Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $108,726 in Rural Legacy Funding for Conservation Easements in Frederick County
Easements will protect over 50 acres of farmland, advance region’s preservation efforts
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 30, 2027) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s continued commitment to protecting the natural resources of Maryland’s rural areas, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced Board of Public Works approval of $108,726 in Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Rural Legacy funds for the acquisition of two conservation easements totaling 51 acres in Frederick County’s Mid-Maryland Rural Legacy Area.
“Frederick County is one of Maryland’s fastest growing regions and we must move aggressively to preserve its remaining open space and strong agricultural traditions,” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “Through the purchase of conservation easements on these properties we secure these precious cultural and natural resources for future generations of Marylanders to experience and enjoy.”
Today’s decision by the Board clears the way for $60,742 in Rural Legacy funding to be directed toward the acquisition of a 28-acre conservation easement on the Whitmore property. Requiring the implementation of a Total Resource Management Plan and best management practices as conditions of the easement, the permanent protection of the property will add to a 4,000-acre plus block of already preserved land near Burkittsville.
The easement will protect the site’s valuable agricultural lands and stream buffers along tributaries of the Potomac River, as well as the property’s scenic value from Gapland Road. Adjacent properties are already protected with permanent easements.
The easement extinguishes the right to construct approximately four residences. There is one existing residence on the property; no additional residences may be built. The title on the easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), and the Mid-Maryland Land Trust Association, Inc.
An additional $47,984 in Rural Legacy funding will be directed toward the purchase of a 22-acre conservation easement on the Pry property, which will also protect valuable agricultural land. The easement requires a Total Resource Management Plan and best management practices, and protects stream buffers for tributaries of the Potomac River and around a spring. The property provides scenic value from the Appalachian Trail and adjacent properties to the north and east are already protected with Rural Legacy easements.
The Pry easement extinguishes the right to construct approximately four residences. There are no existing residences and none may be built. The title on the easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), and the Mid-Maryland Land Trust Association, Inc.
Located in the southern and western portions of the county, the Frederick County Rural Legacy Area (RLA) is part of the tri-county Mid-Maryland Rural Legacy Preservation Initiative. The plan is to protect farmland and Civil War Battlefields from South Mountain to farms along Catoctin Creek in Middletown Valley, as well as to build upon the 3,700 acres preserved throughout the RLA. Many areas of historic importance, including Turner's Gap, Fox's Gap, and Crampton's Gap Civil War sites on South Mountain, are located within this RLA. The area also contributes to an important resource-based economy including grain and dairy operations, which generate between $18 and $20 million annually.
With today’s approval by the Board it brings the number of easements within the Mid-Maryland Frederick County Rural Legacy Area to 16, totaling 2,041 acres at a cost of $6.7 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.
“Frederick County is one of Maryland’s fastest growing regions and we must move aggressively to preserve its remaining open space and strong agricultural traditions,” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “Through the purchase of conservation easements on these properties we secure these precious cultural and natural resources for future generations of Marylanders to experience and enjoy.”
Today’s decision by the Board clears the way for $60,742 in Rural Legacy funding to be directed toward the acquisition of a 28-acre conservation easement on the Whitmore property. Requiring the implementation of a Total Resource Management Plan and best management practices as conditions of the easement, the permanent protection of the property will add to a 4,000-acre plus block of already preserved land near Burkittsville.
The easement will protect the site’s valuable agricultural lands and stream buffers along tributaries of the Potomac River, as well as the property’s scenic value from Gapland Road. Adjacent properties are already protected with permanent easements.
The easement extinguishes the right to construct approximately four residences. There is one existing residence on the property; no additional residences may be built. The title on the easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), and the Mid-Maryland Land Trust Association, Inc.
An additional $47,984 in Rural Legacy funding will be directed toward the purchase of a 22-acre conservation easement on the Pry property, which will also protect valuable agricultural land. The easement requires a Total Resource Management Plan and best management practices, and protects stream buffers for tributaries of the Potomac River and around a spring. The property provides scenic value from the Appalachian Trail and adjacent properties to the north and east are already protected with Rural Legacy easements.
The Pry easement extinguishes the right to construct approximately four residences. There are no existing residences and none may be built. The title on the easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), and the Mid-Maryland Land Trust Association, Inc.
Located in the southern and western portions of the county, the Frederick County Rural Legacy Area (RLA) is part of the tri-county Mid-Maryland Rural Legacy Preservation Initiative. The plan is to protect farmland and Civil War Battlefields from South Mountain to farms along Catoctin Creek in Middletown Valley, as well as to build upon the 3,700 acres preserved throughout the RLA. Many areas of historic importance, including Turner's Gap, Fox's Gap, and Crampton's Gap Civil War sites on South Mountain, are located within this RLA. The area also contributes to an important resource-based economy including grain and dairy operations, which generate between $18 and $20 million annually.
With today’s approval by the Board it brings the number of easements within the Mid-Maryland Frederick County Rural Legacy Area to 16, totaling 2,041 acres at a cost of $6.7 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.