V-72 



MARYLAND 



The State of Maryland is a political entity which encompasses a portion 

 of a major estuarine area— the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland also can be 

 considered as beinq representative of a State having an urban/rural 

 population mixture with a moderate level of industry and development. 



Until July 1969, the Board of Natural Resources acted as the coordi- 

 nating agency for all public and private activities relating to the 

 natural resources of the State of Maryland. At that time the Board 

 was disbanded, and Maryland House Bill No. 1311 (approved April 1969) 

 created the Department of Natural Resources as a principal department 

 of the State government to be responsible for carrying out policies 

 in the area of natural resources research and development, management, 

 and administration. This department is responsible for the coor- 

 dination and direction of comprehensive planning in the area of 

 natural resources. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is 

 composed of the previously existing Department of Chesapeake Bay 

 Affairs, the Department of Game and Inland Fish, Department of Forests 

 and Parks, Maryland Geological Survey, Department of Water Resources 

 plus memberships in numerous commissions, committees, and groups 

 of which the State is a member. 



The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has not developed to 

 its full potential in assuming its broad responsibilities of 

 coordinating all duties related to natural resources which exist 



