- Joined
- Mar 11, 2001
- Messages
- 70,011
- Reaction score
- 1,007
Maryland Announces Preservation of 460 Acres in Anne Arundel, Hartford and St. Mary's Counties
4/16/09
Annapolis, Maryland - Governor Martin O'Malley today announced Board of Public Works approval of four conservation easements that preserve a total of 460 acres in Anne Arundel, Harford and St. Mary's Counties through the Rural Legacy Program.
"I am extremely proud of the Rural Legacy Program and its commitment to identifying and preserving lands that define the rural character of our state and support Maryland's farming, forestry, tourism and outdoor recreation," said Governor O'Malley. "Protecting our local watersheds is another step towards a clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay."
Today, the Board of Public Works approved the conservation easement of a 70-acre property in the Anne Arundel County South Rural Legacy Area, preserving 24 acres of woodland and 40 acres of agricultural cropland. Water quality will be protected through permanent riparian buffers along 2,000 feet of Cabin Branch stream. This property is part of a larger farmland base and contributes to the local agricultural economy, including production of corn and soybeans. The easement will be held by Anne Arundel County.
In addition, the Board of Public Works approved the conservation easement of the Grier property to permanently protect 86 acres of significant forestland in the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area of Harford County. The Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area stretches 66,701 acres, about 32,065 acres (50 percent) of which is already conserved through county and state conservation programs. By preserving this particular property, water quality will be protected through permanent riparian buffers along 2,700 feet of Deer Creek River, which empties into the Susquehanna River and flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Finally, the Board of Public Works approved two conservation easements totaling 304 acres within the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area of St. Mary's County, preserving significant agricultural, forest and wetlands. Water quality will be improved through permanent protection of 4,410 feet of riparian buffers along a stream on the property that is a tributary of theChesapeake Bay watershed. Both easements will be held by the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Maryland's Rural Legacy Program provides funding to preserve large, contiguous tracts of land and to enhance natural resource, agricultural, forestry and environmental protection while supporting a sustainable land base for natural resource based industries.
Enacted by the General Assembly in 1997, Maryland's Rural Legacy Program has to date provided over Maryland's Rural Legacy Program has to date provided over $181 million to preserve 61,772 acres of valuable farmland, forests, and natural areas. The 11-member Rural Legacy Advisory Committee and the Rural Legacy Board, which is comprised ofMaryland's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Planning Secretaries, reviews grant applications annually.
For additional information, visit Maryland's Rural Legacy Program: Land Acquisition and Planning Unit Introduction - Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O'Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.
###
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency inMaryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.
Contact:
Megan Rhodes (410) 260-8001 or mrhoads@dnr.state.md.us
4/16/09
Annapolis, Maryland - Governor Martin O'Malley today announced Board of Public Works approval of four conservation easements that preserve a total of 460 acres in Anne Arundel, Harford and St. Mary's Counties through the Rural Legacy Program.
"I am extremely proud of the Rural Legacy Program and its commitment to identifying and preserving lands that define the rural character of our state and support Maryland's farming, forestry, tourism and outdoor recreation," said Governor O'Malley. "Protecting our local watersheds is another step towards a clean and healthy Chesapeake Bay."
Today, the Board of Public Works approved the conservation easement of a 70-acre property in the Anne Arundel County South Rural Legacy Area, preserving 24 acres of woodland and 40 acres of agricultural cropland. Water quality will be protected through permanent riparian buffers along 2,000 feet of Cabin Branch stream. This property is part of a larger farmland base and contributes to the local agricultural economy, including production of corn and soybeans. The easement will be held by Anne Arundel County.
In addition, the Board of Public Works approved the conservation easement of the Grier property to permanently protect 86 acres of significant forestland in the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area of Harford County. The Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area stretches 66,701 acres, about 32,065 acres (50 percent) of which is already conserved through county and state conservation programs. By preserving this particular property, water quality will be protected through permanent riparian buffers along 2,700 feet of Deer Creek River, which empties into the Susquehanna River and flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Finally, the Board of Public Works approved two conservation easements totaling 304 acres within the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area of St. Mary's County, preserving significant agricultural, forest and wetlands. Water quality will be improved through permanent protection of 4,410 feet of riparian buffers along a stream on the property that is a tributary of theChesapeake Bay watershed. Both easements will be held by the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Maryland's Rural Legacy Program provides funding to preserve large, contiguous tracts of land and to enhance natural resource, agricultural, forestry and environmental protection while supporting a sustainable land base for natural resource based industries.
Enacted by the General Assembly in 1997, Maryland's Rural Legacy Program has to date provided over Maryland's Rural Legacy Program has to date provided over $181 million to preserve 61,772 acres of valuable farmland, forests, and natural areas. The 11-member Rural Legacy Advisory Committee and the Rural Legacy Board, which is comprised ofMaryland's Agriculture, Natural Resources and Planning Secretaries, reviews grant applications annually.
For additional information, visit Maryland's Rural Legacy Program: Land Acquisition and Planning Unit Introduction - Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O'Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.
###
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency inMaryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.
Contact:
Megan Rhodes (410) 260-8001 or mrhoads@dnr.state.md.us
