Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:36:32 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Carol /Oscar Ghebelian Subject: Re: Chapman's Forest Comments: cc: "Bell, Tyler" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Bob Hartman et al --Important that everyone write! Many MOS members helped preserve the property. I can help out on info on this site since a founder of group who formed in 1991 to save this 2250 acres on the Potomac from 4600 homes and extensive commercial/marina. Also drains into Mattawoman Creek. Is in Charles County. see http://www.chapmanforest.org After long battle, in 1998 Glendening was convinced to purchase with Program Open Space funds-with Conservation Fund also kicking in--and was preserved for historic/unique environmental properties and for passive public use. DNR has been working with Citizens Advisory Group/subgroups for 2 yrs to develop land use plan. Plan was finalized and signed off just several days before Ehrlich inaugurated. (Wash Post, Jan 11, B2). The historic/Potomac river portion has been designated Chapman State Park and the Mattawoman drainage portion called The Parris N. Glendening Natural Environment Area (isn't that a great name!). (It adjoins the Mattawoman NEA). Local county legislators/businesses have always opposed the preservation and our Commissioners/State delegation have written Ehrlich to overthrow the plan. Much more active use is being requested--equestrian center/ballfields, the whole works. Actually they would like him to trade off the property and have it developed, and that is a real threat. SO--we need strong response from all the environmental community to leave the plan intact. Please do write! governor@gov.state.md.us or The Honorable Robert Ehrlich State House Annapolis, MD 21401 Carol Ghebelian Indian Head, MD gheb@bellatlantic.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================