Green Infrastructure Master Plan
NEW: Green Infrastructure Master Plan Finalized
- Private Property Conservation and Stewardship Resources
Native Trees for your Property or Community
Backyard Buffers and RiverWise Congregations: Programs of the Watershed Stewards Academy provide assistance and funding to plant native trees and rain gardens on private property and congregational grounds.
Marylanders Plant Trees: Maryland Department of Natural Resources program that provides coupons for $25 off the purchase of a tree.
Managing your Yard for Wildlife
Backyard Habitat Certification: National Wildlife Federation program to promote and recognize landscaping for wildlife benefit.
Bayscaping: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partnership has developed a native plant center online resource and a guide to conservation landscaping.
Forest Management Plans: Maryland Department of Natural Resources program that provides technical assistance to prepare management plans for forests over 5 acres. Participation leads to reduced property tax assessment.
Stormwater Management
Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF) Credit Program: Eligible property owners in Anne Arundel County have the opportunity to reduce their WPRF assessments by up to 50% for proactive and sustainable uses of stormwater runoff controls like installing rain gardens or cisterns.
Land Conservation
Scenic Rivers Land Trust: Private, non-profit organization that helps land owners conserve the legacy of their land through conservation easements, which can provide federal, State, and County tax benefits and other potential financial compensation.
Agricultural and Woodland Preservation Program: County program focused on conserving working farms and forests.
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View or download the final version of the Green Infrastructure Master Plan through the following links.
(Click images to access Master Plan documents.)
Planning Our Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure includes large, high-quality natural areas and the linear corridors that connect them. These areas include forests, streams, wetlands, and fields. Public ownership protects some areas, such as Federal, State, and County parks. Easements protect other areas that are privately owned. The Green Infrastructure network has many benefits. It improves water and air quality, supports plants and animals, and ensures that residents can continue to enjoy a green and healthy Anne Arundel County.
- How Will My Community Benefit?
Green Infrastructure supports scenic views, sustains healthy soils for farming, and provides for recreational trails. It also prevents damage from stormwater runoff and nourishes healthy watersheds and coastline. Some of the other ways in which Green Infrastructure serves you are:
Economic
- Supports wildlife viewing, hunting, and fishing—a $1.3 billion dollar industry in Maryland.
- Increases tourism and expenditures on dining, lodging, and other services.
- Increases nearby property values by 10-20%.
- Preserves farmland for agricultural jobs, agritourism, and local food production.
- Supports clean streams and rivers which in turn support the maritime industry.
Environmental
- Protects quality of surface and groundwater resources.
- Provides for plant and animal habitat and migration corridors.
- Creates an enjoyable sense of place by protecting natural features and scenic vistas.
- Helps mitigate effects of climate change such as poor air quality, nuisance flooding, and heat islands.
- Supports opportunities for active transportation.
Recreational
- Provides space to walk, jog, hike, bike, ride horses, canoe, kayak, picnic, fish, hunt, and birdwatch, among other outdoor activities.
- Opportunity for outdoor exercise creates potential medical cost savings of approximately $1,100 per person per year
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