The Maryland Department of Environment, Land and Materials Administration, Mining Program has made it a mission to participate in outreach and educational programs throughout the State. Although primarily viewed as a program tasked with regulating, enforcement, and reclamation, this program participates in many educational activities to increase public participation and awareness of environmental issues. These activities vary from supporting the local watershed groups to hosting an Arbor Day tree planting event each year, working with everyone from local citizens and schools, conservation groups and the mining industry.
Arbor Day 2018
On April 26 MDE’s Mining program participated in their annual Arbor Day outreach event. This year approximately 125 students from Fort Hill, Alleghany, and Mountain Ridge High Schools gathered to plant trees and wild flowers along a reclaimed abandoned coal mine. The area is also the site of a MDE landslide stabilization project run by MDE’s Abandoned Mine Land division.
The students had the opportunity to ride the Scenic Western Maryland Railroad from the Cumberland Depot to the planting site. Once at the site the students planted trees, shrubs, and wildflowers along the slope in order to help stabilize an area that has seen landslides in the past. The students also enjoyed lunch at the Frostburg depot before departing back to the Cumberland Depot.
Arbor Day April 2018
Arbor Day April 2018
Past Arbor Day Articles
Educational Links
For more information contact: Molly Michaelson at Molly.Michaelson@maryland.gov , MDE, Mining Program, MOG, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-537-3568
