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