eastern shore maryland farmland conservation

December 2015

December 18, 2015

LTE Regarding Talbot Comprehensive Plan

December 17, 2015 Letter to the Editor Comprehensive plans are extraordinarily important documents that can have great influence as to how an area changes. Talbot County is a truly special place that deserves the best possible update to its comprehensive plan; one that lays out clear growth strategies, recognizes the unique quality of life contained here, and inspires a new generation of residents to thrive. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) supports growth that adds vibrancy to our towns and villages, while preserving our rural landscapes. After spending 25 years headquartered in Queen Anne’s County, ESLC recently relocated to Easton and opened the Eastern Shore Conservation Center. This $7.6 million dollar historic rehabilitation project is not just a beautiful non-profit campus bringing dozens of full-time jobs to Talbot County; it is the type of positive growth that previous comprehensive plans have stated as goals to strive for. Talbot County does not deserve a comprehensive plan that is unclear, inconsistent, and leaves important decisions about growth to be made without clearer parameters or definitions. Concepts like “workforce housing” are great, as long as the “work” is near the housing and the infrastructure supports it. Before a final comprehensive plan adoption takes place, citizens should feel comfortable knowing they have a plan that takes their input into consideration and provides them with clarity in regards to growth-area specifics, sewer extension, quality of life issues, and traffic and safety concerns. The plan should reflect the integrity of previous plans while continuing to promote the qualities that have made Talbot County the beautiful and prosperous place it is today. Josh Hastings, Policy Manager Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

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September 23, 2015

16th Eastern Shore Planning Conference: Powering Our Renewable Energy Future

November 19, 2015 - November 19, 2015 101 East Dover Street Map and Directions | Register Description: ESLC's annual planing conference tackles a very hot topic, as we learn and discuss renewable energy and its role on a rural Eastern Shore. The conference seeks to understand: * What renewable energy technologies are available today * What emerging technologies exist * How can renewable energy properly fit into a rural landscape * How can rural industries, like agriculture, take advantage of renewable energy technologies * How can broader renewable energy adoption help make communities more resilient and add to the rural independent character of the region * How can residents and communities participate in the benefits of renewable energy Download the ESPC 16 Agenda At the Tidewater Inn – Easton, MD Conference Agenda 7:30 am Grange Hall and Registration Opens Registration opens and all are welcome to peruse an exhibit hall of the many partners, projects and possibilities of Eastern Shore Renewable Energy, including Land Art Generator Initiative exhibit. Grange Hall is open throughout the day. 7:30 am Continental Breakfast & Social Mixer 8:45 am Welcoming Comments - 8:55 am Rob Etgen, ESLC Executive Director Josh Hastings, ESLC Policy Manager 9:00 am Welcoming Address: “The Need for Renewable Energy” - 9:25 am Geoff Oxnam, VP of Operations, Easton Utilities 9:35 am Mapping the Future of Renewable Energy on the Eastern Shore - 10:20 am Katherine Magruder, Executive Director, Maryland Clean Energy Center 10:25 am The Intersection of Energy and Agriculture - 11:15 am Moderator: Carol West, Director, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation - Biogas, Anaerobic Digesters & Waste to Energy Jason Lambertson, Owner, Millennium Farms - Renewable Energy and Bay Health- Switchgrass Dr. Kenneth Staver, Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland - Agricultural Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs Dean Fisher, Program Manager, Maryland Energy Administration - USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) & Beyond Bruce Weaver, Business and Cooperative Specialist/State Energy Coordination, USDA 11:20 pm Making It Work: Energy Financing

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August 28, 2015

Maintenance of Grass Buffers

Though I am now the Land Protection Specialist at Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, in a former life, I was a wildlife research technician and field crew leader for many bird related field studies and as fate would have it, many of those studies were on restored grasslands that were enrolled in Federal conservation programs such as CRP and CREP. During my time studying these grasslands, I noticed, with but few exceptions, that these grasslands were all mowed on or shortly after August 15th of each year. When considering the rules of these programs, this practice, by and large, is in keeping with the rules of the programs. However, when looking at the practice from a wildlife standpoint, the reasoning behind the early mowing is not particularly sound. In many areas of Maryland, grasslands are not the historic land cover, therefore it takes a certain amount of management to keep the areas meadow. The Federal program in general and the maintenance recommendations in MD specifically require that, once established, these areas must remain in herbaceous cover (grass and forbs) for the entire length of the contract (typically either 10 or 15 years). Prescribed fire, mowing and strip disking are a few of the recommended management techniques that are necessary to maintain these meadows as grasslands. There is no avoiding this reality. As well the programs require that noxious weeds be controlled by approved mechanical and/or chemical methods. Though the noxious weed treatments can largely be done at any time of the year, the general maintenance of the grasslands, including mowing and prescribed burns, are restricted to the non-nesting season for grassland and scrub-shrub bird species between August 15th and April 15th each year. This 8 month window is a fairly generous time-frame for management, but it only protects nesting birds from being

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August 20, 2015

Songbird Banding

May 7, 2016 - May 7, 2016 101 South Water Street Map and Directions | Register Description:Come join the bird banders at Foreman’s Branch Bird Observatory and experience the mysteries of spring bird migration. Located on Foreman’s Branch, a tributary of the Chester River, on a May morning you will likely see migrating and returning Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings. Over 175 species of birds have been banded at this location. After seeing the banding operations and some of your favorite birds up close you can visit a nearby location on the farm and observe hundreds of Pink Lady Slipper orchids. *Sponsor: Dr. Harry Sears Register

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June 25, 2015

“All Hands on Deck!”

This year, ESLC won $1,500 from the Chesapeake Bay Trust “All Hands on Deck” grant contest. Two Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteers are awarded this grant each year and awardees are asked to plan and implement a complete workday, comprised of activities that help to restore the Chesapeake Bay. This year, ESLC’s Corps Volunteer, Becca Weisberg, was awarded the All Hands Day to build bird boxes, a canoe rack, clean trails, and weed the BMP garden at the Sassafras Environmental Education Center in Kennedyville, MD along the Sassafras River and Turner’s Creek. The day was a great success, and the Conservancy and Education Center are thankful for the funding and materials that were provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Additionally, this day would not have been possible without the 30 Chesapeake Conservation Corps Volunteers! Wayne Gilchrest, former U.S. Congressman and current ESLC Program Director for the Sassafras Environmental Education Center, kicked off the day with an inspiring talk. “Think about the change you can make” he told the Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteers, each of who engage in environmental education and restoration work during their one-year terms. Volunteers worked throughout the day in groups to clear trails, clean beaches, build a canoe rack, and install bird boxes. Lunch was provided by Evergrain Café in Chestertown, MD. At the end of the day, volunteers were invited to enjoy the beautiful outdoor space and stay overnight for camping. The Sassafras Environmental Education Center shares over 1,000 acres of land with Maryland DNR, containing over 10 miles of trails, beautiful waterfront, and an abundance of outdoor recreational activities. ESLC invites the public to visit the Sassafras Environmental Education Center to view the work that was done during this “All Hands on Deck” day. Limited parking is available at the end of Turner’s Creek Rd. Visit ESLC.org to learn

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December 2015

LTE Regarding Talbot Comprehensive Plan

16th Eastern Shore Planning Conference: Powering Our Renewable Energy Future

Maintenance of Grass Buffers

Songbird Banding

“All Hands on Deck!”

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