David M. Higgins II, Southern Maryland Chronicle
In a recent effort to bolster conservation efforts and recreational access across Maryland, the Board of Public Works approved grants totaling $900,000 to local governments and land trusts. The funding, allocated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), supports park improvements and land preservation through perpetual conservation easements aimed at protecting critical natural areas.
Significantly, Charles County received more than $380,000 from the state’s Rural Legacy Program, ensuring the protection of two ecologically vital properties covering 103 acres within the county. The conservation easements, established with the help of the Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Board, serve to maintain forested areas, protect water quality, and preserve habitats for endangered wildlife species.
The funding was part of an agenda reviewed and approved by the Board of Public Works on October 30, 2024, during which Governor Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis, and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman collectively sanctioned various conservation and recreational projects across the state.
In the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Rural Legacy Area of Charles County, a 50-acre tract of land will now be preserved through an easement. The property is predominantly forested and includes more than 5,000 feet of riparian stream buffers along tributaries of Mattawoman Creek. These stream buffers play a crucial role in protecting water quality and fostering the health of the ecosystem by preventing runoff and erosion.
An additional 53-acre forested area in the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area of Charles County will also benefit from a new easement. This property supports a habitat essential for forest interior-dwelling birds, species that rely on large, undisturbed forest blocks for successful nesting. With the easement in place, the county will preserve 3,500 feet of riparian stream buffers along a tributary feeding into Zekiah Swamp Run, which eventually drains into the Potomac River. This area’s preservation not only helps protect water quality but also safeguards biodiversity within Charles County, contributing to the overall ecological health of the region.
These grants reflect Charles County’s alignment with Maryland’s conservation priorities, which aim to safeguard critical environmental resources and prevent urban development from encroaching on valuable landscapes. Conservation easements, by ensuring that land remains undeveloped and maintained, protect ecosystems from degradation while promoting Maryland’s longstanding conservation goals.
Alongside the Charles County projects, Frederick County received a $470,000 grant for a permanent conservation easement on a 75-acre property. Through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), the easement will enhance water quality in the Israel Creek and Lower Monocacy River watersheds, safeguarding forested and grassed buffers on the property. These watersheds are vital resources, as Israel Creek serves as a designated recreational trout water area and public water supply for the county. This preservation project highlights the Board of Public Works’ commitment to sustainable practices and ecological stewardship across Maryland’s counties.
Furthermore, Worcester County received $45,000 from Program Open Space – Local for beach sand replenishment and rip rap maintenance at Homer Gudelsky Park. This funding will enable better public access and recreational use of the beach. Program Open Space, established in 1969 under the Department of Natural Resources, continues to support Maryland’s dedication to enhancing outdoor recreational spaces through grants for planning, acquisition, and development of parklands. This program divides funding into Local and Stateside projects, addressing the unique needs of both community-based and statewide recreational areas.
Maryland has long been at the forefront of conservation through its various land preservation initiatives, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Rural Legacy Program, and Program Open Space. Established in 1997, the Rural Legacy Program preserves large working landscapes across 36 designated areas in the state, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices, natural habitat preservation, and protection of water resources. The CREP, meanwhile, has acquired conservation easements from willing landowners since 2009, ensuring continued conservation practices after the expiration of federal contracts.
Program Open Space, recognized for its dual Local and Stateside programs, enables counties and municipalities to develop parks, protect natural landscapes, and enhance recreational facilities. The Board of Public Works, a three-member body responsible for overseeing the allocation of state funds, continues to reinforce Maryland’s mission of conservation and public access to natural resources.
These recent approvals underscore the state’s commitment to conservation and environmental protection while supporting local communities’ access to nature. With these newly protected lands and enhanced recreational spaces, Maryland’s landscape preservation and public use initiatives are set to benefit future generations, preserving the state’s natural resources and biodiversity.
Branching Out, Vol. 32, no. 4 (Fall 2024)
Branching Out is the free, quarterly newsletter of the Woodland Stewardship Education program. For more than 30 years, Branching Out has kept Maryland woodland owners and managers informed about ways to develop and enhance their natural areas, how to identify and control invasive plants and insects, and about news and regional online and in-person events.