BPW APPROVES PRESERVATION OF FORESTS ALONG YOUGHIOGHENY SCENIC AND WILD RIVER CORRIDOR IN GARRETT COUNTY

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 20, 2010) — Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the Board of Public Works (BPW) approval of the acquisition of a 41-acre parcel in Youghiogheny Scenic and Wild River Corridor in Garrett County. This property will provide a connecting point between the Youghiogheny Scenic and Wild River Corridor and the State-owned property of Deep Creek Lake at the dam.

“We are pleased to provide visitors much needed additional public access to the Youghiogheny Scenic and Wild River Corridor, a very popular location for fishing, whitewater kayaking, and hiking, for Maryland families and visitors,” said Governor O’Malley.

The shortage of access points along the river corridor presents challenges for public entry and recreation, complicates important maintenance tasks, and impedes progress of rescue teams and emergency vehicles.

The sale is made possible through a negotiated discount between the owners and the state. Funds in the amount of $609,000 were approved by the BPW and are provided through Program Open Space. The parcel is located within the Target Ecological Area (TEA), and has received a high ecological ranking of 108 under the Program Open Space Targeting System.

Since 2007, Governor O'Malley and the BPW preserved more than 26,055 acres of natural areas for public recreation and watershed and wildlife protection across Maryland. Since 1969, Program Open Space has provided funding for acquisition of 346,784 acres for open space and recreation areas. Most Maryland residents live within 15 minutes of an open space or recreational area funded by Program Open Space.

The three-member Board of Public Works is comprised of Governor O’Malley (Chair), Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov