The Tree City USA (TCUSA) program is a national program in the United States that provides recognition to communities that meet certain standards, including having a tree ordinance and spending at least US$2.00 per capita on urban forestry. Census data for 2000 were combined with records on TCUSA program participation and tree canopy cover data for 74 communities in Maryland, U.S., to ascertain relationships among tree canopy quantity, community demographics, and Tree City USA program participation. Communities participating in TCUSA had widely varying demographics (2.2% to more than 97% nonwhite) but tended to have larger overall populations and larger nonwhite populations than did nonparticipating communities, with the percentage of nonwhite population slightly higher for nonparticipants. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that the most predictive variable related to the amount of canopy cover is the size of the city in hectares (acres). A combination of city population, hectares (acres) of tree cover, expenditures per capita on trees, and city size in hectares (acres) produced the greatest predictability in whether a city participates in the TCUSA program. The relationship between quantity of tree canopy and total population was stronger in participating than in nonparticipating communities. However, the relationship between land area and quantity of tree canopy was stronger for nonparticipants than for participants, and overall percentage of canopy cover as well as mean percentage of canopy cover were higher in nonparticipating communities. TCUSA participants in Maryland have similar land areas, similar ethnic demographics, higher populations, and canopy coverage more closely related to population than land area when compared to non-TCUSA communities and are most likely to be found in an urban/suburban context, while non-TCUSAs are more likely to be found in a rural (agricultural/forest) context.

Current wetland acreageWetlands in the Coastal Bays have decreased substantially, especially in the northern segments. Wetlands drained for agriculture, development, and other human uses decrease habitat for wildlife and adversely affect the land's nutrient and sediment absorbing potential (e.g., buffering capability). Although slowed considerably by federal and state laws restricting impacts to wetlands, losses still occur from human- induced changes in land use, sea level rise and natural processes (erosion). The Coastal Bays watershed has lost an estimated 54,778 acres of wetlands since European settlement. Wetland loss and alteration has occurred from various activities. A network of ditches has drained many tidal and non-tidal wetlands. Tidal wetlands have also been lost due to construction of canals and bulkheads or other hard shoreline stabilization projects. Conversion of wetland to agriculture and development has also resulted in extensive wetland loss. The most recent mitigation guidelines place high weight on restoring wetlands according to needs of the watershed. Attention needs to be paid to the condition of existing wetlands, not just to their supposed existence on a map.