Executive Director: Dr. Sarah J. Taylor

Tawes State Office Building D-4
580 Taylor Ave.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 974-2426

The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Commission
was created in 1984 (Chapter 794, Acts of 1984).
The Commission is concerned with a 1,000-foot
strip around the Bay and its tributaries. It is this
planning area that is critical to the survival of the
Bay's tidal waters, fish, wildlife, and plant habi-
tats.

The Commission oversees the preparation of
land-use plans by local governments to regulate
undeveloped land use along the Bay's shores and
tributaries. The Commission has authority to in-
tervene in local development plans if it determines
the Bay may be endangered. Periodically, the
Commission meets with the General Assembly
Joint Committee on Chesapeake Bay Critical Ar-
eas.

Commission members are appointed to four-
year terms by the Governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate. They number twenty-five
members, including five ex officio, voting members
or their designees. (Code Natural Resources Arti-
cle, sees. 8-1801 through 8-1816).

UPPER POTOMAC RIVER
COMMISSION

Chairperson: John J. McMullen, Jr., 1989

Robert L. Kalbaugh, Allegany County, 1989; John
Adams, Jr., Garrett County, 1989.

Maryland Avenue Extended
Westemport 21562 Telephone: 359-3944

The Upper Potomac River Commission was es-
tablished in 1935 (Chapter 409, Acts of 1935). It
supervises the Savage River Dam, which regulates
the flow of the Potomac River. The Commission
has jurisdiction over the water resources of Al-
legany County and of Election District 4 (Bloom-
ington) in Garrett County.

The Commission consists of three members ap-
pointed for six-year terms. The Governor appoints
the chairperson, and the Allegany County and
Garrett County Boards of County Commissioners
each appoint one member.

CAPITAL PROGRAMS
ADMINISTRATION

Michael J. Nelson, Assistant Secretary

2012 Industrial Dr.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 974-3947

The Capital Programs Administration operates
five programs: Land Planning Services, Shore
Erosion Control, Program Open Space, Land
Management and Recreation Services, and Capital
Development.

LAND PLANNING SERVICES

Robert L. Beckett, Director Telephone: 974-3656

Land Planning Services provides planning, map-
ping, environmental review, and capital budget
services for the Department's acquisition, develop-
ment, and resource management of public lands
and scenic rivers. These services are offered
through four primary projects: Resource Plan-
ning, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Acquisition Graph-
ics and Research, and Capital Budget Planning.

The Resource Planning Project develops master
plans for new State parks or for a recreation use
and modification of existing State parks. Resource
Planning also conducts detailed property reviews
for proposed new Department areas, environmen-
tal reviews for many Department projects and
lands, and master facilities plans for areas without
approved master plans.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Project prepares re-
source management plans for the nine rivers that
comprise the scenic and wild rivers system. It pro-
motes the wise use of the rivers' land and water
resources, and improves resource conservation
measures. Planners work with local citizen adviso-
ry boards to develop resource recommendations
that local governing bodies may use.

The Acquisition Graphics and Research Project
researches property records (deeds, surveys, land
patents) and prepares project boundary maps for
all Department lands. These maps include proper-
ties in the authorized acquisition program, as well
as properties owned by the Department and lands
not yet acquired. Acquisition Graphics reviews
and updates all project boundary maps it
prepares.

The Capital Budget Planning Project prepares
the Department's annual Capital Budget request.