Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

1222 Acres of Cecil Farmland Protected Forever from Development

ESLC partners with state to protect farms along the Sassafras River

Queenstown, Maryland - January 28, 2008 -Over 1,200 acres of farmland and important habitat areas in Cecil County have been protected forever, thanks to the recent completion of a 479-acre conservation easement on Ordinary Point Farm and a full property purchase of Grove Farm. With the protection of Grove Farm and Ordinary Point Farm, ESLC is over halfway to its goal of protecting a 5,000 acre block of land along the Sassafras River. Read Full Story

Conservation groups work with farmers to conserve 1,435 acre near Little Blackwater River

Voluntary easement to protect large forest and farmland

CAMBRIDGE - The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, have worked with the owners of Good Luck Farm to conserve 1,435 acres of forest and agricultural land next to Little Blackwater River, near Cambridge in Dorchester County just north of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Read Full Story

Scotts Protect 125 Acres along Marshyhope

Dorchester Farm Protected Using State, Federal Funds

Queenstown, Maryland - January 11, 2008 - The Scott Family of Hurlock has ensured over 125 acres on the banks of the Marshyhope Creek are protected from development forever with the sale of a conservation easement on their farm. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore working with the federal and state governments used funds from a United States Department of Agriculture Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program grant, matching funds from the state's Rural Legacy Program and a bargain sale from the owners to complete the project which will ensure this property maintains the rural character of an area under continuous development pressure. Read Full Story

ESLC Concludes Successful Year in Land Protection

Queenstown, Maryland - December 31, 2007 -Nearly 5,000 acres of the Eastern Shore have been forever protected this year, bringing the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy's total protection area to 43,424 acres. ESLC, a private land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and habitat on the Eastern Shore, announced its land conservation report for 2007 today, highlighting projects in Dorchester, Cecil and Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot County. Recently completed projects, by county, include the following: Read More...

Grove Farm Protected Forever from Development

Wye Mills, Maryland - December 14, 2007 -A critical piece of the Grove Neck Natural Heritage Area and the Sassafras Rural Legacy Focus Area has been protected forever, following today's approval by the state Board of Public Works for Program Open Space funding. State funding was approved today to protect Grove Farm, a 743+ acre farm in Cecil County. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization, has been working with the property owners to protect the property, which fronts on two water bodies, the Sassafras River (approximately ½ mile of frontage) and Pond Creek (approximately 1¾ miles of frontage). With the protection of Grove Farm and the adjacent Ordinary Point Farm, over 50 percent of the Cecil County portion of the Sassafras Rural Legacy Area (RLA) is now protected, contributing significantly to the goal of a 5,000 acre contiguous block of protected land in the Grove Neck segment of the Sassafras RLA.

"This acquisition is result of many years of collaborative efforts with the County and the State and could not have happened without this strong partnership. " said ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen. "There aren't very many places like Grove Farm left on the Eastern Shore -not only will this acquisition protect one of Cecil County's premier rural properties, but it will provide the community with the chance to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, and other passive recreation opportunities."

This purchase will protect wildlife habitat and protect the water quality of the Sassafras River and Pond Creek and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay, all of which are increasingly threatened by rapid land development. With its location and waterfront frontage, the farm is an ideal spot for various passive public recreational opportunities such as kayaking, canoeing and hiking as well as outdoor education and wildlife observation. Highly threatened by residential development, its acquisition will play an integral role in providing passive recreation opportunities in lower Cecil County where there are few properties available for public access.

Protection efforts have been a collaborating partnership with Cecil County, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

Community Brainstorming Session Slated for Former Blackwater Resorts Property

Forums to be held November 29 in Cambridge

Queenstown, Maryland November 21, 2007 - There will be a series of public sessions on November 29 for the community to contribute ideas for the new public land on Egypt Road, formerly part of the Blackwater Resorts Property. The focus of these sessions, which will be facilitated by Mid Shore Mediation, is to collect input about future uses and draft restoration plans for this property which was purchased by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. A morning session will be held at 10 a.m. at the Pine Street Empowerment Center, located at 615 Pine Street in Cambridge while an evening session will be held starting at 5:30 at Cambridge South-Dorchester High School.

"All who are interested are welcome to attend," said John Seward, Land Use Planner for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. "These sessions are a great opportunity for residents to take a proactive role in the way this property will be used in the future."

Those unable to attend either of the sessions can provide input via ESLC's website. A link will be posted on ESLC"s website at www.eslc.org.. For more details about the community input sessions, please contact Seward at ESLC's Southern Office at 410.901.9988

ESLC announces recipients of Eastern Shore 2010 Awards

Wye Mills, Maryland - November 2, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore, today announced the recipients of this year's Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards. The 2007 Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards, inspired by the regional land use planning agreement that sets the highest expectations for the care of the Eastern Shore landscape, distinguish outstanding leadership in the field of land use planning and land development on the Eastern Shore. The purpose of these awards is to honor the projects, people and places that best define growth befitting the Eastern Shore. Read Full Story.

