Governor O’Malley Announces BPW Approval Of Rural Legacy Preservation In St. Mary’s County

Annapolis, MD — Governor Martin O’Malley today announced Board of Public Works approval of two conservation easements in St. Mary’s County through the Rural Legacy Program.

“Maryland’s landscapes -- our forests, farms and fields -- have shaped us as a people,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “As we preserve these lands for our children and theirs, we are also preserving our culture and heritage for future generations.”

Today the Board of Public Works approved $586,706 for acquisition of the 74-acre Burroughs Farm property, preserving significant forest resources and water quality along 1,800 linear feet of stream buffers. The property is located in the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area of St. Mary’s County. The easement will be held jointly by the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

In addition, the BPW approved $986,333 for the acquisition of the Veitch Farm property, protecting 96 acres of agricultural and forest land within the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area of St. Mary’s County. The acquisition will protect water quality along 7,711 linear feet of stream buffers. The easement will be held by the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program provides funding to preserve large, contiguous tracts of land and to enhance natural resource, agricultural, forestry and environmental protection while supporting a sustainable land base for natural resource based industries.

Enacted by the General Assembly in 1997, Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program has to date provided over $188,798,291 to protect 63,121 acres of valuable farmland, forests, and natural areas. The 11-member Rural Legacy Advisory Committee and the Rural Legacy Board, which is comprised of Maryland’s Agriculture, Natural Resources and Planning Secretaries, reviews grant applications annually. For additional information, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/land/rurallegacy/.

The three-member Board of Public Works, chaired by Governor O’Malley, is comprised of Treasurer Nancy Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. The BPW is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 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 12 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