Leonardtown, MD – October 5, 2017 – Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Rural Legacy Program announced the awarding of two grants totaling more than $2 million for the purchase of conservation easements, protecting land from development, in St. Mary’s County.
Of the nearly $2.2 million award from the Rural Legacy Board, $1.4 million will be used by the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust (PTLT) to purchase conservation easements on forested and agricultural land in the Huntersville Rural Legacy Area around New Market and Flora Corner Roads in the northern portion of the county.
In this year’s Rural Legacy application PTLT and the Southern Maryland RC&D Board jointly applied for funding for the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area in southern St. Mary’s County along with a county-endorsed expansion of this area by 6,800 acres to include land in St. Mary’s City, Park Hall, and around the U.S. Navy’s Webster Field. DNR approved the expansion and also awarded $771,543 to purchase easements in this now enlarged Rural legacy area.
“Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust is proud to be entrusted with these significant grant funds to advance conservation,” said PTLT Executive Director, Andrew Garte. “We wish to thank the St. Mary’s County Commissioners, the Maryland Board of Public Works, and the Rural Legacy Board for giving us this opportunity to continue to protect rural land use and buffer military facilities in St. Mary’s County. The awarding of these grants further cements PTLT’s growing reputation for effectiveness.”
PTLT’s mission is to sustain the region’s biodiversity and water resources through a network of protected landscapes. The organization recognizes that forest and farmland and the region’s unique historic and scenic character are vital to a healthy economy and citizens’ sense of well-being. PTLT acquires land and conservation easements by purchase or donation. The Trust has conserved more than 5,000 acres of land in perpetuity, keeping it as farm and forest to meet today’s needs and those of future generations. For more information or to discuss the sale of an easement of land in either of these two Rural Legacy Areas, contact the Trust at info@patuxent-Tidewater.org. For general information, visit www.patuxent-tidewater.org.