Dorchester Residents Concerned about Sprawl, Growth

ESLC Announces Results of Recent Mason-Dixon Land Use Poll

Queenstown, Maryland - October 8, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore today announced the results of a poll indicating sprawl is the main issue of concern to Dorchester County residents. Read Full Story.

Growing…going…GONE?

Growth on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and Meeting Its Challenges Through Eastern Shore 2010

A report from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Download report as a PDF file.

Unprecedented Development Predicted for Eastern Shore by 2030

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Presents County Status Report on Eastern Shore 2010 Agreement

Queenstown, Maryland June 6, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) released a new report today that details the state of growth on the Eastern Shore and the record growth pressure that faces the region if present trends continue. Featuring narrative by Baltimore Sun columnist Tom Horton, the report includes growth statistics from the Maryland Department of Planning that show the unprecedented growth trends facing the Eastern Shore and how these trends, if left unchecked, will affect the Eastern Shore landscape and way of life for its residents. The report also details how each of the six counties are meeting the challenges of growth and how the Eastern Shore 2010 update will help the regional effort to manage this growth to ensure the Eastern Shore maintains its unique rural heritage and quality of life. Read More

ESLC Partners with Chestertown, Kent County on Community-Based Vision for Smart Growth

Process will allow public to guide master plan for nearly 500 acres in northeastern part of town

Queenstown, Maryland, June 4, 2007 – Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat and sound land use planning on the Eastern Shore announced today a formal partnership with Kent County and the town of Chestertown which aims to create a community visioning process for the use of nearly 500 acres in Northern Chestertown. Read More

Cecil County becomes fourth signature on updated ESLC regional land protection agreement

Queenstown, Maryland May 16, 2007 - Cecil County became the fourth county to sign a regional agreement aimed at strengthening land protection efforts on the Eastern Shore. The Cecil County Commissioners signed the updated Eastern Shore 2010 agreement, which was developed by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore. Read More

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Opens Cambridge Office

Nonprofit Hopes Regional Presence in Dorchester will Aid in Land Protection Efforts

Queenstown, Maryland March 29, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore announced the opening of its first regional office in downtown Cambridge. Opened this month, the new office, located at 601 Locust Street, will help staff focus on regional land protection efforts on the Lower Shore. Read More

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Announces Additions to Staff

New Hires Mark Unprecedented Growth for Local Non-Profit

Queenstown, Maryland, March 1, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore, announces the addition of four new members to its already established team. Joining ESLC are Eastern Shore natives Jared Parks, Land Protection Specialist and Kristine George, Manager of Communications, as well as Land Use Planners John Seward and Morgan Ellis. Read More

Grayce B. Kerr Fund Grant to ESLC Secures Paw Paw Cove Site

Queenstown, Maryland, February 26, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) recently received a grant from the Grayce B. Kerr Fund, Inc. of Easton to fund the final acquisition costs for Paw Paw Cove. Read More

Comprehensive Land Use Study on Transferable Development Rights Now Available

Report is the first of its kind for region

QUEENSTOWN, MD - The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc. and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) recently released a study detailing how transferable development rights (TDRs) can be used to improve land use planning efforts on the Eastern Shore. Read More

Speaking the Truth on Sprawl

January 4, 2007 (Letter to Editor, Star Democrat). Read letter

Awards Honor Leaders on Growth

The recipients of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s (ESLC) 3rd annual Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards, a program distinguishing outstanding leadership on growth, were honored during ESLC’s 8th annual land use planning conference, held November 10 at Chesapeake College. Read More

Stronger Shore land use agreement encouraged
Counties asked to adopt updated version

This fall Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is launching a stronger version of the ground-breaking land use agreement that set high expectations for the Eastern Shore, and was adopted by Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester counties in 2002. Read More

Protect land, receive new federal tax incentives

Eastern Shore landowners who protect their land by donating a conservation easement are now eligible for improved tax benefits, after legislation was recently approved by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Read More

Farm is Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s 200th preserve

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy staff erected a Preserved Forever banner on Bloomfield Farm, which is now permanently protected, thanks to help from partners such as the Queen Anne's County Commissioners, the County's Department of Parks and Recreation, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Through the support and cooperation of many partners the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy has forever protected an important farm along state Route 213– a nationally designated Scenic Byway known as Chesapeake Country. Read More

Brown to farm Bloomfield

Through a cooperative effort between Queen Anne’s County, the state and a local land conservancy, a recently protected farm will be cultivated this year by a young farmer.

Bryan Brown, of Centreville, will start growing corn and soybeans on Bloomfield Farm, situated along Rt. 213, in late April. Read More