Charles County Landowners Donate Conservation Easements in 2003
LA PLATA — Charles County landowners protected 550 acres of farmland, woodland, and scenic open space during 2003 by donating perpetual conservation easements to the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET). These easements ensure that the land will remain forever untouched by development.
The new easements include 328 acres in Nanjemoy, 78 acres off Route 425, 24 acres near the town of Issue, 25 acres in Port Tobacco, and 90 acres south of La Plata. These easements protect 43 acres of farmland and pasture, 366 acres of woodland, and 135 acres of wetland. For Paul Facchina, the 90-acre easement is the eighth property that he has placed under conservation easement and his second one in 2003. His other 2003 easement is a 200-acre property in St. Mary’s County that is completely forested and borders the Chesapeake Bay. For Mr. Jim Stewart and his wife Barbara, the 328-acre easement is their second donation to the MET the first being a property in Dorchester County. Four of the easements are held jointly with The Conservancy for Charles County.
“The generosity of landowners and their growing interest in protecting their lands and the character of their communities have enabled the MET to increase its protected acreage rapidly in recent years,” said Nick Williams, Acting Director of the MET.
The MET now holds easements on more than 5,000 acres in Charles County. Statewide, the Trust protected more than 4,100 acres in 2003, which brought the total holdings protected since 1972 to more than 100,000 acres.
The MET is authorized by law to accept private donations of real estate, money, or other property; such gifts are tax deductible. When agreeing to conservation easements, landowners donate the development rights of their properties but retain all other rights of ownership. An easement donation usually qualifies a landowner for a federal income tax deduction, state income tax credit, and property tax credit.
For more information, call the MET (100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21023) at 410-514-7900 or toll free at 877-514-7900, or visit its website at www.dnr.state.md.us/met. The Conservancy for Charles County can be reached at 301-283-4354.
Posted March 8, 2004