and other spe-
cies of gamefish in compatible State waters.