Members and staff of the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coast Bays (CAC) were the guests of the Calvert County Commissioners Tuesday, Oct. 16. Commission staff, along with Calvert County Environmental Planner Dr. Dave Brownlee, provided an update on changes to Maryland’s Critical Area maps. Several members of the entourage, along with Department of Community Planning and Building went canoeing and kayaking in Parkers Creek and the Chesapeake Bay near Warriors Rest.
“Things have changed considerably since 1985,” said CAC Education and Conservation Coordinator Mary Owens, who gave an overview of the commission’s remapping efforts.
Owens pointed out the “true color imagery” is “extremely accurate.” In addition to aerial photography, state officials will be conducting “ground trothing,” that is, ground level surveys on properties adjacent to waterways.
“It’s to the advantage of a homeowner to let them [ground-truthing crews] on to your property,” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R].
Commissioners’ President Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] concurred, indicating it would not be to the advantage of a landowner if the maps were not accurate. Clark is one of two Southern Maryland elected officials—St. Mary’s County Commissioners’ President Jack Russell [D] being the other—who are CAC members. Clark began his tenure on the commission this year.
Three areas of Calvert County—Breezy Point, Drum Point and North Beach—will be reevaluated during the ongoing mapping process. Owens predicted statewide there would likely be an increase of Critical Area.
Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R] asked if CAC made clear to landowners if their property was
