Lothian couple investigated for tree clearing

County and state environmental officials are investigating a Lothian couple, saying they improperly cleared up to 20 acres of trees on their rural property in order to grow hay.

Dr. Susan Mende, a veterinarian, and Dr. Mark Hubley, a college biology professor, were each cited for clearing the trees at 936 Fiorenza Drive without having a plan to control stormwater runoff, which carries a fine of $1,000.

They've been ordered to stabilize the land to keep dirt from washing away into a floodplain and the nearby Wilson Owens Branch, a creek that flows into the Patuxent River, a Chesapeake Bay tributary.

And the couple has...