February 1, 2019 

Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
Anna Hunter, Marketing and Public Information Superintendent, 410-313-4686

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced the creation of a new Assistant Natural Resource Manager position with the Department’s Natural Resources Division. This individual will direct the field operations of natural resource conservation and management, trail maintenance and construction, volunteer programming, and other duties within the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA) in Clarksville. For those interested in applying for the position, visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/howardcounty/jobs/2326105/natural-resource-program-manager-i-recreation-parks-bureau-of-parks-natur to submit an application. 

“I believe stewardship of our environment is a significant responsibility and critical to our quality of life,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Our transition team highlighted many areas of opportunities to improve our environmental sustainability efforts and I heard several times at our recent public Listening Sessions that our residents want us to be more accountable for how we manage our natural resources. The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area is one of our county’s largest natural open areas. Creating a supervisory role to oversee our conservation programs there offers us the ability to expand and focus our efforts in innovative and meaningful ways while engaging and listening to our residents.”

The addition of this Assistant Natural Resource Manager position to the MPEA staff will allow for the development of flora and fauna monitoring protocols aimed at evaluating progress towards achieving goals outlined in the MPEA Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan.

“Managing more than 1,000 acres of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area is challenging,” said Department of Recreation & Parks Director John R. Byrd. “With this new supervisory position, we expect to expand our ability to become better stewards of this open space.”

"The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area is a wonderful asset for the citizens of Howard County and the Foundation is very pleased that the County has dedicated another full-time employee to enhance the natural resource management of the area. We value the twenty year public-private partnership between the County and the Foundation and look forward to future collaboration on conservation and environmental education opportunities,” said Steve Thur, Ph.D., Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Foundation.

The Natural Resources Division oversees the development and implementation of the Department’s management plans, regulations and outreach programs designed to preserve and protect Howard County's natural resources. Some of the programs the Division oversees include the County’s Stream ReLeaf, Turf to Trees and Deer Management programs. To learn more about the Division and its programs, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Recreation-and-Parks/Natural-Resources

The Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA) is managed by the Department of Recreation & Parks in coordination with the Middle Patuxent Environmental Foundation. The MPEA is home to a diverse variety of wildlife, including more than 40 species of mammals and roughly 150 species of birds. The area is maintained using ecosystem management concepts that protect and nurture the plant and animal life found within the area. Open to the public, the MPEA also features more than five miles of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy. For more information about the MPEA, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/MPEA
 

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