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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

Author: ESLC

March 21, 2016

ESLC awarded for excellence in organizational leadership by Maryland Historical Trust!

On March 16th in Annapolis, the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) celebrated the state's best efforts in historic preservation during the 41st Maryland Preservation Awards. The MHT Board of Trustees recognized outstanding education, restoration and revitalization projects, as well as organizational leadership. ESLC proudly accepted MHT's award for 'Outstanding Organizational Leadership' - one of only 11 projects/groups to be awarded. (Pictured, from left to right: ESLC Center for Towns Director Katie Parks; Easton Town Councilmember Pete Lesher; ESLC Board President Benjamin Tilghman; ESLC Board Member Dave Harp; Maryland State Senator Addie Eckardt; and ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen) "In addition to protecting land with archeological sites and cultural landscapes, this conservation organization has expanded its programs to include planning in historic towns and recently rehabilitated a historic industrial building as its headquarters." -MHT

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January 29, 2016

ESLC Heads to 2016 Legislative Session

Along with colder temperatures and the fade of holiday lights, every January brings a new legislative session in Annapolis. State employees, politicians, lobbyists, advocates, and policy staff from groups across Maryland converge in an effort to advance the issues and beliefs they believe to be the most pressing. ESLC’s Policy Manger Josh Hastings and Program Assistant Rachel Roman were there when the Maryland General Assembly convened on January 13th and have since been active, traversing across the Bay Bridge for the meetings that apply to our mission. Consistent with the overall purpose of land conservation, ESLC works within the following policy and advocacy parameters: Support water and land use policies that encourage stronger rural communities, protect rural landscapes, and increase public access. Additionally, ESLC promotes policies that lead towards a cleaner Chesapeake Bay and that build resilience towards and support adaption to the effects of climate change on the Eastern Shore landscape. Support economic development efforts for the Eastern Shore that strengthen the agricultural, forestry, and fishing industries, and that direct and deepen investment in small towns. ESLC supports residential and commercial development focused in towns and infrastructure to support sustainable growth. Support transportation policies that result in the most sustainable land use patterns for the Eastern Shore. Promote policies that make travel safer and easier and that emphasize multimodal options. Support energy policies that promote long-term, locally generated, renewable energy that adds to the rural, independent character of the Eastern Shore and that has the smallest impact upon the landscape. Governor Hogan submitted his budget on January 20th, and since that time ESLC has had time to analyze and react accordingly. While the good news is that $20 million more dollars are allocated towards land protection measures than in last year’s budget, the proposal still takes approximately $43 million from Program Open Space – Maryland’s

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January 22, 2016

Bird Walk with Jared Parks

March 5, 2016 - March 5, 2016 Eastern Shore Conservation Center Map and Directions | Register Description:Date: Saturday, 3.5.16 Time: 9am – 12pm Location: Queenstown, MD Join ESLC Land Protection Specialist and lifelong birder Jared Parks for a walk through woods and former ag lands that have been restored to native habitat. $10/person. Questions? Contact Carin at 410.690.4603, ext. 171 or cstarr at eslc.org Register

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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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Recent Posts

  • Spotlight: Ben Tilghman
  • Harboring Plans for Cambridge
  • What is a Mosaic?
  • Q & A: Brad Rogers, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership
  • Sponsorship Spotlight: PRS Guitars
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Carbon Emissions
  • Roots Monthly Giving Spotlight: Amanda Thornley
  • Big Changes on the Horizon for the CREP Easement Program
  • Trails Get a Boost Across the Shore
  • Seven Legislative Efforts That Could Impact Eastern Shore Land Use and Preservation
  • Land Protection for All
  • Board Spotlight: Jules Hendrix
  • New Regional Trail Map Shows Existing and Potential Trails for a Growing Network
  • Saving Maryland’s Tidal Salt Marshes
  • From the President: The Eastern Shore’s Most Urgent Conservation Need in 2024

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