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The Maryland state government has created a number of programs for the protection and enhancement of cultural, historic, and natural resources within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), State Highway
Administration, Maryland Environmental Trust, and Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). Such programs generally rely on the participation of municipalities or private groups, or both. Following are several
programs at work on the Upper Eastern Shore.
Program Open Space
(POS), administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, provides funding for state and local parks and conservation areas. Funded by portions of state real estate transfer tax revenues, POS has acquired more than 150,000 acres of open space for state parks and natural resource areas and more than 25,000 acres of local park land statewide. Through POS, funds are also appropriated for many conservation programs including those listed below.
The Rural Legacy Program
was created as a part of Governor Parris N. Glendeningās Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation Initiative. It is an attempt to reduce the harmful effects of suburban-style sprawling development on sensitive or important rural landscapes. The program expedites rural conservation initiatives by identifying and targeting significant rural areas for protection. Two types of areas have been identified on the Upper Eastern Shore: the Lands End Rural Legacy Area and the Agriculture Security Corridor Rural Legacy Areas. Once identified, state funding may be used to purchase conservation easements or property in fee simple in order to conserve large, contiguous tracts of land. Over the next five years, the governor and General Assembly have committed more than $77 million to the Rural Legacy Program as part of the budget for Program Open Space.
The Lands End Rural Legacy Area lies in Queen Anneās County between the Chester and Corsica Rivers. Through coordinated planning efforts of the DNR, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Queen Anneās County, and local landowners, 746 acres on Spaniardās Neck have been targeted for conservation. This area includes Conquest Farm, a 200-acre site providing habitat for bald
eagles and wintering waterfowl, and Ogle Town, an early 18th century settlement.
Recognizing that the agrarian heritage of the Upper Eastern Shore is one of its most valuable assets, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) has identified three regions as Agriculture Security Corridor Rural
Legacy Areas. The Sassafras River Focus Area includes land in Cecil County and more than 7,000 acres in northern Kent County near Betterton. The Tuckahoe River Focus Area includes more than 11,000 acres
of the Tuckahoe River basin along the border of Talbot and Caroline Counties. The Marshyhope Creek Focus Area includes land in Dorchester County and more than 2,000 acres of land in Caroline County north of
Federalsburg and adjacent to the Idylwild Wildlife Management Area. In total, 20,872 acres are targeted for protection under the Rural Legacy Program on the Upper Eastern Shore.
The Rural Historic Village Protection Program is an attempt to preserve the rural character of villages throughout Maryland. The program:
- (1) helps rural landowners protect their farms and land through voluntary conservation methods;
- (2) promotes community awareness of conservation issues;
- (3) assists residents in identifying their land use priorities and concerns;
- (4) develops with the community an appropriate village conservation strategy; and
- (5) serves as a clearinghouse for resources on land planning, community design, historic preservation, and natural resource protection. With the aid of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Tunis Mills
participated in the program.
The Agricultural Preservation Program
is Marylandās primary tool in preserving agricultural lands on the Upper Eastern Shore. The program encourages counties to identify Agricultural Preservation Districts, in which a farm owner agrees not to subdivide the farm for five years. Within these districts, counties may use state funds to buy conservation easements. Farm owners may buy back these easements after 25 years.
Scenic Byways are highway corridors that have been recognized by the State Scenic Byways program
(SSB) as possessing scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archeological, or natural value. Administered by the State Highway Administration, this program operates in conjunction with the National Scenic Byway Program established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The SSB promotes byways to increase economic development and community pride in the area. On the Upper Eastern Shore, all four counties currently possess state roads designated as scenic byways.
- In Kent County, Routes 213, 20, and 445 have been designated;
- In Queen Anneās County, Routes 213, and 18;
- In Talbot County, Routes 662, 33, 333, and 331;
- In Caroline County, Route 14.
In addition, Talbot County is preparing scenic corridor studies for Routes 324 and 322. Kent and Queen Anneās County are also pursuing designation for Routes 213 and 18 as national scenic byways.
National trails
are interstate variations on the concept of state-sponsored scenic byways. With aid from the National Park Service, many corridors, some running coast to coast, have been designated for their natural, historical, or cultural value. Currently, the East Coast Greenways Trail, linking Maine and Florida, is being proposed and developed. This may benefit the Upper Eastern Shore because one potential route travels along Route 213 from Georgetown and west on Route 50 across the Bay Bridge to Annapolis.
Greenways
have become popular tools for preserving and enhancing local corridors of open space for public access, recreation, and education. Responding to citizen efforts, the state has developed the Maryland Greenways Commission, funded through Program Open Space, to help localities fund and maintain greenways. To date, 900 miles of greenways have been established statewide. These linear parks connect areas of cultural, historic, and natural importance. Many greenways have been designated or proposed throughout the Upper Eastern Shore.
Caroline County
- Denton Municipal Greenway - proposed to connect Denton with Martinak State Park.
- Hillsboro Rail Trail - potential trail would connect Tuckahoe State Park to the Denton Municipal Greenway.
- Marshyhope Creek Greenway - connects the Idylwild WMA through Marshyhope ponds and the Federalsburg waterfront to the Delaware state line.
- Upper Choptank River Greenway - potential greenway along the Choptank River connecting Christian Park to the public landing in Greensboro.
Kent County
- Chestertown Regional Greenway - proposed series of trails including a rail trail from Worton to Chestertown, a nature trail along the Chestertown waterfront, and a waterfront promenade.
- Millington Wildlife Management Area - a greenway connecting Millington WMA with the Blackbird State Forest in Delaware.
- Still Pond Creek to Fairlee Creek Greenway - potential greenway connecting two large parcels of land protected under easements in northwestern Kent County.
- Chester River Trail - although not a greenway, this canoe trail links Chestertown and Millington 16 miles upriver.
Queen Anneās County
- Cross Island Trail - partially complete rail and non-rail trails on Kent Island connecting Terrapin Park with the Chesapeake Bay and Chesapeake Exploration Center in Kent Narrows.
- Cross County Trail - planned trail to link the Cross Island Trail across the county to the Delaware state line.
Talbot County
- Easton Rail Trail - planned rail trail connecting Idlewild Avenue in Easton, Idlewild Park, Tanyard Beach Park, and Tanyard Branch.
- St. Michaels Bike Trail - proposed bike link around St. Michaels connecting with Oxford and Easton in a continuous loop.
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