CHESAPEAKE BAY &
WATERSHED PROGRAMS

Verna E Harnson, Assistant Secretary for
Chesapeake Bay & Watershed Programs

Tawes State Office Building
580 Taylor Ave
Annapolis, MD 21401—2397 (410) 974 2255

With the signing of the interstate Chesapeake
Bay Agreement m 1987, State programs formed to
protect and restore the Bay In the Department of
Natural Resources, the Chesapeake Bay Program
Office was created under the Office of the Secre-
tary At the Department of the Environment, Bay
activities began with the Chesapeake Bay and Spe-
cial Projects Program, reorganized as the
Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Administration in
1994 The Administration transferred in 1995 to
the Department of Natural Resources and merged
with the Chesapeake Bay Program Office to form
Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Programs
Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Programs leads
State efforts to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay
It oversees four programs the Chesapeake and
Coastal Watershed Service, Chesapeake Conserva-
tion Education, the Regional Chesapeake Bay Pro
gram, and the Resource Assessment Service

CHESAPEAKE & COASTAL
WATERSHED SERVICE

David G Burke, Director
(410) 974 3846

The Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
began in 1988 as the Watershed Nonpoint Source
Division under Water Quality Programs of the
Water Management Administration in the Depart-
ment of the Environment By 1992, the Division
was renamed the Watershed Projects Division un
der the Chesapeake Bav and Special Projects Pro
gram Later that year, it became the Nonpoint
Source Assessment and Policy Program under the
Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Management Ad
ministration In 1994, it was renamed the Water
shed Management Program and, in 1995,
transferred to the Department of Natural Re
sources The Program was reorganized in 1995 by
the Department of Natural Resources as the
Chesapeake and Coastal Watershed Service
The Service develops and helps implement water
shed management strategies and projects to restore
and protect the ecosystems of Chesapeake Bay and its
watersheds The Service coordinates departmental
responsibilities under the Economic Growth, Re
source Protection, and Planning Act (Chapter 437,

Acts of 1992) The Service also provides staff sup
port to the Maryland Greenways Commission
Within the Service are two programs Growth
Management, and Resource Economics The Se^
ice also oversees five divisions Coastal Zone Man
agement. Geographic Information Services,
Watershed Management and Analysis, Watershed
Restoration, and Waterway Resources

GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Robert L Beckett, Administrator
(410)974 5780

The Growth Management Program coordinates
the Department's responsibilities under the Eco
nomic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning
Act (Chapter 437, Acts of 1992) The Program assists
public and pnvate interests to plan for and manage the
adverse environmental impacts from land develop
ment, population growth and economic expansion
As State agencies acquire land and undertake capital
projects, the Program helps them develop and imple
ment guidelines to protect environmentally sensitive
areas For local governments, the Program provides
technical, educational and financial assistance to prepare
comprehensive plans and development ordinances

R£SOURCE ECONOMICS PROGRAM
Mark Bundy, Administrator
(410) 974 2261

Created in 1995, the Resource Economics Pro
gram applies economic principles to Chesapeake Bay
restoration and protection programs These principles
include nsk assessment, cost and benefits analysis,
resource valuation, and regional impact evaluations
By demonstrating to busmess and developers the
financial benefits of sustaining the Chesapeake Bay
ecosystem, the Program induces voluntary particlpa
Hon rather than regulatory control to change adverse
business practices that harm the Bay

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Gwynne Schultz, Director
(410) 974 2784

Origins of the Coastal Zone Management Division
stem from the Coastal Zone Management Program
which began m 1973 when the Governor designated
the Department of Natural Resources to receive and
administer federal grants pursuant to the federal
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 The Pro
gram was assigned first to the Water Resources Ad
ministration and, by 1977, transferred to the Energy
and Coastal Zone Administration By Executive Or
der in 1978, the Governor declared the Coastal Zone
Management Program to be State policy for activities
in Maryland coastal areas In 1979, the Program
became part of the Tidewater Administration (Chap
ter 601, Acts of 1979) Within the Administration,
the Program was overseen by the Coastal Resources