BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday announced the allocation of $620,000 in Rural Legacy grants to two counties for the protection of land with perpetual conservation easements. The grant funding was approved for Harford County and Worcester County.

Harford County will secure a conservation easement on 41 forested acres in the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Area. The easement will safeguard 4,500 feet of stream buffer along Rock Run and its tributaries, crucial water sources for the Susquehanna River. Moreover, it will protect the habitat of forest-interior dwelling bird species that require extensive undisturbed forests for successful nesting.

Worcester County will also receive funding to acquire an easement on 94 acres of prime agricultural land within the Nassawango Creek and the Pocomoke River watersheds, located within the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area. This easement will protect the productive farm, contributing to the local economy, and preserve scenic views along three public roads.

The Rural Legacy Program, established in 1997, focuses on conserving large working landscapes across 35 locally designated areas in Maryland. The program aims to protect valuable natural resources, water quality, and scenic landscapes while supporting compatible agricultural and forestry practices.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo: Funding approved today will acquire an easement in the Dividing Creek Rural Legacy Area, one of the most pristine and ecologically significant watershed basins on the mid-Atlantic. Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo.