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Will This Maryland Wetland Soon Become Concrete? - Part II

Why is it that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources went to great lengths to drain the pond on private property west of Route 3 in Crofton a few years ago when a Northern Snakehead fish was discovered there? (National Geographic News)

The answer depends somewhat on who you ask, but one common denominator in any conversation about this is the pond's proximity to the Little Patuxent River, just 75 feet from the pond. Officials and biologists were worried that this "air-breathing, land-crawling, voracious predator" would invade the state's river system and even reach the Chesapeake Bay, causing irreparable harm.

However, Maryland Department of the Environment apparently isn't concerned about the impact of development on this site, so close to the Little Patuxent River. In fact, they have issued a permit for a big box store there. I guess they don't anticipate that development of this wetland will impact the environment as negatively as that 24-inch long fish; that pollution and runoff to the Little Patuxent River, affecting the state river system and even the Chesapeake Bay, will not be a problem. Go figure!

I wonder, then, why this property was included in the Patuxent Greenway System established to protect “important” lands" If its location within the bounds of a designated State Scenic River in the critical area doesn't protect this property, can any land in Maryland be protected from a future covered in concrete?

These beautiful wildflowers were photographed at the site where the pond is located and the permit has been issued:

Route 3 Wetlands

For more about this, please read Will This Maryland Wetland Soon Become Concrete? - Part I.

Crofton residents have successfully opposed the owner of this property and his various development schemes in the area for over 20 years. Unfortunately, this time he has succeeded in getting this critical permit from the government agency charged with responsibility for protecting our environment.

The Greater Crofton Council is an excellent resource for updates about this and other matters of local concern, so be sure to bookmark their website and check it often.

Look for Part III of this series next week on the Maryland Real Estate Blog.

PHOTO: Kathryn Para

Posted by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate on 11/02/2009 11:20 PM

Comments (9)

Environment in the Regional (Localism) Channel

crofton wetlands, route 3 wetland

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9 Comments on Will This Maryland Wetland Soon Become Concrete? - Part II

NOV

If it is not one predator, it's another. Hopefully they tax benefit will allow them to keep other area's pristine.

Hi Margaret... it seems that over time the standards for such approvals erode like the banks of a river after a flood. Some call it progress, but is it really?

Margaret - your story reminds me of line from a song "They Paved Paradise and Put in a Parking Lot"

NOV

Margaret. It's Maryland. Follow the money.

Lenn - I don't doubt that at all, but I'm trying not to get personal! The developer is a friend, even if I feel he is misguided in this venture.

Kathy - I never heard that song, but I found the lyrics after reading your comment. You can be sure this is something I will include in a future post on this topic!

Steve - Unlike Texas, where you can go for miles and see undeveloped land, we're right outside of D.C. and not far from Baltimore. That's one of the things that makes this site so valuable as open space, not to mention the wetlands and traffic issues. By the way, we're only about 3 miles from every box store your lil ol heart could desire.

Joseph - I do think it's ironic that the topic of Crofton's "famous" snakehead fish rarely comes up in discussions about this. I do see a parallel, don't you?

Margaret, Kathy's right. The song is very appropriate. I read your first part on this and was hoping there might be a new brighter development. I hate it!

We get so focusedon the money we forget about the land. Maybe we should just develop the national parks and forget about the future generations. Sometimes it is a difficult line to draw.

NOV

It's government there for you! Looking for tax base in all the wrong places... Sorry to hear about this situation.

NOV

Margaret, I think Lenn had it right. We see this in St. Mary's County all the time and we are in the Chesapeake Bay Critical area. They call it progress. Thanks for sharing Barbara

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