Sec. 5B-103. Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 5B-103 (2026)
Sec. 5B-103. Soil Conservation and Water Quality PlansLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Effective May 13, 1991, each owner of agricultural land in a Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zone is required to have in place and be implementing a Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan approved by the Prince George's Soil Conservation District.
(b)
The Prince George's Soil Conservation District shall review and renew Plans at a maximum of five (5) year intervals.
(c)
The Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans shall:
(1)
Require the implementation of a grassland and manure management program, where appropriate;
(2)
Require that farming activities, including the grazing of livestock, do not disturb stream banks, tidal shorelines, or other Habitat Protection Areas, as described in the Conservation Manual;
(3)
Prohibit the feeding or watering of livestock within fifty (50) feet of the Mean High Water Line of tidal water and tributary streams, or from the edge of tidal wetlands, whichever is further inland; and
(4)
Prohibit the clearing of existing natural vegetation in the Buffer; and
(5)
Prohibit the use, storage, or disposal of sludge within the Buffer.
(d)
Until such time as a Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan is implemented to the satisfaction of the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Soil Conservation District, existing farms in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zones are required to:
(1)
Maintain a minimum twenty-five (25) foot vegetated filter strip landward from tidal waters, tidal wetlands and streams (excluding drainage ditches), or from the edge of tidal wetlands, whichever is further inland, and further provided that:
(A)
The filter strip shall be composed of either trees with a dense ground cover, or other appropriate vegetation, and shall be so managed as to provide water quality benefits and habitat protection. Noxious weeds, including Johnson grass, Canada thistle, and Multiflora rose, which occur in the filter strip, may be controlled by authorized means; and
(B)
The filter strip shall be expanded by a distance of four (4) feet for every one percent (1%) of slope, for slopes greater than six percent (6%).
(2)
Further, farmers shall use the following practices:
(A)
Cover crops shall be planted to reduce erosion.
(B)
Nutrients shall be applied at the appropriate time and appropriate methods shall be used.
(C)
Reduced tillage (e.g. Ano-till) practices shall be utilized where practical.
(D)
Crop rotations shall be implemented.
(e)
The Prince George's Soil Conservation District shall provide documentation and periodic updates of approved Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Overlay Zones to the Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation.
(f)
Agricultural activities in the Buffer. Agricultural activities are permitted in the Buffer, if, as a minimum best management practice, a twenty-five (25) foot vegetated filter strip measured landward from the Mean High Tide Line of tidal waters or tributary streams, or from the edge of tidal wetlands, whichever is further inland, is established and further provided that:
(1)
The filter strip shall be composed of either trees with a dense ground cover or a thick sod of grass and shall be so managed as to provide water quality benefits and habitat protection consistent with the policies stated above. Noxious weeds, including Johnson grass, Canada thistle, and Multiflora rose, which occur in the filter strip, may be controlled by authorized means;
(2)
The filter strip shall be expanded by a distance of four (4) feet for every one percent (1%) of slope, for slopes greater than six percent (6%);
(3)
The twenty-five (25) foot vegetated filter shall be maintained until such time as the landowner is implementing, under an approved Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan, a program of (BMPs) for the specific purposes of improving water quality and protecting plant and wildlife habitat; and provided that the portion of the Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plan implemented achieves the water quality and habitat protection objectives of the twenty-five (25) foot vegetated filter strip;
(4)
Clearing of existing vegetation in the Buffer is not allowed; and
(5)
Farming activities, including the grazing of livestock, shall not disturb stream banks, tidal shorelines or other Habitat Protection Areas as described in Subtitle 5B.
(g)
When agricultural uses in the Buffer area cease and a new use is proposed, the Buffer shall be established in forest vegetation. The Buffer shall be established landward from the mean high water line of tidal waters, the edge of tributary streams, and the edge of wetlands. In establishing the Buffer, management measures shall be undertaken to provide forest vegetation that assures the Buffer functions set forth in that section of the Subtitle.