Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP)
Community & Economic Development
The Community & Economic Development section of the
CCMP includes 4 goals:
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Educate
and inform the population so it can make knowledgeable decisions about what
it wants for its community and future.
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Foster a community consensus on the desired future
condition of the Maryland Coastal Bays Region and a vision of how to promote
the county as a vacation destination, farming region, resource protection
area, and retirement community, while protecting and conserving the coastal
bays.
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Manage the watershed to maximize economic benefits
while minimizing negative resource impacts.
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Enhance the level of sustainability in land use
decision-making.
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DNR Implementation Summary
In the first 3 years of CCMP implementation, the Department
of Natural Resources has worked with its partners in the Coastal Bays Program
towards these goals and has made some significant progress.
DNR's main role in Community and Economic Development for the coastal
bays is to provide technical assistance and information to the local community
on topics such as the value of natural resources in the coastal bays, watershed
management, natural resource sustainability, and coastal hazards to the local
communities. Some key accomplishments
by DNR include:
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DNR
has published two studies relating natural resources to the economy in
the coastal bays and their watersheds.
In 2000, DNR published “Economic Impacts of Growth and Land
Use Change on Coastal Bays Resources”, and in 2001 published “An
Assessment of the Economic Value of the Coastal Bays’ Natural
Resources to the Economy of Worcester County, Maryland”.
These reports provide some of the basic information needed to
move forward on other actions in the Community and Economic
Development section of the Plan.
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DNR
has assisted the counties in developing sub-watershed plans to foster
restoration and protection of natural resources in the coastal bays
watershed while allowing for economic sustainability.
So far, one watershed plan has been completed for the Isle of
Wight Bay, and a second is underway for the Newport and Sinepuxent
Bays. These plans are
being developed through the Watershed Restoration Action Strategies
Program.
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Forested
lands in the coastal bays watershed are a significant source of
economic revenue and provide essential habitat for migratory songbirds
and other wildlife. In
attempting to balance these competing interests, the CCMP calls for
DNR and the Maryland Forestry Task Force to conduct an analysis of
forestry industries and if necessary propose changes to ensure its
long-term viability and environmental benefits.
DNR provided technical assistance and information to the
Coastal Bays Forestry Workgroup and produced a final report in 2002. The report includes information and recommendations the
Program and Worcester County can use for long range planning.
In the coming years DNR will continue to work with
the Program on community and economic development issues. Planning for natural disasters will be a top priority as the
State continues to plan for sea level rise, shore erosion, flooding, and
other coastal hazards.
******************************************************************************************************** DNR Implementation Summaries
If you have any questions about Maryland's Coastal Bays
Implementation Activities,
please feel free to e-mail, Katheleen
Freeman, or call (410) 260-8986.
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