Washington County has received a 1998 Distinguished Achievement Award for its Forest Conservation Fund Program.
The Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee gave the award to the county after the program was submitted to the committee's Local Innovations Awards Program by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Steve Goodrich, county chief senior planner, told the commissioners about the award and the program during Tuesday's meeting.
In a letter to Goodrich, State Forest Conservation Program Coordinator Marian Honeczy said that not only were state officials impressed with the program but they were considering adapting it on the state level.
"Steve and county staff have done a good job on this program," County Commissioner Bert Iseminger said. It is an innovative approach to state mandates, he said.
