Department of the Environment - Water Resources - Protection of Vernal Pools (Vernal Pool Wetlands Protection Act of 2025)

HB 878 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create regulations protecting vernal pools - temporary wetlands critical for species like wood frogs and fairy shrimp. The bill directly affects landowners and developers in areas with vernal pools by mandating new preservation rules and buffer zones around these ecosystems. Key provisions define vernal pools (e.g., seasonal water presence, size limits under 5 acres) and require the Department to establish specific protections for their preservation and buffer areas. The regulations must be adopted by October 1, 2025, to address threats from development and limited existing protections.