Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

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Mission Statement
Conserve, steward, and advocate for the unique rural landscape of the Eastern Shore.

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eastern shore maryland farmland conservation

March 2009

Browning Creek Protected Forever

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore, proudly announces that Browning Creek Farm in southern Cecil County, Maryland has been protected forever from development. A conservation easement was purchased on the 355-acre farm using federal transportation funds earmarked for the protection of the view along Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway. Former Congressman Wayne Gilchrest was instrumental in getting these funds earmarked for Chesapeake Country. ESLC, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties along with the State Highway Administration have since been working cooperatively to protect key properties along the Byway. Browning Creek Farm is the first property to be protected using this funding. Situated north of Cecilton and south of the Bohemia River on Route 213, Browning Creek Farm is located across the road from a block of approximately 1,600 acres of protected land, including Anchorage Farm, which ESLC helped protect in 2001. Known locally as "Needmore" and the "Pumpkin Shell," Browning Creek Farm consists of approximately 220 acres of tillable ground, 65 acres of grassland, and 60 acres of forest and has about 3,800 feet of frontage along the Chesapeake Country. The quest to protect Browning Creek Farm began in 2006 after the property received approval for 47 residential lots, which led to ESLC’s involvement. The farm was permanently protected earlier this month thanks to widespread community support and the willingness of the landowners, brothers Felix and Mark Rutkoske, to sell a conservation easement at below appraised value and to allow ESLC time to find a conservation buyer for the farm – someone to buy it after the easement was purchased. Fortunately, local farmers and conservationists Jack and Charlotte Loller, stepped up to purchase the farm so that their grandson

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ESLC, MRDC Host Water Resources Workshop

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore and the Maryland Rural Development Corporation recently hosted a “Smart About Water’ Workshop. Held in Georgetown,, Maryland, the workshop brought 40 town managers, commissioners, and planning commission members together with county health department officials, water system operators and watershed protection groups to hear from experts in the areas of source water protection and water resources planning. The workshop is one of many efforts by ESLC to assist towns and municipalities in their implementation of House Bill 1141.  Presenters at the workshop included Joe Everd of the Maryland Rural Water Association, Tucker Moorshead, CEO of EarthData, Inc, John Beskid, Director of Environmental Health for Kent County, Henry Burden, Planner for the Town of Port Deposit and former Town Administrator for the Town of Charlestown and Peter Johnston, community planner and founder of Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC. Topics discussed included wellhead and water system protection, legislative updates, and case study examples.  “We are so pleased to be able to provide this type of workshop as a continuing resource for our towns and municipalities as they tackle important planning issues,’ said Jacob Day, Town Planning Manager for ESLC. “This type of information sharing should help our local planners really streamline their individual efforts and result in the best ideas being implemented in future planning efforts.” Additional workshops and other educational activities are planned in the future. For more information or to sign up for ESLC updates on this and other issues, please visit www.eslc.org.  About the Organizers: The Workshop was organized and presented by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Maryland Rural Development Corporation with support from the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Program and the US EPA. This year, EPA and

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ESLC Seeks Immediate Conservation Buyer for Cecil Farm

 Queenstown, Maryland – March 10, 2009 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore has announced its intention to protect 355 acres of farmland from development. ESLC  has arranged a 45-day option contract to purchase Browning Creek Farm, and is seeking an immediate  Conservation Buyer to then accept the Agreement of Sale. Offers are due by the close of business on March 20, 2009.  Located in southern Cecil County, Maryland along Route 213 (Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway), and known locally as “Needmore” and the “Pumpkin Shell,” Browning Creek Farm consists of 355 acres, including approximately 220 acres of tillable ground, 65 acres of grassland, and 60 acres of forest.  The address of the farm is 5224 Augustine Herman Highway, Earleville, Maryland. It is located across the road from a 1600-acre block of preserved land, including Anchorage Farm, which ESLC helped protect in 2001. Browning Creek Farm has about 3,800 feet of scenic frontage along Chesapeake Country, and a tributary of the Bohemia River borders the entire back of the property, providing scenic water views and an important forested riparian corridor for wildlife habitat and water quality.  This is ESLC’s second attempt to protect the farm. Plans to purchase the farm in 2007 and transfer that contract to a conservation buyer were unsuccessful. Browning Creek Farm, under its current ownership, received preliminary plat approval last summer for 47 residential lots, which is the reason for ESLC’s continued efforts to buy and protect the farm.  After transfer to a conservation buyer, a conservation easement will be purchased on the property, so the farm will be permanently preserved.  “This is such a special property for Cecil County and we are really grateful for the second chance to protect

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