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Dorchester County asks U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to reexamine Blackwater refuge revenue sharing
Summary
The county council voted to send a letter requesting a review of federal refuge revenue sharing and payments in lieu of taxes for land within Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and to send copies to the federal delegation.
Dorchester County Council members voted Sept. 16 to ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to review and reconsider payment levels the federal government provides for federal land within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.
County planning and zoning director Susan Webb brought the item forward after the council moved it from the consent agenda to action. The motion directs staff to send a formal request to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to provide copies of the letter to each member of the county’s federal delegation.
Why it matters: The refuge holds large acreages in Dorchester County (cited by council members at roughly 36,000 county acres plus state holdings), and the county said the current payment levels do not adequately offset the cost of providing roads and other services across refuge lands. Council members urged a reconsideration while reiterating their support for conservation.
Council debate centered on balancing conservation goals with the county’s fiscal responsibilities. One council member said refuge lands create high maintenance burdens for county infrastructure such as Marsh Road and other access routes. County staff said the county currently receives approximately $600,000 through federal payments tied to acreage cited in the discussion; council members asked for a reevaluation of the formula and consideration of alleged shortfalls.
What happens next: Staff will prepare the letter asking for review and reconsideration, and a copy will be sent to the federal delegation for their awareness and potential follow‑up. The council did not specify a deadline for a written response from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the motion.
