Governor Ehrlich Announces BPW Approval of $458,488 in Rural Legacy Funds for Worcester County
Conservation easements protect land along Boxiron and Mattaponi Creeks

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Restating his commitment to preserving rural lands and protecting water quality, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. today announced Board of Public Works approval of $458,488 in Rural Legacy funds for Worcester County.

“The easements funded today will preserve more than 400 rural acres in southern Worcester County,” said Governor Ehrlich. “Additionally, wildlife will be aided by maintaining connective links with other protected lands, and the water quality of two tributaries will continue to be protected by stretches of forested buffers.”

The Board approved $351,408 in Rural Legacy funds to acquire a conservation easement on 272 acres near the town of Boxiron. The property includes 148 wooded acres and 53 acres of wetlands. This acquisition will protect significant agricultural and forested land, including 4100 feet of stream buffer along Boxiron Creek, and will expand a contiguous block of protected land in the Chincoteague Bay watershed. Worcester County and the Lower Shore Land Trust will jointly hold the easement title.

The Board approved $107,080 in Rural Legacy funds to acquire a conservation easement on 130 acres adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest. The property includes 123 wooded acres and 27 acres of wetlands. This acquisition will protect significant agricultural and forested land, including 2300 feet of stream buffer along Mattaponi Creek. Worcester County and the Lower Shore Land Trust will jointly hold the easement title.

The Rural Legacy Program is designed to preserve large blocks of contiguous open space that are among Maryland’s most valuable lands because of their multiple agricultural, forest, natural, and cultural resources. To protect these resources, the Rural Legacy Program acts through local governments and private land-trust sponsors to purchase conservation easements from willing property owners.

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources 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