Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

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

ExcellenceITAC Accreditation
eastern shore maryland farmland conservation

December 2011

ESLC Announces New Conservation Easements

QUEENSTOWN – Eastern Shore Land Conservancy today announces the preservation of 919.51 acres on five properties on the Mid-Shore. Each property is unique and adds to the beauty, health and productivity of the Mid-Shore. “Today, we are thrilled to announce the preservation of nearly 1,000 acres in Talbot, Caroline and Queen Anne’s counties,” said ESLC Executive Director Robert J. Etgen. “The gift of conservation benefits the entire community. By preserving these properties, the landowners have helped to improve our water quality, provided habitat for wildlife, and protected these properties from costly sprawl. We are grateful for the generosity of these landowners and all who seek to preserve our beautiful Eastern Shore.” Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. Our vision in 2050 is an Eastern Shore where towns are vibrant and well defined; farms, forests, and fisheries are thriving and scenic; historic, natural, and riverine landscapes are maintained. ESLC helps save land and promote sound land use planning from the C&D Canal in Cecil County all the way to the Nanticoke River in Dorchester County. We work in Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester Counties. Yorktown Farm A 439.269-acre donated easement in Talbot County on Skipton Creek near the village of Longwoods. The easement covers about 245 acres of active farmland and waterfowl impoundments and about 185 acres of woods. The property is home to a large population of the endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel that will be protected by the easement with a forest management plan. The easement also permanently retires all of the development rights on 122 acres of the property zoned Village Center for the village of Longwoods, as well as all but two development rights on the remainder of the property. The easement also

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ESLC Supportive of Sustainable Growth Task Force

ANNAPOLIS – Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), announced today that it is hopeful the Maryland General Assembly will take action on and accept the recommendations of the Task Force on Sustainable Growth and Wastewater Disposal. The Task Force is finalizing its meetings and voted today on recommendations that could lead to significant changes in residential subdivision development, as well as changes that would reduce the amount of nutrients that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. The Task Force was developed after HB 1107 and SB 846 (Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011) legislation stalled earlier this year during the Maryland General Assembly’s regular legislative session. With the Task Force’s recommendations, counties can define minor subdivisions as having as many as eight lots instead of the five lot cap proposed last year.  This means farmers can develop as many as eight lots on their land without having to build a community sewage treatment facility.   Above eight lots a property must either have access to a sewage treatment plant or build a community treatment facility. Additionally, all new individual septic systems must have best available technology for removing nutrients from the effluent. “This is a significant compromise and we are greatly supportive and impressed,” said Rob Etgen, ESLC’s Executive Director and member of the Task Force. “A diverse group of individuals with many competing ideas and interests came together to help find a compromise; one that will help curb cornfield developments, lower the State’s nitrogen load to the Chesapeake Bay, and still provide latitude to local decision makers.” The Task Force recommendations also include an increase of the state's Bay Restoration Fund (“flush fee”), to $60 per year, compared to the current amount of $30 per year for property owners.  The fund pays for sewage treatment plant and septic system upgrades as well as cover

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ESLC Essay and Art Contest deadline extended!

Miss ESLC's Essay and Art Contest deadline in the Halloween rush? We understand! We’re extending the deadline for entries to Monday, November 21. All public, private and home-school students enrolled in grades 5 to 8 in Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties are invited to enter ESLC’s Kids Essay Contest. The ESLC’s Kids Art Contest is open to students in Pre-K to grade 8 in the same counties; they will be judged by age group. The theme for both contests is “What is your favorite park or place to play on the Shore?” Tell us about your favorite parks and open spaces on the Eastern Shore. What makes them great? Do you have any dreams for future parks and open spaces? What would they look like? Make sure to follow all the rules! (Click below for the documents.) Essay Contest Rules Art Contest Rules

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ESLC at Downrigging Weekend

Sunday brought blue skies, crisp fall air and tall ships on the Chester River for Downrigging Weekend, where ESLC volunteers had the pleasure to mingle with those who attended. Thanks to our talented volunteers, Lynn Dolinger, Nancy Neely, Jane Scott and Bob Stanley, many more people on the Eastern Shore have a better understanding of what ESLC does to preserve and sustain our vibrant communities and the land and waters that connect them. New additions to our information table were well received.  A challenge to match leaves with their name and a game to guess the correct weight of two giant pumpkins made for interesting conversation and fun calculations.  The pumpkin weights were 96 pounds and 64 pounds with guesses ranging from 43 to 650 pounds.  The great pumpkin was quite large but not as great as some imagined! Look for ESLC staff and volunteers Nov. 11 to 13 at Waterfowl Festival in the Waterfowl Chesapeake Pavilion, a new exhibit highlighting all things green in 2011. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

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