The Department is moving forward with implementation priorities defined in the Green Infrastructure Network Plan, including developing habitat management plans for the hubs and corridors. The habitat management plans include information on existing conditions and recommendations for landowners who would like to maintain or improve the habitat on their property.

HMP for Dorsey Wetland Hub

HMP for Guilford Branch Forest Hub

Wetland and Pond Enhancement document

Video - What is Howard County's Forest Conservation Program?
This video provides an overview of Howard County’s Forest Conservation Program. The purpose and goal of the program is to protect and preserve forest in Howard County by promoting environmentally sensitive design during the subdivision and land development process. The video stresses the importance of educating the community residents about the forest program to ensure the long term protection, preservation and maintenance of our forest resources in the County. 

Video - How Can You Help Protect Our Forest Resources?
The primary purpose of this video is to help educate the public about the need to avoid certain activities that may destroy or degrade protected forest resources located in their community. Some of the permitted and non-permitted uses within forest conservation easements are highlighted in this video. The video asks for the community’s help in our mission as the guardians of the public’s trust in protecting the County’s valuable forest resources for future generations.     

Educational Guides for Forest Conservation Areas Located:
On Private Lots | Within Public Easements, HOA or County owned Open Space or Preservation Parcels

Maryland Forest Service
The Forest Service restores, manages, and protects Maryland’s trees, forests, and forested ecosystems to sustain our natural resources and connect people to the land. For more information on forestry education and facts, please visit the Maryland Forest Service Home Page.

Regulations | Manual
The Howard County Forest Conservation Regulations are pursuant to the requirements of the Maryland Forest Conservation Act of 1991, which requires units of local government to adopt a local Forest Conservation Program that meets the requirements of the Natural Resources Article, Section 5-1601 through 5-1613 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. 

 The Howard County Forest Conservation Manual implements the Howard County Forest Conservation Act.

For more information on the State of Maryland Forest Conservation Act, please see the Department of Natural Resources Forest Conservation Act Web Page.

The Natural Resources Division of the Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks performs all inspections and enforcement of post-development forest conservation easements in Howard County. Inspections are conducted to verify forest conservation easements are in compliance with project-specific requirements during the development phase and enforce restrictions on certain types of activities and land use within easements after development is complete.  For further information, please visit the Department of Recreation and Parks Enforcement Web Page. 

The following are supplementary documents referenced in the Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Sites: 

Green Neighborhood Checklist 
Green Neighborhood Site Compliance Checklist 
Project Description Form 
Habitat Management Agreement 
Native Plant List 
Invasive Exotic Plant List 
Template A-4 a-d: Innovative Design 
Template G-1: Light Pollution Reduction 
Template H-1: Environmentally Preferable Site Products 
Template H-2: Reduce Heat-Island Effect of Paving 
Template H-4: Regionally Provided Materials 

There is also a Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Homes, which is managed by the Department of Inspection, Licenses and Permits:

Green Neighborhood Guidance Document for Homes

For further information, please visit the Green Neighborhoods Web Page of the Department of Inspection, Licenses and Permits.

Major Watersheds Map

Little Patuxent Watershed Restoration Action Strategy 

Lower Patapsco Watershed Restoration Action Strategy

Lower Patapsco Watershed Map

Lower Patapsco Subwatershed Map

Rockburn Branch Report

Howard County works cooperatively with Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Howard Soil Conservation District, and Montgomery Soil Conservation District to protect the Patuxent Reservoirs watershed. The Rocky Gorge and Triadelphia Reservoirs are a major regional drinking water supply source. Approximately half of the reservoirs watershed lies within Howard County. Watershed protection activities include: water quality monitoring; implementing agricultural best management practices, stormwater retrofits and stream channel restoration; and public outreach and education. 

2017 Annual Report of the Technical Advisory Committee

The Baltimore City Reservoirs (Prettyboy, Loch Raven and Liberty) are a major drinking water supply source for the Baltimore region and the primary source of water for the public water supply system in Howard County. The voluntary Baltimore Reservoir Watershed Management Program is coordinated through the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and Howard County contributes financially to this effort. More information is available about this watershed management program through BMC at Reservoir Watershed Management Program.