Information
Stoney Demonstration Forest was managed by the DNR Forest Service from acquisition in 1981 until 1996 when management was transferred to the DNR Park Service. In August of 2005, the property was transferred back to the DNR Forest Service for management.
In general, the forest was established approximately 90 years ago when agricultural land was abandoned and allowed to revert back to a forested condition. The woodland has a history of being managed for commercial timber production, with numerous timber sales occurring in the 1980’s.
The main objectives of the forest are:
- To use scientific forest management techniques to demonstrate the integration of the multiple uses of the forest land of Stoney Demonstration Forest
- To include the production of commercial forest products
- The enhancements of wildlife habitat
- The protection of soil and water resources
- The maintenance as a forest recreation site in Harford County, Maryland
A 2-mile loop road was established and designed to demonstrate proper road construction techniques and best management practices. Stoney Demonstration Forest is bounded on the east by privately owned woodland and farm land, on the north by a wooded housing development, on the west by James Run and privately owned woodland, and on the south by Nova Scotia Road, where a small gated parking lot exists.
The topography of the forest consists of gently rolling terrain, typical of the Piedmont Plateau in Central Harford County. The land is broken into three drainages with a northeast to southwest orientation, all flowing into James Run. The highest elevation on the Forest is 325 feet above sea-level, found along the northeastern property boundary. Many spring seeps and forested wetlands occur throughout the property and abrupt steep slopes in excess of 45% can be found adjacent to James Run.
An inventory of the forest condition was completed during the Summer of 2006, and data from that inventory was utilized to compile this 
Stoney Demonstration Forest Management Plan. More than 100 data points were inventoried where factors including stand density, species composition, wildlife habitat value, timber value, and site index were surveyed. This data can be found in the Bel Air Office of the Forest Service. The Wildlife and Heritage Service has indicated that there are no known rare, threatened or endangered species of plant or animal located on this property. Stoney Forest is suitable Forest Interior Dwelling Bird habitat.
