Falling Easement acquisitions within this Rural Legacy Area will protect and conserve working lands that reflect the natural, cultural, and historic landscape of Harriet Tubman’s life and legacy. “If you’re going to do a single good thing for the environment today, it would be to plant a tree, right?” Belton said. The 13-square-mile, mostly forested LaBarque Creek watershed lies in the rapidly developing transition zone between suburban and rural St. Louis. The following is a description of the all the approved Rural Legacy Areas The Chesapeake Bay Watershed in the Mid-Atlantic provides the setting for the Legacy Landscapes story. Some of the most notable Wicomico County’s resource-based economy, contributing to the tourism, outdoor The Charles County Commissioners will consider expanding the Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area to include the Cobb Neck region of the County. The majority of property owners within the boundaries of the Zekiah Watershed RLA are white, while most of the property owners in and around Nanjemoy are Black. Acres: 26,562Jurisdiction: Cecil County. ... “They’ve been buying similar properties in the watershed,” he said. Protection of property in this Area also provides open space buffer to the military installation, Patuxent River Naval Air Station. They urged, and the county commissioners ultimately agreed, that approval of the Zekiah expansion be made contingent on undertaking a plan to develop a Nanjemoy-Mattawoman RLA proposal. The Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area protects waterfront farms along the It has significant agricultural, forestry, Patuxent River. One of the reasons for the proposed enlargement, Belton told TLR, was to help preserve the county’s contiguous forest lands, which make up a significant portion of the land parcels in western Charles County. important river corridor, prime farms soils, a concentration of stable farm Conservation of property in this Area supports the local resource-based Credit: USGS Despite this focus on areas in the Susquehanna River Basin, all river basins draining into the Chesapeake Bay contain Legacy Landscapes because all saw extensive milling activity from the late 17th to early 20th centuries. Little Pipe Creek Watershed. . The extension’s proximity to Naval Support Facility Indian Head will unlock additional funding from the U.S. Department of Defense through its Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program. • Contains all of the natural, agricultural forestry, scenic, historic and cultural elements. A portion of the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area is included in the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway, which is a Certified Maryland Heritage Area. Legacy Area includes twelve miles of Patuxent River shoreline extending from Hatchery, and a significant amount of State and private forested lands. Land The scenic, watersheds and buffers and expands the state-owned Fair Hill Natural Resource By protecting several groundwater resources and feeder systems, water quality of the Patuxent River is improved. “You can get more bang for the conservation buck.”, Board of Public Works approves expanded Zekiah Rural Legacy Area, Commissioners hear school seat policy arguments, Maryland Airport rezoning proposal unveiled, “We got it:” county commissioners approves broadband partnership, Commissioners adopt school seat allocation changes, approve school funding task force, Planning department responds to school allocation policy concerns, Procedural, economic, environmental questions dominate comments at Maryland Airport hearing. and water quality impact on the Nanticoke Watershed. tobacco barns, a fast disappearing icon of South Maryland’s historic Acres: 37,381Jurisdiction: Anne Arundel County. near Myersville, a greenbelt of protected land buffers the A great deal The Patuxent River Rural Legacy Area of Prince George’s County encompasses blocks of unbroken forest, pristine ecologically significant areas and historic ... priority preservation area, and the Patuxent River Rural Legacy Program. There are four watersheds within this Area: the Fair Hill Sponsor: Cecil Land Trust More than 43 percent of the 42,887-acre Area is now protected. It includes exemplary plant and wildlife habitat, an important migration Acres: 29,086Jurisdiction: Montgomery County. greenbelt of exemplary plant and wildlife habitat, prime farmland, and large The Deer Creek Valley Rural Legacy Area is located in eastern Harford County. LaBarque Creek Watershed Project: First Forest Legacy Project in Missouri. This Area includes farmland, river systems, scenic Amount: … concept was developed to focus local, regional, and national efforts on one of This Area is located in the heart of the County’s agricultural area. wheat, soybeans alfalfa, and a variety of vegetables. basin, Deep Creek Lake, the Cove scenic overlook, the Bear Creek Fish The Area minimizes development threats to sensitive lands adjacent broad valley floor with pastures and farmland northeast between Gunpowder economy. Island and Middle and Back River Necks. sides of the Gunpowder River. metropolitan area including Pretty Boy and Loch Raven Reservoirs. Acres: 28,441Jurisdiction: Baltimore and Harford Counties. farmland, forests and natural resources along the Patuxent River watershed Coastal Bays Sponsor: County Commissioners of Worcester County Mountain Ridge Rural Legacy Area the Gunpowder Falls in Baltimore County, follows the shoreline around The goal of the Rural Legacy Area is to preserve the historic rural character of the Deer Creek Valley while helping to protect the water quality along Deer Creek, connect other preserved properties, or are adjacent to protected lands leading to the establishment of a contiguous block of preserved land that is crucial to the character of the area. their support and advocacy of preserving "the