SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                     1721

No. 32
(House Joint Resolution 2)

House Joint Resolution requesting the State Planning Department,
with the cooperation of the Board of Natural Resources and the
Department of Economic Development, to prepare a detailed long-
term plan for the optimum use of wetlands in the State of Maryland.

Whereas, Wetlands are denned as areas on which standing water,
seasonal or permanent, has a depth of six feet or less, and where
the wet soil retains sufficient moisture to support aquatic or semi-
aquatic plant growth; and

Whereas, The State of Maryland possesses more than 300,000 acres
of coastal and inland marshes, wooded swamps, and other types of
wetlands; and

Whereas, The wetlands produce the basic micro-organisms and
other foods upon which the commercially important finfish, shellfish,
and crabs of Chesapeake Bay are dependent; and

Whereas, The wetlands have parallel roles as critical habitat for
wildlife, particularly migratory waterfowl and furbearers, and as
key areas for fish spawning; and

Whereas, The wetlands are essential water storage areas for
ground-water recharge and flood prevention; and

Whereas, Additionally and of emerging significance, the wetlands
have vital outdoor recreation, open space, and aesthetic values to the
people of our State, and

Whereas, The rapid rate of draining, filling, and other altering
of Maryland's wetlands is causing serious disturbance to the eco-
nomic, biologic, hydrologic, and recreational functions of the wet-
lands; and

Whereas, Projected increases in population and industrial activity
indicate that accelerated alteration of wetlands soon will be at-
tempted; now therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the State
Planning Department, in cooperation with the Board of Natural Re-
sources and the Department of Economic Development, is hereby
requested to prepare a detailed long-term plan for the optimum use of
all Maryland wetlands, such plan to be based so far as is possible
upon the results of economic, biologic, hydrologic, and recreational
research previously completed or underway in Maryland and in
other states or nations having comparable wetland types and
functions; and be it further

Resolved, That the preparation of this plan be scheduled for com-
pletion by October 31,1967, for transmittal to the Legislative Council
prior to consideration by the General Assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Public Works is hereby requested to
appropriate from the Emergency Fund the sum of Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($50,000) for preparation of the plan; and be it further