Critical Area Commission To Present Updated Critical Area Map For Talbot County

Public Invited to View and Comment

Annapolis, Md. (November 22, 2010) — Maryland’s Critical Area Commission will hold a series of public meetings to present a draft of the updated Critical Area Maps for Talbot County, including Easton, Oxford and St. Michaels. The commission has been working for 18 months to develop and implement a mapping methodology that will be used to update Critical Area maps throughout the State.

“When the project is complete, the updated maps will give State and local governments the ability to provide clear and specific direction to consultants, developers, businesses and property owners,” said Margaret McHale, Chair of the Critical Area Commission. “We can ensure that the updated maps and the mapping methodology used are effective and workable at all levels. It will ultimately improve the effectiveness of Maryland’s Critical Area Program.”

Three public information meetings will be held in Talbot County during the next several months for public review and comment of the maps:

Tuesday, December 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Talbot County Community Center, 10028 Ocean Gateway, Easton, Maryland 21601

Monday, December 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Talbot County Community Center, 10028 Ocean Gateway, Easton, Maryland 21601

Thursday, December 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the St. Michaels Library, 106 Fremont Street, St. Michaels, MD 21663

After public review and comment, The Critical Area maps will be finalized and incorporated into the Maryland iMap System and will be accessible via the internet.

A team from the Critical Area Commission, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Salisbury University, the Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative and the Talbot County Planning Office collaborated on the mapping project. Every effort was made to ensure consistency and accuracy.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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 11 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