1. A. Listing Criteria. In order to qualify as a natural heritage area a natural community shall:

   1. (1) Contain one or more threatened or endangered species or wildlife species in need of conservation;
   2. (2) Be a unique blend of geological, hydrological, climatalogical or biological features; and
   3. (3) Be considered to be among the best Statewide examples of its kind.
2. B. The Administration shall prepare maps describing the location of all natural heritage areas. The maps shall be filed in the office of the Director of the Wildlife and Heritage Service, Department of Natural Resources, Tawes State Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401.

3. C. The following areas are designated natural heritage areas:

   (1) Kasecamp Shale Barrens	Allegany County;
   (2) Maple Run	Allegany County;
   (3) Outdoor Club Shale Barrens	Allegany County;
   (4) Sideling Hill Creek	Allegany, Washington County;
   (5) Cypress Creek Swamp	Anne Arundel County;
   (6) Eagle Hill Bog	Anne Arundel County;
   (7) Upper Patuxent Marshes	Anne Arundel, Prince George's County;
   (8) Black Marsh	Baltimore County;
   (9) Robert E. Lee Park	Baltimore County;
   (10) Camp Roosevelt Cliffs	Calvert County;
   (11) Cove Point Marsh	Calvert County;
   (12) Flag Ponds	Calvert County;
   (13) Randle Cliff Beach	Calvert County;
   (14) Grove Neck	Cecil County;
   (15) Plum Creek	Cecil County;
   (16) Allen's Fresh	Charles County;
   (17) Chicamuxen Creek	Charles County;
   (18) Popes Creek	Charles County;
   (19) Upper Nanjemoy Creek	Charles County;
   (20) Chicone Creek	Dorchester County;
   (21) Mill Creek	Dorchester County;
   (22) Savanna Lake	Dorchester County;
   (23) Upper Blackwater River	Dorchester County;
   (24) Upper Nanticoke River, Marshes and Swamps	Dorchester, Wicomico County;
   (25) High Rock	Garrett County;
   (26) Toliver Run	Garrett County;
   (27) Great Falls	Montgomery County;
   (28) Irish Grove	Somerset County;
   (29) Hickory Point Cypress Swamp	Somerset, Worcester County;
   (30) Lower Nassawango Creek	Worcester County;
   (31) Mattaponi	Worcester County;
   (32) North Sinepuxent Bay Dunes	Worcester County.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§4-2A-01—4-2A-09 and 10-2A-01—10-2A-09, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01 and .02 were previously codified as Regulations .43 and .65, respectively, under COMAR 08.03.01 Wildlife Conservation. This recodification was effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

For the history of these regulations before June 3, 1985, see the Administrative History which follows COMAR 08.03.01.

Regulation .01 amended effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

Regulations .01 and .02 repealed effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulation .01 amended effective June 26, 1989 (16:12 Md. R. 1334); December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulations .04B and C, .05C, .06, .07C, .08C, .09C, and .10C amended and Regulation .11 recodified to Regulation .12 and new Regulation .11 adopted effective December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulation .11-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective April 13, 1992 (19:8 Md. R. 799)

Regulation .11-1 adopted effective August 3, 1992 (19:15 Md. R. 1388)

Chapter revised effective October 24, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1813)

Regulation .01B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Regulation .04C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .05C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06 amended effective October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .07C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .08C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .09C amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .10B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .12 amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .14 adopted effective December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Chapter revised effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 953)

Regulation .01B amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .03A amended effective September 26, 2016 (43:19 Md. R. 1071)

Regulation .04C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .05C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .06 amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93)

Regulation .06C, F, I amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .07C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .08C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .09C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)