• AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN DESIGNATION REPORT MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF STATE PLANNING STATE OF MARYLAND Harry Hughes, Governor DEPARTMENT OF STATE PLANNING Constance Lieder, Secretary John R. Sherwood, III, Deputy Secretary 301 W. Preston Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Prepared by Comprehensive Policy Planning Division Edwin L. Thomas, Assistant Secretary Critical Areas Project Staff Laurence S. Fogelson, Project Director Chief, Natural Resources Planning Gary W. Schlerf La Verne Gray Contributing Staff Bruce E. Bozman William C. Livingston Larry Duket James E. Nelson, Jr. Roland E. English, III Mike Nortrup Leon Etzler Aubrey Romine Stoney Fraley Mike Shepherd Graphics: Robert W. Barth George T. Evans Edward M. Hopper Clerical Assistance: Nancy Ancel Pat Harper Linda Keller Fran Marchlinus Wendy Rose Pat Russell Carol Ruth Cathy White Sylvia Williams AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN: DESIGNATION REPORT Tidal Wetlands Non-Tidal Wetlands Protection and Enhancement of Rail Services Special Areas 'January 1981 The preparation of this document was financed in part through a compre- hensive planning grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and in part through Coastal Zone Management funds as administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Department of State Planning Publication 81-9 (Price: $20) MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF STATE PLANNING 301 W. PRESTON STREET BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201 HARRY HUGHES CONSTANCE LIEDER GOVERNOR SECRETARY January 26, 1981 Hon. Harry Hughes The State House Annapolis, Maryland 211*01+ Dear Governor Hughes: I am pleased to forward to you the initial Areas of Critical State Concern Designation Report. I have designated the areas described in this Report pursuant to Article 88C, Section 2(b)(3) of the Annotated Code. The designations were made on January 9, and became effective with the publication of the January 23, 1981, Maryland Register. The Report contains a description and map of each designated area, and a discussion of management policy, based on existing powers, for each class of designated areas. An inventory of existing State, local, and Federal powers relevant to the management of each class is also included. This Report represents the beginning of a continuing Critical Areas Program which will contribute to the improved management of the State's resources. The designated areas have been screened, evaluated, and agreed to by the governmental bodies in whose jurisdiction they occur, and by numerous State agencies. The proper management of these areas is important to the general welfare and prosperity of Maryland and its citizens. The State agencies in partnership with local governments and other interested parties are responsible for managing these areas to assure that the purposes for which they have been designated are achieved. Very sincerely yours. Constance Lieder CL:ELT:LF:fm TELEPHONE: 301-383-2451 OFFICE OF SECRETARY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Department wishes to thank the many State agencies and local government staff members who have contributed to the overall deve- lopment of this program and more recently to providing the important detailed information necessary to the production of this report. In particular, staff of the Tidewater Administration and Water Resources Administration of the Department of Natural Resources, staff of the State Railroad Administration of the Department of Transportation, and staff of the Division of Local and Regional. Development of the Department of Economic and Community Develop- ment provided important program and technical support. 1 CONTENTS Letter of Transmittal ; i Acknowledgements ii List of Maps vi List of Tables vii Summary. viii Chapter One: Tidal Wetlands Designated Areas I. Definition 1-1 II. Management Policy 1-3 III. Area Descriptions 1-23 Site Number TN 1. Severn Run Tributaries - Anne Arundel County 1-24 TN 2. Jug Bay - Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties 1-32 TN 3. Eagle Hill/Bog - Anne Arundel County 1-40 TN 4. South River Headwaters - Anne Arundel County 1-44 TN 5. Round Bay Bog - Anne Arundel County 1-52 TN 6. Gunpowder Delta Marsh/Day's Cove - Baltimore and Harford Counties 1-55 TN 7. Zekiah Swamp - Charles and Prince George's Counties 1-61 TN 8. Mattawoman Creek - Charles and Prince George's Counties 1-68 TN 9. Big Marsh/Howell Point - Kent County 1-74 TN 10. Broad/Henson Creek Marsh - Prince George's County 1-78 TN 11. Piscataway Creek - Prince George's County 1-82 TN 12. Chaptico Run - St. Mary's County 1-88 TN 13. Killpeck/Trent Hall Creeks - St. Mary's County... 