Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $300,000 for a Conservation Easement
in Dorchester County
Funding protects wildlife habitats and tributary shoreline in Nanticoke watershed
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Calling attention to the ecological benefits to be gained, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. recently announced Board of Public Works approval of $300,00 in Program Open Space funds for a conservation easement on an extensive tract in Dorchester County.
“This easement preserves land bordering the Nanticoke River that has exceptional ecological value,” said Governor Ehrlich. “Forests, wetlands, habitats of endangered or rare species, and miles of tributary shoreline will all receive perpetual protection.”
The Board approved $300,000 as Maryland’s share of a joint project to purchase a conservation easement on 1485 acres owned by the Del-Ma-Va Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Known as the Henson Scout Reservation, the property is located southwest of Galestown where Marshyhope Creek meets the Nanticoke River. To help DNR cover the total cost of $1.1 million, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will contribute $155,000 and $660,000, respectively.
The easement encompasses 800 acres of coastal-plain forest and 600 acres of freshwater tidal and nontidal wetlands of outstanding quality. The land is habitat for bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, migratory songbirds and raptors, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, and nine state-rare plants. This purchase eliminates the possibility of high-density development and protects nearly four miles of shoreline along Marshyhope Creek and the Nanticoke River, both major tributaries that drain into the Chesapeake Bay. DNR will hold the easement title.
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 4,600 county and municipal park and conservation projects have been completed through the program, improving the quality of life for millions of Marylanders.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to Maryland citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 435,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, as well as Maryland's wildlife and fishery species for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, the department manages natural, historic and cultural resources that attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov