Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of Funding for
Conservation Easement in Baltimore County
BPW also approves $324,900 in POS funds to preserve 241 acres in Harford County
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Reaffirming his goal of preserving Maryland’s natural beauty to benefit restoration of its waterways, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced today Board of Public Works approval of $790,310 in Rural Legacy funds to acquire a 248-acre conservation easement in the Manor Rural Legacy Area of Baltimore County.
The easement will place forested buffers along 2.6 miles of stream and protect 248 acres of the Burchell Farm from development.
In addition, the Board of Public Works approved $324,900 in Program Open Space funds as a further installment towards the acquisition of 241 acres in Harford County to augment Heavenly Waters Park and protect Winters Run.“The beautiful part of Baltimore County, known as My Lady’s Manor, has been increasingly threatened by development over the past two decades,,” said Governor Ehrlich. “This easement will help to preserve the rural heritage of the area and to protect the water quality of the Carroll Branch and the Gunpowder River.”
This easement will be jointly held by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and The Manor Conservancy, Inc. preserving the scenic view along Carroll Road and Carroll Mill Road and ensuring that the full length of Carroll Branch on the property receives the protection of forested buffers are among the benefits of this acquisition.
The Manor Area, well known for its scenic beauty, includes the National Register Historic District of My Lady’s Manor, the land given by the third Lord Baltimore to his wife in 1713. The Manor Area joins the Gunpowder Rural Legacy Area on the west and extends into Harford County. The area has many productive horse and cattle farms and encompasses the Little Gunpowder Falls, a Class 3 trout stream and an important Chesapeake tributary. Easement purchases continue to fill in and round out an existing large block of private lands already protected by easements. Nearly 53 percent of the Manor Rural Legacy Area, which contains 17,027 acres, is now protected.
The Board of Public Works also approved $324,900 in Program Open Space funds as a further installment towards the acquisition of 241 acres of improved land for the existing 500-acre Heavenly Waters Park. The land is being preserved for open space and recreational use. Additionally, the acquisition protects Winters Run, which traverses the property and serves as a water source for the Bel Air area.
DNR’s Program Open Space is a nationally recognized program that provides funding for Maryland’s state and local parks and conservation areas. More than 3,000 county and municipal parks and conservation areas have been built through the program, improving the quality of life for millions of Marylanders.
Posted May 20, 2004