Department of Natural Resources v. Linchester Sand & Gravel Corp.

Maryland’s recently enacted “wetlands statute,” marshalled by the General Assembly to protect those vast acres of ecologically, economically, aesthetically and recreation ally valuable terraqueous areas having completely, partially or periodically submerged bottoms, which are the habitats of innumerable variations of aquatic life, is the legal quagmire through which we must wade in order to resolve this dispute. 1 Although the basic legal question requires considerable analysis, the facts of this case are not muddled.

Approximately four years ago Linchester Sand and Gravel Corporation, the…