Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval Of
$2.6 Million In Rural Legacy Funds For Eastern Shore Counties
$139,122 in Program Open Space funds also approved for
recreation facilities in Talbot and Worcester Counties
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Demonstrating his commitment to protecting rural lands for Marylanders, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $2,600,000 in Rural Legacy Program funds to acquire conservation easements in seven Eastern Shore counties.In addition, the Board approved a total of $139,122 in Program Open Space funds for recreation facilities in Talbot and Worcester Counties.
“One of the pleasures of being governor is that I get to advance the cause of conservation every month of the year,” said Governor Ehrlich. “Besides protecting beautiful natural areas and wildlife habitats throughout the Eastern Shore, these conservation easements approved today will help prevent nutrients and silt from entering the Chester River and the Bay.”
Today’s approvals will fund four projects:
The Rural Legacy Program is designed to preserve large blocks of contiguous open space that are among Maryland’s most valuable because of their multiple agricultural, forest, natural, and cultural resources. To protect these resources, the RLP acts through local governments and private land-trust sponsors to purchase conservation easements from willing property owners.
- The Board approved $850,000 to acquire easements on 486 acres in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, and Talbot Counties. These easements protect historic sites, farmland, forests, sensitive natural areas and habitats, as well as wetlands of special state concern in the Agricultural Security Corridor.
- The Board approved $900,000 to acquire easements on 125 acres of sensitive land and shoreline along the Chester River. These easements, located in the Lands End Rural Legacy Area of Queen Anne’s County, provide for public access to the Corsica River, provide for passive recreational usage, and protect wetlands and wildlife habitats.
- The Board approved $450,000 to acquire easements on 326 acres to protect forest, agricultural lands, natural areas, and shoreline in the Nanticoke Rural Legacy Area of Dorchester County. These easements will form a greenbelt around the town of Vienna.
- The Board approved $400,000 to acquire easements on 286 acres in the Quantico Creek Rural Legacy Area of Wicomico County. These easements will protect forests, farmland, pristine creek areas, habitat for wintering waterfowl, and historic villages along the Nanticoke River.
Today’s Program Open Space approvals totaling $139,122 will fund two recreation facilities:
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.
- The Board committed $77,468 to fund the second phase of construction of the Bay Hundred Community Pool in St. Michaels in Talbot County.
- The Board committed $61,654 to fund phase three of additions to the Northside Park Building in Ocean City in Worcester County. The addition consists of a recreation building contiguous to the existing 57-acre Northside Park.
Posted June 11, 2004