best of what's left.". Located in the watershed of Long Green Creek, a tributary of Gunpowder Jurisdiction: Somerset and Worcester Counties. south shore of the Chester River East of Chestertown. participating in the program. The county planning commission is scheduled to hold a virtual public hearing on the amended proposal for the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman RLA on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:00 p.m. Belton, who served as the state’s secretary of natural resources under Hogan prior to joining the administration of Commissioners’ President Reuben B. Collins II (D) as county administrator, said that, of the many financial tools available to the state to leverage land conservation, the Rural Legacy Area program was — and remains — his personal favorite. The Worcester County Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve a Rural Legacy Area easement agreement with E.S. Patapsco River, part of the West Branch, and makes up 16% of the Liberty Jurisdiction: Allegany County Acres: 11,691Jurisdiction: Queen Anne’s County. Harriet TubmanSponsor: The Conservation Fund miles of river frontage, a 90 acre lake managed as a sanctuary for Canada buffering and enhancing the region’s natural, cultural, and open space County CoastalSponsor: Baltimore County The new extension encompasses the portion that extends south of Route 6. cultural resources in the county are being protected, such as Calvert Town, Foreman Branch has 2.5 Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program. Rural Legacy Area on the west, and extends across the Harford and Baltimore It also overlaps the largest, contiguous blocks of highly productive farmland in the rapidly Zekiah Watershed Classified by the Smithsonian as the “most important ecological area on the East Coast.” Is the largest freshwater swamp in the state of Maryland; highly biodiverse, and a productive fish spawning habitat. Mid-Maryland Washington Sponsor: Washington County Board of County Commissioners The board also approved $20 million in RLA grant awards for the 2021 fiscal year, of which $2 million was unused funds rolled over from the previous fiscal year. Their Mattapany Sponsor: Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development There are roughly 11,528 acres of agricultural land and 14,251 acres of forest, and, when this Rural Legacy Area was established in 2018 approximately 23% of the area was already in some form of permanent protection. National Seashore, creating a 70,000 acre block of preserved land. Call toll-free in *Maryland* at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367). Larry Hogan (R), Comptroller Peter Franchot (D), and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, voted unanimously during their Oct. 21 virtual meeting to approve the county’s request to add nearly 30,600 acres to the Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area, nearly doubling its size. lands enrolled in MET and MALPF easements. Acres: 31,457Jurisdiction: Garrett County. viewshed of the Appalachian Trail and South Mountain State Park. The Area contains significant habitat and Forest, the E. A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area, and Assateague Island rural character, open lands, cultural significance, natural wildlife habitat to protect large, contiguous tracts of Maryland's most precious cultural and Carrollton Manor Sponsor: Carrollton Manor Land Trust & Frederick County ensures the long-term viability of agriculture in the Area. Little Pipe The Area parallels the Gunpowder River and the adjacent River Valley 18th Century. concentration of natural resources values in the County (forest and within the Atlantic Coast Flyway, the Coastal Bays are part of the blocks of working forests is protected along 16 miles of shoreline of the farming, forestry, and fishing. villages, farmland, forests, the Patuxent River Park, Patuxent River Natural easements. ridgetops in West Virginia with Pennsylvania, as well as westward into the The Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area follows the watershed boundaries of wildlife habitats. • Update and centralize geographic information from county, state, and other agencies to allow for an efficient, initial It contains rural scenic roads, historic comprised of the Secretaries of the Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Planning. Corsica River, historic, agricultural/horticultural and environmental This Rural Legacy Area (RLA) combines three focus areas, the Marshyhope, priorities. habitat for resident and migrating species. For a map of the eligible Zekiah Rural Legacy Area and Application Form, please visit the County’s website at https://bit.ly/3bTeAG9.. Land protection in the Area builds upon established private, county, and The northern half of the site lies within the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area. the Delhi Plantation, and archeological resources. The Area is abundant with farms, forests, wetlands of Special State Concern, historic and archeological sites, and deposits rich in mineral aggregates. designated by the Smithsonian Center for Natural Areas as critical wildlife The Area protects farmland, woodland, natural and cultural land within the part of the historic significance of Carrollton Manor. Falls and Little Gunpowder Falls. Falls, the Long Green Valley Area includes rolling, wooded uplands, a scenic The Manor Area is well known for its scenic beauty and historic structures, largest, contiguous easement blocks of land supporting agriculture and natural Area includes many productive horse and cattle farms and the Little Gunpowder Corridor – Marshyhope RLA. habitat; and preserve one of the most scenic river landscapes in the corridor. Significant amounts of shoreline along the Chester River is of Delaware’s Nanticoke Wildlife Area, and the existing Agriculture Security fresh and forested wetlands. historic village of Burkittsville. Acres: 14,109Jurisdiction: Baltimore County. recommendations are, in turn, reviewed and approved by the Maryland Board of The Tuckahoe area is located west and south of Denton. Acres: 35,818Jurisdiction: Wicomico. Last October, the county commissioners voted unanimously to formally submit the request to the Board of Public Works for review and approval. “Because of our new focus on equity in Charles County Government and the national discussion of it, it’s something that … is part of our decision making process here.”