Washington County Continues Farmland Preservation Efforts with 53 Acres in Boonsboro

Washington County, Maryland, has added another significant parcel to its growing network of permanently preserved agricultural land. According to the Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning, a 53.62-acre farm located on Barnes Road in Boonsboro has been officially protected through a conservation easement. This latest preservation effort brings the total amount of permanently preserved land in the county to nearly 43,000 acres.

The newly established easement, finalized on August 5, was secured through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program. This initiative benefits from a collaborative funding approach, with contributions from both Washington County and the state of Maryland. The farm in Boonsboro is actively utilized for crop production and is integral to the owners’ adjacent dairy farming operation. The placement of this easement is strategically important, as it contributes to a larger contiguous block of preserved farmland in the region and is expected to assist neighboring properties in pursuing their own conservation goals.

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPP) stands out as Washington County’s most impactful land conservation initiative. Through this program alone, over 17,000 acres have been preserved, representing a substantial portion, close to 40%, of all permanent conservation easements within the county. The MALPP is managed at the state level by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, with local administration handled by the Land Preservation Office within the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning. Farm owners interested in participating in the MALPP can submit applications annually, with a deadline of July 1. Offers for easements are typically extended the following March. The recent easement completion represents the tenth property from the Fiscal Year 2024 application cycle to finalize the preservation process.

Washington County employs a multifaceted approach to land preservation, extending its protective measures beyond agricultural lands to include historic, scenic, and environmentally significant areas. In addition to the MALPP, the county actively utilizes several other programs. These include initiatives administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, such as the Rural Legacy Program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), and Program Open Space Stateside. The county also has its own Installment Purchase Program (IPP) and supports local forest conservation easements. Furthermore, federal programs like the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements are leveraged, alongside easements facilitated through partnerships with organizations such as MARBIDCO, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), the Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), and the Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT). While state programs have traditionally been the primary source of funding for these preservation efforts, Washington County has recently increased its local financial contributions to bolster long-term land conservation initiatives.

Residents interested in learning more about Washington County’s various land preservation programs can contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at cboggs@washco-md.net.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Government

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