Wildlife refuges and parks in Maryland are getting a healthy does of the economic stimulus spending being sprinkled around the country by the federal government.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to spend $280 million nationwide to build visitor centers, fix infrastructure and and boost the work done at national wildlife refuges and hatcherie.  Of that, nearly $8 million goes to Maryland facilities.

The lion's share goes to the sprawling Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel.  About $6 million is earmarked to demolish an old abandoned lab building and replace it with modern offices for the staff that work to conserve migratory bird populations.  The U.S. Geological Survey, which also uses the refuge for research, is kicking in another $9 million for a new lab to study toxic contaminants in wildlife, according to Brad Knudsen, the refuge manager.  Other funds are being spent on replacing an old residence and on fixing security gates for the compound.

About $1 million is going to build a trail linking the Harriett Tubman Discovery Center in Dorchester County with nearby Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge projects come on top of $6.6 million worth of improvements announced last week for  national parks and monuments in Maryland, including upgrades at Fort McHenry in the Inner Harbor and at historic Hampton mansion in Towson.

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