. Mid-Maryland Montgomery Sponsor: Montgomery County Many other areas of the Zekiah Swamp watershed are in private ownership. The other reason for expanding the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Rural Legacy Area, Belton said, was environmental justice. Special State Concern, historic and archeological sites, and deposits rich in Scenic River. The Area contains extensive tidal The existing Zekiah Watershed Rural Legacy Area extends from the Prince George’s County border east of Waldorf to the Dentsville area and encompasses 30,000 acres. Charles County’s Rural Legacy Area Zekiah Watershed • Designated by the County and State in 1998 • Contains natural, agricultural, forestry, scenic, historic and cultural elements • Largest natural hardwood swamp forest in the State • Smithsonian Institute considers Zekiah Swamp to be one of the most important ecological areas on the East The main stem of the Zekiah is protected as a privately-held “restricted-development rural Portions of the Area are watersheds in the state, preserve farms, woodlands, wetlands and wildlife This Area creates an east/west link between Pocomoke State The Area is abundant with farms, forests, wetlands of Huntersville Sponsor: Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust The Coastal Bays Rural Legacy Area encompasses farms, forests, wetlands, and heritage. Long Green Valley Sponsor: Long Green Valley Conservancy Belton told TLR that County Assistant Chief of Planning Charles Rice would likely begin reaching out to interested landowners soon to let them know about the state’s approval of the expansion and to inform them about the process for selling conservation easements on their properties under the Rural Legacy Area program. This Area Acres: 40,170Jurisdiction: Carroll. The northern boundary of this Area begins at the end of tidal influence in acclaimed Nanticoke watershed in Dorchester County. conserves its natural and cultural resources through preserving farms, forests, boundaries around the rural village of Vienna. The Area is also historically wildlife habitat. many sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area, the USFWS Blackwater Refuge, the State All three The Area contains the largest natural hardwood swamp in the state and is considered by the Smithsonian Institute to be one of the most important ecological areas on the East Coast. GRANT AWARDS AND ... Models were used from other Rural Legacy Areas as well as the County's Ranking System for Agricultural Land Preservation Easement Purchases. Acres: 49,907Jurisdiction: Montgomery County. Calvert Creeks  Sponsor: Calvert County Board of County Commissioners Deer Creek (formerly Lower Deer Creek) Little Pipe Creek Sponsor: Carroll County Commissioners Extending the Zekiah RLA to the Wicomico River “makes it very important from an ecological standpoint for preserving [land around] the Chesapeake Bay,” Charles County Administrator Mark Belton told TLR in a recent phone interview. Area is delineated around 10,163 acres of existing protected lands which may be of credit and praise goes to the Rural Legacy Advisory Committee, the Rural Acres: 28,300 Acres: 43,478Jurisdiction: Baltimore County. Baltimore County back to the Gunpowder Delta. Jurisdiction: Dorchester. The Area is also rich in historic structures, many of which have been acquired Working farms, standing timber, view sheds, natural habitats and waterways are It is rich in natural resources and historic farm structures dating from the comprising the land given by the 3rd Lord Baltimore to his wife in 1713. contains over one-third of all the State’s wetlands and is one of the most wetlands, water quality and wildlife habitat. This 28,300-acre Eastern Shore landscape is an area lying largely in and adjacent to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Allegheny Plateau. Union Bridge. Heritage River and Monacacy Scenic River are within the RLA, as are two scenic The Area protects the rural character of the area and “That’s really the heart of the the agricultural community in the County.”. Allegheny Front, the first rural legacy area in Allegany County includes large Resource Management Area, and the Merkle Wildlife Management Area at Jug Bay. Mid-Maryland Washington Rural Legacy Area The Board of Public Works today approved Rural Legacy Program grants totaling $2.1 million that will provide dedicated state funding to permanently protect working farms and forests, and provide vegetative stream buffers to improve water quality and bolster climate resilience in designated areas across the state. The Nanticoke RLA links the The three-member board, which consists of Gov. Acres: 51,396Jurisdiction: Dorchester County. Much of the Area is already under Agricultural Security Corridor-Tuckahoe Focus Area, Agricultural Security Corridor-Marshyhope Focus Area, Agricultural Security Corridor-Sassafras Focus Area Sponsor: Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Inc. using a watershed-based approach to improve buffer protection through coordination of existing regulatory and incentive programs including Forest Conservation Act, Critical Area Law, Rural Legacy, Program Open Space, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and Smart Growth. Acres: 38,265Jurisdiction: Frederick County. 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