MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                 1857

No. 25
(House Joint Resolution 88)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Department of Natural Resources to
investigate the feasibility of using Program Open Space funds for the restoration
of Lake Roland and further requesting Baltimore City and Baltimore County to
apply for said Program Open Space funds.

WHEREAS, Lake Roland, a part of the 450 acre Robert E. Lee Park, is a
valuable ecological area in Baltimore County that is nationally recognized as a
bird sanctuary, is locally recognized as a unique recreational area, and is clearly a
valuable State resource; and

WHEREAS, The Lake is in imminent danger of filling with sediment washed
from the rapidly developing areas of Baltimore County and is endangered by other
forms of pollutants; and

WHEREAS, Lake Roland is located in one political subdivision, Baltimore
County, and is owned by another political subdivision, Baltimore City; and

WHEREAS, The two fiscally burdened political subdivisions have cooperated in
a unique and creative way to save the Lake; and

WHEREAS, The size and nature of the Lake and its environs clearly indicate
that it is a valuable resource of statewide concern in a highly urbanized area; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly has declared in enacting Program Open
Space that there is a need "to accelerate the development of needed outdoor
recreation facilities"; and

WHEREAS, Program Open Space has been enacted by the General Assembly
to provide monies for local projects including the acquisition and development of
projects sponsored by the local governing bodies; and

WHEREAS, Such a local project, bi-county in nature, has already commenced
through funding by Baltimore County and Baltimore City of an engineering
feasibility study for the Lake; and

WHEREAS, There is a need for a sediment-pollution control program if the
Lake is to survive for the benefit of these two jurisdictions and the entire state;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
State Department of Natural Resources is hereby requested to investigate the
feasibility and encourage the use of Program Open Space funds for the restoration
of Lake Roland; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Baltimore City and Baltimore County are hereby requested,
and are encouraged, to apply for Program Open Space funds for the restoration of
Lake Roland; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the State of Maryland is hereby requested
to send copies of this Resolution to James B. Coulter, Secretary of the Department
of Natural Resources, Tawes Office Building, Annapolis, Maryland 21401;
William J. Tierney, Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks