American Horse Council to Hold Recreation Forum at Annual Meeting in June

WASHINGTON, DC (May 5, 2010)–The American Horse Council (AHC) invites all recreational riders and equestrians to attend the AHC Recreation Forum Tuesday, June 22, 2010, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The recreation forum will emphasize issues of importance to recreational riders around the country.

The highlight of the program will be two panel discussions. The first panel will focus on building better relationships between equestrians and local federal land mangers and will include leaders from the National Park Service, National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies. The second panel will spotlight the shared interest of equestrians, other recreation groups and conservationists.

The forum will also include several presentations from groups such as Backcountry Horsemen of America and the American Quarter Horse Association.

“This is a great opportunity for recreational riders in the Washington, DC area to hear what concerns are on the mind of other recreational riders, what national groups around the country are doing, and how equestrians can better work with their land mangers,” said AHC Legislative Director Ben Pendergrass.

The recreation forum is being held in conjunction with the AHC national issues forum. The cost to attend the recreation forum is $25. For more information on registering for the Forum, visit www.horsecouncil.org/events.php and click on the registration form.

Spring 2010 EPIC Newsletter

Click here to read the Spring 2010 EPIC newsletter.

Help Shape the Future of Trails in Montgomery County!

March 30, 2010–Your input will help shape the future of trails, parks and recreation in Montgomery County!

The Montgomery County Department of Parks and the Montgomery County Department of Recreation invite you to participate in a focus group on trail use needs to help us effectively plan for the next 20 years. Any interested person has the opportunity to provide input into “Vision 2030”, which is a new Strategic Plan for Parks and Recreation in Montgomery County. The intent of this plan is to identify how to most effectively meet the needs of a changing community over the next 20 years in regards to parks, recreation, cultural heritage, natural spaces and trails. In order to identify these needs, we are asking for your help.

As a component of the planning process, we are conducting a series of focus groups meetings with community leaders and residents. Because we value your opinion about trail, equestrian, and bike path facilities and issues, we wanted to personally invite you to the focus group meeting.

This focus group meeting for users of both natural surface trails and hard surface trails (also known as hiker-biker trails) will be held on Tuesday April 27, 2010 from 7-8:30 p.m., in the Lounge Meeting Room of the Parkside Headquarters Building at 9500 Brunett Avenue in Silver Spring MD 20901 (see directions below). All trail users are invited to participate including walkers, runners, hikers, cyclists, mountain bikers and equestrians.

The meeting will be facilitated Jim Klein of Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, a team member from the consulting team led by GreenPlay that is developing the plan for the County. At this meeting you will be given an opportunity to provide input on the future needs for natural and hard surface trails,  parks, and recreation in Montgomery County, including discussing strengths, opportunities for improvement, key issues, potential partnerships, etc.

Please reply to this email  Vision2030@montgomeryparks.org if you would like to attend. For additional information on Vision 2030, please visit our Web site www.VisionMontgomery2030.org. For other questions please contact Tanya Schmieler 301-650-4392.

Directions to Parkside: From Colesville Rd (Rt. 29), turn west onto Sligo Creek Parkway, and then bear right onto Brunett Avenue. Take the first driveway on left and the Park Headquarters Building is at the top of the hill on the left.  The meeting room is all the way down the hall on the right.

Say “No” to Sunday Hunting

March 18, 2010–Like trail riding on the weekends? Your safety may be in jeopardy if the Maryland state legislature passes a bill to allow hunting on Sundays from October through January. EPIC encourages you to take action on the following issue:

The Maryland state legislature is considering a bill (H.B. 1518) to allow hunting on Sundays from October through January across much of the state. The animals need a day of rest, and so do people who ride horses, hike or watch wildlife and nature without the threat of being shot.

Please make a brief, polite phone call to your state delegate(s) (click here to find your delegate’s information) and urge opposition to H.B. 1518. You can say: “As a constituent, I’m calling to ask you to oppose H.B. 1518, which would open up Sunday hunting in Maryland.” After you call, send a follow-up message.

