HAGERSTOWN, MD News (8/22/2024) – Washington County has made another significant stride in its ongoing efforts to preserve the rural landscape with the recent procurement of a 267.138-acre easement on a farm located along Shepherdstown Pike in Sharpsburg. This achievement, announced by the Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning on August 16, 2024, adds to the over 40,000 acres of land already permanently preserved in the county.
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The easement, acquired through the Rural Legacy Program (RLP), ensures the protection of a large, scenic property that includes a mix of woodland and cropland. The property, situated just outside the town limits of Sharpsburg, also boasts historic and natural resource features that contribute to its significance. This latest preservation effort not only protects the land from future development but also bolsters the surrounding area’s preservation efforts, creating a continuous block of thousands of acres of protected land.
The Rural Legacy Program, a cornerstone of Washington County’s land preservation initiatives, has been instrumental in safeguarding the county’s agricultural, historic, and environmentally important lands. To date, RLP has secured over 8,700 acres, accounting for 21% of the permanent easements within the county. The program is funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is managed locally by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning.
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Farm owners in Washington County have the opportunity to apply for RLP annually, with applications due by January 31st. The easement procurement process typically concludes the following fall, as offers are extended and finalized. The newly preserved Shepherdstown Pike farm was part of the fiscal year 2023 cycle and represents the final property to settle an easement under that cycle.
RLP is just one component of Washington County’s broader land preservation strategy. The county employs a variety of programs to protect its rural character and natural resources. These include the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and Project Open Space Stateside programs, both managed by the Maryland DNR. Additionally, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF), the county’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP), local forest conservation easements, and federal initiatives such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements all contribute to these efforts.
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Several other organizations also play a role in Washington County’s land preservation strategy, including the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), and Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT). While the majority of preservation funding comes from state sources, Washington County has increasingly taken proactive financial steps to enhance these programs.
Story by multiple RFHC contributors.
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