PTLT Notches 56th Land Easement

(Photo courtesy of Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust)

Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust has acquired its 56th conservation easement in St. Mary’s County with the addition of 136 acres on Flora Corner Road in Mechanicsville.

The property is owned by Joseph Carrico and has been in his family for more than 100 years. It’s used primarily for row-crop farming and recreational hunting.

“The funds from the easement have allowed us to keep it as farmland and in the family,” Mr. Carrico said. “I’m happy with the outcome.”

“We are particularly happy with completion of this easement in these tumultuous times when funding is scarce,” said Abby Greenwell, PTLT executive director. “We are getting it done where it counts and saving land from development forever.”

Funding for the easement came from Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program which was administered by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The St. Mary’s County commissioners provided additional funding.

“We are fortunate to have leadership that understands the importance of our rural character,” Ms. Greenwell said.

The Carrico easement brings PTLT’s conserved land in St. Mary’s County to 7,011 acres of the total 14,863 in Southern Maryland.

Properties over 20 acres in St. Mary’s County may be eligible for land conservation programs.

Contact Ms. Greenwell at [email protected] for more information.