Conservation Foe Defeated

Among the 28 pickups that allowed Democrats to retake a majority in the House of Representatives was a victory in the 11th Congressional District of California. This district has been represented by Richard Pombo, a Republican who has repeatedly tried to undermine the Endangered Species Act and give away mineral rights to corporations. In Washington, DC, he tried to sell off Roosevelt Island - a National Park - to real estate developers to build luxury homes. He was defeated by Democrat Jerry McNerney, 53% to 47%.

In significant local races, Adrian Fenty won the DC mayoral election, Ben Cardin defeated Michael Steele for Senate in Maryland, Michael O'Malley unseated Bob Ehrlich as Governor of Maryland, and the Virginia Senate race will require a recount, though Jim Webb is leading George Allen. Maryland approved the ballot question to restrict sales of public lands.

Tags:

• Conservation
• Election
• Pombo

Maryland Ballot Question

If you are voting in Maryland today, make sure to vote "YES" on Ballot Question 1.

The Board of Public Works may not approve the sale, transfer, exchange, grant or other permanent disposition of any state-owned outdoor recreation, open space, conservation, preservation, forest, or park land without the express approval of the General Assembly or of a committee that the General Assembly designates by statute, resolution or rule.

This amendment is intended to prevent sales of public lands without oversight, as was attempted in 2004.

Tags:

• Election
• Conservation

Maryland Will Buy Blackwater Property

Waterfowl at Blackwater (USFWS)

For the past year, environmental groups on the Eastern Shore have been fighting a proposed development near Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The development would have occupied 1,080 acres in the watershed of the Little Blackwater River. The site would have held a golf course, hotel and conference center, and 2700 homes. (See here and here for background.) Today Maryland announced that it will use conservation funds to purchase most of the land upon which the development would have been built.

The state will spend up to $10.4 million to buy 754 acres of about 1,080 acres of what is now mostly farmland. A developer, Duane Zentgraf, originally planned to build thousands of new homes plus a golf course and hotel on the land.

Today's agreement, subject to an appraisal and final state approval, leaves room for 675 homes, most of them for older adults only. A golf course, hotel and conference center originally planned have been scrapped.

The announcement represents a victory for conservation and smart growth advocates, and for the wildlife that depends upon the refuge and its surroundings for habitat.

Meadowlands Guide Available

If you live or watch birds in New Jersey, you might be interested in a new guide to the New Jersey Meadowlands. The guide was published in August by the NJ Audubon Society, Hackensack Riverkeeper, and Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, and it is available for free. Most people experience the Meadowlands while passing through on the Turnpike or the Northeast Corridor trains. Dedicated birders know that there are many bird watching possibilities among its marshes.

The goal of the guide was to highlight the wildlife viewing possibilities in a heavily-urbanized portion of the state.

"The northeast corner of the state gets such short shrift. These places are gems of nature and quiet and solitude and habitat," said Hugh Carola, a conservationist with Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc., which helped write sections of the guide.

"But close to home there are these tremendous places of good woods and wetlands and older parks. You'll find what you wouldn't expect," Carola said.

To obtain a copy, visit njwildlifetrails.org or email your.meadowlands@njmeadowlands.gov.

Week in Review

Posts from the last week.

Saturday: More Pelicans

Saturday: Fall on the Mall

Sunday: Sparrows and Hawks at the Arboretum

Sunday: A New Birder's World

Monday: Meddling

Monday: Burdock and Kinglets

Tuesday: Birds of the Mid-Atlantic #26: Crows and Ravens

Wednesday: The Birder Survey

Wednesday: Rethinking the Mall

Thursday: Pigeons As Bloggers

Thursday: The New Mall

Friday: Loose Feathers #73