On the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C., a new wildlife refuge has been in the works for over a decade.
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Proposed Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge nears final approval
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Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Tributary to McIntosh Run, within the proposed national wildlife refuge. Photo courtesy of Dan Murphy
On the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, about 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C., a new wildlife refuge has been in the works for over a decade. The proposed Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge ([link removed]) would protect four separate watershed areas covering up to 40,000 acres. These protected areas would span a total boundary of over 577,000 acres within Maryland’s Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties.
The latest Westwise blog post ([link removed]) from the Center for Western Priorities explores the history and ecological importance of the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge proposal. The post ([link removed]) is part of the Road to 30: Postcards ([link removed]) campaign to share the stories of the people behind efforts to protect special places across the country.
Hear from ([link removed]) Dan Murphy, Chief of the Division of Habitat Restoration and Conservation at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, and Joseph McCauley, a senior advisor to the Chesapeake Conservancy. Together, Murphy and McCauley have been collaborating on the Southern Maryland Woodlands proposal for over 14 years. President Joe Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative to protect 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030 is what finally allowed the proposal the opportunity to move forward, and it is now awaiting final approval from the USFWS.
BLM announces steps to improve engagement with Tribes, public on mineral development
The Bureau of Land Management issued a new policy ([link removed]) to ensure Tribal nations will be notified early when mineral exploration work is proposed on BLM lands, providing improved transparency and engagement. “I want to thank the Biden-Harris administration for their continued commitment to honoring Tribal sovereignty and helping to ensure that our transition to a clean energy future is a just one,” said U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva. The policy responds directly to feedback from Tribes collected by the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Mining Laws, Regulation, and Permitting.
** Quick hits
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With 25% of state land protected, California nears its ‘30x30’ conservation goal
Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | KQED ([link removed])
Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge would protect woodlands, watersheds, and the Chesapeake Bay
Westwise ([link removed])
A remote tribe is reeling from widespread illness and cancer. What role did the US government play?
Associated Press ([link removed])
Opinion: Utah public lands suit risks state's hunting heritage
Deseret News ([link removed])
Seven takeaways from the seemingly endless fire season
New York Times ([link removed])
Greenlink transmission line gets federal approval in Nevada
Nevada Independent ([link removed]) | KLAS ([link removed]) | Las Vegas Review-Journal ([link removed]) | KNPR ([link removed]) | Reuters ([link removed])
Judge green-lights black-footed ferret policy in Wyoming
WyoFile ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Opinion: The best travel is on foot, through wilderness
New York Times ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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I’m really proud that California has not only established what we consider to be the strongest definition of 30x30, but also the most detailed road map to actually achieve it. [The lands] can have other benefits like public access, but they have to principally be protected for environmental benefits.”
—Wade Crowfoot, California’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@usinterior ([link removed])
The Yellow Mounds Overlook is a great place to look at older Badlands geology in the form of brightly colored rock layers. Shades of mustard and streaks of plum represent sediment deposits that settled here over different periods.
About 500,000 years ago, the Cheyenne and White Rivers carved their way through this landscape. They are the reason for the narrow channels, canyons and rugged peaks we see today.
Erosion continues to shape these hills. Scientists estimate that the Badlands will erode entirely in the next 500,000 years. So, visit while you can! 😂
Photo @badlandsnps ([link removed]) by Karen Smith
#badlands ([link removed]) #southdakota ([link removed]) #usinterior ([link removed])
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