Monocacy National Battlefield - Nature and Science

Monocacy National Battlefield encompasses 1,647 acres of farmland, forest and riparian areas south of the City of Frederick in the Monocacy River valley. Although created in 1935 by an act of Congress, no funding was put forth for the purchase of land until the mid-1980s. The battlefield was opened in 1991 and is therefore relatively new. The urbanization that has swept the Frederick area has also influenced the landscape of the battlefield. Significant habitat fragmentation has occurred because of human development, and the battlefield represents a sanctuary for many plant and animal species. The park is in the process of completing its General Management Plan, which will guide management decisions for the next 15-20 years. Until it is finished, projects will concentrate on combating the spread of exotic plants, constructing and maintaining trails, wildlife management, water quality monitoring, and viewshed restoration. Inventory and monitoring also continues for several state and federally threatened animal and plant species that have been recorded within the park.