Pax River Lands Sentinel Landscape Designation

Navy Base 1 of 3 Honored in 2016 REPI Challenge Cycle

Patuxent River Naval Air Station’s Atlantic Test Range has received formal designation as a Sentinel Landscape. Pax River is one of three recipients to be awarded funding in the 2016 REPI Challenge cycle.

There were eight finalists nationwide.

The Sentinel Landscape Partnership is a nationwide federal, local, and private collaboration dedicated to promoting natural resource sustainability in areas surrounding military installations. The partnership identifies opportunities that benefit national defense, local economies, and the conservation of natural resources.

The REPI Program allows the military services to enter into unique cost-sharing partnerships with state and local governments and private conservation organizations to preserve compatible land uses around military installations and to conserve natural landscapes in support of military readiness. The REPI program has protected more than 437,000 acres of land around 88 DoD installations in 30 states across the country.

“We are pleased that Pax River has landed this honor,” St. Mary’s County Commissioner President Randy Guy said. “Everyone in county government, the Navy, and all of our partners recognize the importance of collaboration to ensure that Pax River and its mission are protected.”

In the Chesapeake Bay region, NAS Patuxent River is the Navy’s premier aircraft research, development, test, and evaluation area. Protecting lands beneath its Atlantic Test Ranges reduces noise and safety concerns, prevents costly testing delays, and protects one of the most vulnerable wildlife corridors along which are home to more than 260 rare plants and animals.

“This award is indicative of how St. Mary’s County government continues to promote and nurture the working relationship we have with the Navy,” St. Mary’s Commissioner Todd Morgan said.

St. Mary’s County partnered with Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development in this endeavor and look forward to future opportunities together that will not only help protect military missions at Pax River and Webster Field, but will help to prevent the listing of candidate species, preserve and manage important natural resources, support working lands, provide benefits to veterans, and open up recreational opportunities for local communities, according to a county government news release.