Wednesday, June 30, 2027

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $211,486 for Conservation Easement in Little Pipe Creek Rural Legacy Area
82-acre easement will further land preservation efforts in Carroll County

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2027) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s continued commitment to protecting the natural resources and character of Maryland’s rural areas, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced Board of Public Works approval of Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Rural Legacy funding for the purchase of a conservation easement in Carroll County. The easement will permanently protect an additional 82 acres in the area and further safeguard the water quality of nearby Little Pipe Creek, while securing the viability of the property’s farm and forest lands.

“The Rural Legacy Program is one of the best ways we have to act now to protect and preserve our precious natural resources for future generations,” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “This project is particularly important because it will protect the water quality and wildlife habitat of Little Pipe Creek and Carroll County residents will be able to appreciate the scenic views from its banks for decades to come.”

Today’s decision by the Board cleared the way for $211,486 in Rural Legacy funding to be directed for the purchase of a conservation easement on the 82-acre Spangler property in Carroll County, safeguarding it’s agricultural lands and wooded lots. As a condition of the easement a Total Resource Conservation Plan will be required on the property, and the establishment of permanent forested CREP buffers will further improve the area’s water quality.

The property is contiguous to a block of eight farms consisting of 716 acres that are permanently protected by easements with Rural Legacy, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) or Maryland Environmental Trust (MET). Other surrounding lands are further restricted from development by the County Mineral Resource Plan.

Purchase of a conservation easement on the property extinguishes the right to construct approximately six residential lots. There is one existing residence on the site with no reserved lots. The easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County, Maryland, and MALPF.

Since improving water quality is a major goal of the Little Pipe Creek Rural Legacy Plan, a Total Resource Conservation Plan is also required for all easements within the area. Carroll County has agreed to make additional payments on property where the owners agree to specific conservation practices along riparian buffers, ranging from establishing and maintaining grass buffers to establishing and maintaining buffers to meet Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) standards.

With the Board’s approval of the Spangler easement it brings the number of easements within the Little Pipe Rural Legacy Area to 16, totaling 1,483 acres at cost of $3.5 million.

The Rural Legacy Program was established to encourage the State and local governments to work in conjunction with private landowners and trusts to strategically preserve large, contiguous blocks of land across the State. Properties targeted for protection include endangered species habitat, agricultural lands, forests, stream buffers, and historic villages and battlefields.