1-92 TN 14. Pocomoke River - Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester Counties 1-95 T 15. Sullivan's Cove Marsh - Anne Arundel County 1-96 T 16. Deep Pond/Beverly Beach - Anne Arundel County.... 1-100 T 17. Black Marsh - Baltimore County 1-104 T 18. Bush Creek Marsh - Harford County 1-108 T 19. Church Creek Marsh - Harford County 1-112 T 20. Otter Point Creek Marsh - Harford County 1-116 T 21. Swan Creek Marsh - Harford County 1-122 Chapter Two: Non-Tidal Wetlands Designated Areas I. Definition 2-1 II. Management Policy 2-3 III. Area Descriptions 2-5 Site Number TN 1. Severn Run Tributaries - Anne Arundel County 1-24 TN 2. Jug Bay - Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties 1-32 TN 3. Eagle Hill/Bog - Anne Arundel County 1-40 TN 4. South River Headwaters - Anne Arundel County 1-44 TN 5. Round Bay Bog - Anne Arundel County 1-52 in TN 6 Gunpowder Delta Marsh/Day's Cove - Baltimore and Harford Counties 1-55 TN 7 Zekiah Swamp - Charles and Prince George's Counties 1-61 TN 8 Mattawoman Creek - Charles and Prince George's Counties 1-68 TN 9 Big Marsh/Howell Point - Kent County 1-74 TN 10 Broad/Henson Creek Marsh - Prince George's County 1-78 TN 11 Piscataway Creek - Prince George's County 1-82 TN 12 Chaptico Run - St. Mary's County 1-88 TN 13 Killpeck/Trent Hall Creeks - St. Mary's County... 1-92 TN 14 Pocomoke River - Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester Counties 1-95 N 15 Fresh Pond/Angel's Bog - Anne Arundel County 2-7 N 16 Battle Creek Cypress Swamp - Calvert County 2-11 N 17 Finzel (Cranberry) Swamp - Garrett County 2-15 N 18 Potomac Shoreline Marshes - Montgomery County.... 2-19 N 19 Suitland Bog - Prince George's County 2-27 Chapter Three; Protection and Enhancement of Rail Services Designated Areas I. Definition 3-1 II. Management Policy 3-3 III. Area Descriptions 3-11 Site Number R 1. Oxford Secondary - Caroline and Talbot Counties.. 3-12 R 2. Denton Track - Caroline and Talbot Counties 3-12 R 3. Western Maryland-East Subdivision - Carroll and Baltimore Counties 3-18 R 4. Octoraro Secondary - Cecil County 3-23 R 5. Cambridge Secondary - Dorchester and Caroline Counties 3-27 R 6. Preston Industrial - Dorchester and Caroline Counties 3-27 R 7. Vienna Track - Dorchester County 3-33 R 8. Frederick Secondary - Frederick and Carroll Counties 3-36 R 9. Centreville Secondary - Kent and Queen Anne's Counties 3-43 R 10. Chestertown Secondary - Kent County 3-43 R 11. Crisfield Secondary - Somerset County 3-48 R 12. Mardela Track - Wicomico County 3-51 R 13. Pocomoke Secondary - Worcester County 3-55 R 14. Snow Hill Secondary - Worcester County 3-59 R 15. Ocean City Track - Worcester County 3-59 IV Chapter Four: Special Areas I. Definition 4-1 II. Area Descriptions 4-2 Site Number S 1. Pocomoke River - Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester Counties 4-3 S 2. Salisbury Paleochannel - Wicomico County 4-14 Appendix A: Wetlands Management Programs: Inventory and Description A-l Appendix B: Protection and Enhancement of Rail Service Programs: Inventory and Description B-l Appendix C: Wetland Critical Areas: Classification C-l /. LIST OF MAPS 1. Designated Critical Areas Back Pocket 2. Designated Tidal Wetlands 1-2 3. Severn Run Tributaries - TN 1 1-28 4. Jug Bay - TN 2 1-36 5. Eagle Hill Bog - TN 3 1-43 6. South River Headwaters - TN 4 1-48 7. Round Bay Bog - TN 5 1-54 8. Gunpowder Delta Marsh/Day' s Cove - TN 6 1-59 9. Zekiah Swamp - TN 7 -. .. • 1-65 10. Mattawoman Creek - TN 8 1-71 11. Big Marsh/Howell Point - TN 9 1-77 12. Broad/Henson Creek Marsh - TN 10 1-81 13. Piscataway Creek - TN 11 1-86 14. Chaptico Run - TN 12 1-90 15. Killpeck/Trent Hall Creeks - TN 13 1-94 16. Sullivan's Cove Marsh - TN 15 1-99 17. Deep Pond/Beverly Beach - T 16 1-103 18. Black Marsh - T 17 1-107 19. Bush Creek Marsh - T 18. 1-111 20. Church Creek Marsh - T 19 1-115 21. Otter Point Creek Marsh - T 20 1-120 22. Swan Creek Marsh - T 21.. 1-125 23. Designated Non-Tidal Wetlands 2-2 24. Fresh Pond/Angel's Bog - N 15 2-10 25. Battle Creek Cypress Swamp - N 16 2-14 26. Finzel (Cranberry) Swamp - N 17 2-18 27. Potomac Shoreline Marshes - N 18 2-2 4 28. Suitland Bog - N 19 2-29 29. Rail Service and Special Areas 3-2 30. Oxford Secondary (North) - R 1 3-15 31. Oxford Secondary (South) - R 1 ^ 3-16 32. Denton Track - R 2 3-17 33. Western Maryland - East Subdivision (West) - R 3 3-21 34. Western Maryland - East Subdivision (East) - R 3 3-22 35. Octoraro Secondary - R 4 3-26 36. Cambridge Secondary (West) - R 5 3-30 37. Cambridge Secondary (East) - R 5 3-31 38. Preston Industrial - R 6 3-32 39. Vienna Track - R 7 3-35 40. Frederick Secondary (North) - R 8 3-41 41. Frederick Secondary (South) - R 8 3-42 42.