WALDORF, Md. — The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $3.2 million in Rural Legacy Program funding on Aug. 27 to acquire conservation easements on 1,006 acres across several counties, with Charles County receiving the largest share to protect 665 acres in the Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Forest Rural Legacy Area. This allocation is part of a broader $13 million package supporting community centers, playgrounds and land conservation in 16 counties through various Department of Natural Resources initiatives.
Charles County government will use the funds to secure three easements, including one on a 538-acre parcel. Combined, these will preserve 4,300 feet of forested stream buffers and provide critical habitat for Forest Interior Dwelling Species of birds, which require expansive forest blocks for nesting. The easements aim to maintain ecological integrity in an area vulnerable to development pressures.
The Nanjemoy-Mattawoman Forest Rural Legacy Area, encompassing more than 65,000 acres in western Charles County, was established in 2021 to double the county’s protected Rural Legacy lands. It targets preservation of forests, wetlands and streams feeding into the Potomac River watershed, supporting water quality and biodiversity. Local sponsors, including the Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Board, assist in processing these easements, building on prior efforts in adjacent areas like the Zekiah Watershed. Charles County has permanently protected 105,885 acres as of 2023, representing 36 percent of its total land area and advancing toward a 72 percent preservation goal.
This latest funding continues a pattern of state investment in Charles County conservation. In August, the board approved $405,000 for a 110-acre easement in the same area, safeguarding additional stream buffers and bird habitats. Earlier in July, $49 acres were added through another easement, emphasizing the program’s incremental approach to building contiguous protected lands. These efforts align with county priorities to balance growth with environmental stewardship, particularly in rural zones where agriculture and forestry remain economic drivers.
The Rural Legacy Program, created in 1997, focuses on conserving large working landscapes across 36 designated areas statewide. It has preserved over 86,000 acres of farms, forests and natural areas, preventing fragmentation from urban sprawl. In Charles County, the program complements local initiatives like transferable development rights and participation in the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation. Together with that foundation, the Rural Legacy Program recently earned Maryland national recognition from the American Farmland Trust for effective farmland protection strategies. The trust, a nonprofit dedicated to sustaining agricultural resources, evaluated Maryland’s programs for their impact on food production and environmental health.
Beyond Charles County, the Aug. 27 approvals included easements in Caroline and Dorchester counties. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will protect 220 acres near Preston, buffering tributaries to the Choptank River. In Dorchester, The Conservation Fund will conserve a 121-acre farm in the Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area, preserving historic viewsheds along roads tied to the abolitionist’s legacy.
The board also allocated $6.6 million from Program Open Space – Local for 12 projects statewide. Prince George’s County received $5.6 million for park expansion and community center additions, while Carroll County got funds for playground replacements and renovations. Garrett and Talbot counties will upgrade parks with new facilities. Program Open Space, established in 1969, draws from property transfer taxes to support recreational land acquisition and development.
Additional funding came through the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Program, with $255,000 for playground equipment in Baltimore County’s Putty Hill Park, and the Community Parks and Playgrounds program, awarding $2.8 million for 15 municipal projects like splash pads and playground replacements in Aberdeen, Greensboro and other towns.
All funded projects appear in the board’s Aug. 27 agenda, available on the Department of Natural Resources website. The board, comprising Gov. Wes Moore, Treasurer Dereck E. Davis and Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman, oversees such allocations to advance state conservation goals.
In Charles County, these easements contribute to broader efforts protecting the Potomac River corridor, where Nanjemoy Creek and Mattawoman Creek converge. The area supports diverse wildlife, including bald eagles and migratory birds, and offers residents opportunities for hiking, fishing and birdwatching in preserved spaces. County officials coordinate with state partners to prioritize properties that enhance connectivity among protected lands, reducing habitat isolation.
The investments reflect Maryland’s commitment to countering development threats in growing regions like Southern Maryland. Charles County’s population growth has increased demand for housing, but programs like Rural Legacy ensure sustainable land use. As of recent evaluations, the state has protected over 1.5 million acres through various initiatives, with Charles County playing a key role in Southern Maryland’s conservation landscape.
Further details on these grants are on the Department of Natural Resources Land News webpage. Applications for future Rural Legacy funding involve local governments identifying priority areas and submitting proposals for state review.
