Department of Natural Resources/403

Annual Report of Maryland Environmental Trust to Governor & General Assembly.

Annual Report of Maryland Environmental Trust to Governor, budget committees of General Assembly^ &
Dept. of Fiscal Services on Land Trust Grant Fund due Jan. 15.

Annual Report of Scenic and Wild Rivers Review Board to General Assembly.
Biennial Report to Governor & General Assembly on flood control and watershed management due Jan. 1.

Biennial Report with Secretary of the Environment w General Assembly on Chesapeake Bay monitoring
program and status of Bay resources.

Biennial Report with Secretary of the Environment and Secretary of Budget & Fiscal Planning on cumulative
environmental impact of all electric power plants operating in State.

Quarterly Report w Secretary of Personnel on part-time positions.

Report to Secretary of Budget & Fiscal Planning & Legislative Auditor on account examinations of private
care providers under State contract due periodically.

Report to Senate Budget & Taxation Committee & House Appropriations Committee on new State nursery
plans due prior to expenditure of funds.

Report u Senate Budget & Taxation Committee & House Appropriations Committee on proposed specialfund

appropriations from Witerway Improvement Fund & Environmental Trust Fund due prior w expenditure of funds.

Report w Senate Budget & Taxation Committee & House Appropriations Committee on proposed use of Program
Open Space expenditures for Advanced Option & Purchase Fund acquisitions due prior to expenditure of funds.

Reports (with Office of Planning) to Senate Budget i6r Taxation Committee & House Appropriations
Committee on reassessment of authorized land acquisition program due Dec. 1 (through 1992).

Semi-annual Report u State Treasurer on anticipated debt during next seven-month period due Jan. 1 6rJulyl.

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

Created in 1969, the Department of Natural Resources works to ensure the preservation, development,
wise use, and enjoyment of all Maryland's natural resources for the greatest benefit to the State and its
citizens. The Department coordinates all natural resources activities within the Scare and reviews and
evaluates all natural resources policies, plans, programs, and practices of county, State, regional and federal
agencies and institutions.

The natural resources of Maryland were described early In 1634, Father Andrew White wrote of
Chesapeake Bay as "the most delightful water I ever saw, between two sweet landes." Seventeenth-century
seeders were impressed by woodlands, wildlife, and waters teeming with fish. When the abundance later
ebbed, the General Assembly enacted a multitude of laws to protect natural resources, particularly those
of Chesapeake Bay. Indeed, for the past two centuries, much of Maryland's concern with natural resources
has focused on the Bay

Throughout the nineteenth century the General Assembly acted to safeguard Bay oysters, clams, and
fish, and during the twentieth century, crabs. As early as 1820, the legislature noted in "An Act to prevent
the destruction of Oysters in this State" that "well grounded apprehensions are entertained of the utter
extinction of oysters in the state" (Chapter 24, Acts of 1820). By 1868, the State Oyster Police Force was
created to enforce State oyster laws. Reorganized as the State Fishery Force in 1874, it was placed under
the Commissioner of Fisheries.

'fee, the earliest origins of the Department of Natural Resources trace to geological and mapping
functions of the first State Geological Survey, which operated from 1834 to 1841. In 1896, the State
Geological and Economic Survey was formed (Chapter 51, Acts of 1896). That same year, the State Game
Warden's Office was created (Chapter 293, Acts of 1896). State programs for woodlands were initiated
ten years later, when the State Board of Forestry was established (Chapter 294, Acts of 1906).

The State Fishery Force, the State Game Warden, and the Engineer became part of the newly formed
Conservation Commission in 1916 (Chapter 682, Acts of 1916). The Commission was charged with oversight
of oysters, clams, fish, crabs, terrapin, wild fowl, birds, game, and fur-bearing animals. In 1935, the Conservation
Department was formed, governed by the Conservation Commission (Chapter 523, Aces of 1935).

More conservation agencies were created in 1941: the Board of Natural Resources; the Department
of Tidewater Fisheries; the Department of Game and Inland Rsh; the Department of State Forests and