FYI re. the recent discussion on this issue. 

Mark L Hoffman
Associate Director, Administration
Wildlife and Heritage Service




To:     All DNR Staff

From:  Ron Franks, Secretary, DNR

Date:  November 16, 2004

Re:     DNR Public Lands

Over the past week, there have been many reports in the press regarding
"plans" by DNR to dispose of state-owned real property.  Unfortunately, much
of that coverage has provided a less than complete picture of our actions
and intent.

To further Governor Ehrlich's objective of realizing efficiencies in state
government, in April 2003 all state agencies were asked to conduct a
comprehensive assessment of their real property inventory.  As part of that
assessment, a DNR team of biologists, scientists, planners and public land
managers reviewed the more than 430,000 acres of public lands that come
under our purview, with the overarching goal of balancing conservation with
fiscal responsibility.

The team's 10-month review identified 54 parcels (approximately 2,900 acres,
or less than 1% of our total) that presented fiscal, logistical and/or
operational management challenges that may outweigh their contribution to
Maryland's land preservation and Chesapeake Bay restoration priorities.  The
resulting list of potential excess property candidates was sent to the
Department of Planning in February. 

With the single exception of the Deep Creek Lake buy down (begun in 2001),
to date no identified parcels have been excessed and no decision has been
made to dispose of them.  Please be assured that any such decisions will be
made with the utmost caution, to ensure that we maintain our commitment to
our conservation goals and the citizens we serve.



-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Rob Gibbs
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 11:25 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] State Lands

I agree with Jim - a bit of caution is in order.  In Montgomery County 
there are sure some park properties that we have accepted for various 
reasons that I have to scratch my head and wonder, why in the world did 
we accept this piece of land.  They are often more trouble than they are 
worth ecologically.  That is not to say that these land sales are 
appropriate.  The State is strapped for money and looking to find it any 
way it can.

Examining the review documents, as Jim suggests, is a good idea. Arguing 
not to sell ecological valuable land is a worthy cause.  An additional 
approach may be to push for some, if not all, of the money made on any 
appropriate land sales to go towards the purchase of more desirable 
land.  I don't keep up with DNR's funding but I do seem to remember that 
they lost a big chunk of money that had been earmarked for land 
aquisition and the purchase of conservation easments.  If they are 
selling off land, reinstating some of these land aquisition programs 
seems a logical use for the money.  With state finances the way they 
are, however,  I'm sure that is not what they are thinking about.

Rob Gibbs
Damascus, MD



Jim Stasz wrote:

>Hi Folks!
>
>I would urge a bit of caution before jumping on the State of Maryland for
trying to dispose of "excess" land.  In my 19 years as a Land Planner for
Prince George's County I have often had to review land that the County has
received and had to determine if it might be better off sold than  retained.
The County regularly obtains ownership of land by failure of the landowner
to pay taxes.  No public funds were used to acquire the land.  Part of my
review is to determine if the land has more value as open space than as
something that "could"  be developed in some fashion and provide tax
revenue.  One prime reason to "excess" property is to remove the maintenance
responsibility from the County.  I am certain that some of the property the
the State of Maryland is proposing to excess is land that they obtained at
little or no cost, the expense to maintain the land outweighs the benefit to
the general public and the potential for tax revenue is a bonus.
>
>A review of each parcel has probably been completed by the State.  I
suspect that these reviews are public documents.  Check the particulars of
each parcel and do not make a blanket "We think this is a bad idea."
>
>Perhaps someone from the State of Maryland could provide appropriate links
to give us all a better prespective.
>
>Good Birding!
>
>Jim
>
>Jim Stasz
>North Beach MD
>
>
>  
>