If you’re able, please attend a hearing on the bill this Friday, March 19, at 1 pm in Room 250, House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Your Voice is Needed THIS WEEK on Key Land Conservation Budget Issues

March 16, 2010—The Maryland General Assembly is in the process of reviewing Governor O’Malley’s budget, including a proposed recommendation from the Dept. of Legislative Services (an arm of the General Assembly) that would delete funding for Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) and repeal the statue that created MET.

The threat to eliminate MET will impact permanent protection of scenic open space, agricultural and forestlands for future generations across the State. We hope that your commitment to preserving the rural character of Montgomery County shows you the benefits provided by conservation easements. As you know, given the recession and resulting declining state revenue, this is a very difficult budget year.
Your representatives in the General Assembly need to hear from you about the importance of MET.

We need your help! The Legislature’s Budget Committees will be meeting this week to make decisions.

Please contact your representative immediately!  To identify your state representatives, click here, or contact one of the key legislators below.
Representatives will only know your views if you tell them.

•        MET is a cost effective program that complements other land conservation programs like Rural legacy and Program Open Space.
•        Without MET, the State may not meet its legal obligation to Maryland’s citizens to be a responsible steward of 1000 properties protected in perpetuity.
•        Landowners who might shy away from donating an easement to the state government have found MET an attractive option.
•        MET provides critical technical support and guidance to ensure sound land conservation for Maryland’s citizens.

The Department of Natural Resources has expressed their support of MET programs and has strongly opposed this recommendation. Secretary Griffin has formally presented this position at the recent subcommittee hearings, urging members not to approve this recommended action.

The Subcommittees that will act on the proposed recommendations are as follows:

SENATE
Senate Budget and Taxation Committee: Senate Public Safety, Transportation & Environment Subcommittee
James E. DeGrange, Sr., Chair (410) 841-3593, (301) 858-3593
Verna L. Jones, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3612, (301) 858-3612

HOUSE
House Appropriations Committee: House Transportation & the Environment Subcommittee
Tawanna P. Gaines, Chair (410) 841-3058, (301) 858-3058
Murray D. Levy, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3325, (301) 858-3325

Your input is crucial! Thanks for your support!

Beki Howey
Land Trust Assistance Coordinator
Maryland Environmental Trust
ph: 410-514-7915
rhowey@dnr.state.md.us

Elimination of County Positions–3/10/10 Update

2010 Maryland Equine Census Coming Soon

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 2, 2010) ­ The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) has commissioned the United States Department of Agriculture to conduct a census of the Maryland equine population starting in May 2010. The 2010 Equine Census will be the second count in Maryland of all breeds (horses, ponies, mules, burros and donkeys) regardless of ownership or use.

“The first equine census eight years ago gave us an important baseline for measuring the size of our equine industry. It reinforced that horses of all kinds are remarkably important to Maryland’s agricultural sector, jobs, economy and land base,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “With the 2010 count, we will learn how the industry has changed, which can in turn help us determine what policy or economic development activities
might be needed.”

Beginning in April, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail out more than 21,000 forms to equine owners and stable
operators to collect information on Maryland’s equine industry for the 2009 calendar year. Completed forms are due by June 1.

“It is important that everyone who receives a questionnaire respond. Whether you own a single horse for your family’s recreational use or run a large
breeding or training facility, we need your input,” said Jim Steele, the chairman of the MHIB and manager of Shamrock Farm in Woodbine. “Anyone
concerned about submitting personal or financial information should know that by law, all such information is strictly confidential.”

The census is the only reliable measure of the size and economic impact of the industry for public and private decision making process. Anyone who
receives an equine census questionnaire in the mail should complete the form and return it promptly.  Anyone involved in equine activities who does not
receive a questionnaire by May 1 should call the 1-800-675-0295 (toll free) to request a questionnaire.

For more information about the Maryland Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service or the 2010 Maryland Equine Census, visit: www.marylandhorseindustry.org/census.shtml or www.nass.usda.gov/md.

EPIC strongly encourages all members to fill out the census.

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