According to the Wicomico Environmental Trust, a publicly owned local forest is in danger of being clear cut to make way for the dumping of dredge spoils from the Wicomico River. Citizens of Wicomico County need to make their voices heard in opposition to this action.

The forest is part of a 350-acre
parcel purchased by the county using state funds from Program Open
Space. The forest contains numerous species typical in our native mixed
forests: pine, yes, but also oak, dogwood, beech, holly, sweet gum,
magnolia, and many other plant species, and deer, woodpeckers,
raccoons, turtles, voles, skunks, and hawks. This forest should be left
alone for the benefit of humans and other living things. It is absorbing
carbon, producing oxygen, and filtering rainwater into the aquifer.

But right now a bulldozer sits in this forest. It is there because
Wicomico County and the Army Corps of Engineers are testing this
site as a place to dump mud from the next phase of a Corps project
dredging the Wicomico River. The bulldozer is there to clear a path for
the core driller, and the core driller is there to check the soil and the
aquifer level before clear-cutting the forest to create a dump site for the
dredge spoils begins.

WET encourages all concerned citizens to contact officials of Wicomico County to express their opposition to the clear cutting of this forest.

John Redden, Acting Director of Public Works, 410-548-4810
Gary Mackes, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, 410-548-4900, ext. 106
Jim Grindle, Public Works civil engineer, 410-548-4810

If you are not satisfied with what they tell you, you can call your county
council member or Rick Pollitt, the County Executive (410-548-4800).

Tell them to build the dredge spoils dump facility on a field instead of
cutting the forest.

Wicomico County Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes will hold the next in a series of
citizen’s forum meetings on Wednesday, September 24th at 7:00 P.M. at the Hebron Fire
Department. The program will focus on voter registration and preparation and ballot information.
Councilwoman Sample-Hughes said that she will be joined by County Executive Rick Pollitt,
County Council President John Cannon and Sheriff Mike Lewis.
Wicomico County District One includes Delmar, Hebron, San Domingo, Salisbury- West Side
and Mardela Springs. Mrs. Sample-Hughes said the over-all theme of the forums is “Creating
Community Connections.” She commented that the purpose of the forums is to provide citizens
with an opportunity to speak face-to-face with their elected officials. She further noted that this is
the continuation of the fulfillment of her campaign promise to hold quarterly meetings throughout
District One.
Mrs. Sample-Hughes said that “I encourage as many of my constituents who possibly can to join
us for this important meeting.”

For More Information, Please Contact Councilwoman Sample-Hughes
at 443-366-5846 or Via Email at ssample@wicomicocounty.org