Fall/Winter 2011

Land Marks
Easements Key to Restoring American Chestnut Trees in Maryland
arbara Knapp of Germantown has rare large surviving American chestnut trees growing on her property. e trees, including the Montgomery County champion, are now protected by a conservation easement held by MET. Although her property has been the subject of a Forest Conservation and Management Agreement with the state for many years, that program, while very helpful, does not last in perpetuity. Barbara saw a conservation easement donation to MET as a way to accomplish several goals including: the preservation of chestnut trees, to make it impossible for more houses to be built on the property, and to save on estate taxes for my children (and some current taxes for me). Her children and grandchildren, she says, are totally in agreement. We are all happy to think that this little piece of land, at least, will be protected forever. Barbara is the secretary and a founding member of the Maryland Chapter of e American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). e goal of the Maryland Chapter (MDTACF) is to restore the American chestnut tree to its former place in Maryland forests. In pursuit of this goal, MDTACF maintains fteen chestnut orchards in Maryland that contain almost six thousand trees, with more orchards and trees planned. Most of the trees in the orchards are part of the breeding program to produce blight-resistant American chestnut trees that are acclimated to Maryland environments; the rest, progeny of large surviving trees, are being grown for future breeding.

According to Gary Carver, the president of the Chapter, who is beginning the process of donating an easement on his property in Frederick County, the ultimate success of restoration is strengthened by educating the public to understand and embrace this ambitious project and by keeping as many native American chestnut trees alive as possible so that we can have a diverse genetic base for future breeding and reintroduction of blight-resistant chestnut trees. Barbaras trees are a part of this genetic base. A visiting prominent chestnut researcher wrote: I think that Barbaras property is a gold mine for your chapter it is a truly natural ecosystem, and the chestnut trees are native. MDTACF is beginning the testing process for restoration by planting the new potentially blight-resistant nuts in restoration orchards in Maryland. Gary stresses that this is a multi-generational project and public education, especially education of school children, is critical. It will be many years before anyone will see a fully grown, blight-resistant American chestnut tree. Placing conservation easements on land where chestnut trees can grow is a direct benet to the survival of the tree. Further, landowners who have donated conservation easements to MET can play an even more important role in chestnut restoration by planting American chestnut trees. Landowners may also want to explore planting a restoration orchard on their conserved land. To spread knowledge of chestnut trees and to encourage their planting, members of MDTACF oer help in identifying, growing and protecting American chestnut trees. Identifying dierent species of chestnut trees. Landowners who nd trees that may be American chestnuts can have an MDTACF member visit the trees, or can send samples from the trees for identication. (continued on page 9)

Directors Note
BOARD OF TRUSTEES James R. OConnell Chair James W. Constable Vice Chair Honorable S. Jay Plager Treasurer Ann H. Jones Secretary Doris Blazek-White Donald N. Briggs K. King Burnett Susan Duke Hance-Wells Constance Lieder James B. Morris Steven Quarles AREA REPRESENTATIVES Steve Bunker Charles County Goodloe E. (Geb) Byron, Jr. Frederick County Bill Crouch Anne Arundel County V. David Grayson Carroll County David Greene Baltimore County Philip R. Hager Allegany County Charlotte Staelin, Ph.D. Kent County EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Senator Roy Dyson Delegate Dana Stein Tom McCarthy (Governors Representative) TRUSTEES EMERITUS Ajax Eastman John C. Murphy Ellen Kelly Dr. Henry A. Virts STAFF Elizabeth Buxton Director Kevin Bull Easement Monitor Jon Chapman Stewardship Program Manager Ann Gutierrez Carlson Eastern Region Planner Catherine Ford Program Assistant/ Keep Maryland Beautiful Coordinator Lisa Holmes Administrative Assistant John Hutson Easement Program Manager/ Southern Region Planner Michelle Johnson Volunteer Program Coordinator Joan R. Lally Stewardship Program Coordinator Carol Holland Bookkeeper Megan Sines Central and Western Region Planner

by Elizabeth Buxton, MET Director

aryland is home to a rich variety of cultural and historical resources. ose representing the places where the Civil War was fought are considered among some of the States most treasured, but unfortunately, are often endangered by sprawl and encroaching development. For the last two decades, MET has made the protection of Civil War battleelds one of its priorities and has devoted signicant sta time and resources to their permanent protection. Conservation easements on properties surrounding Civil War battleelds oer an eective way to preserve their view sheds and prohibit development that might otherwise destroy the integrity of the sites historic landscapes. In partnership with other conservation organizations, MET has successfully protected numerous view sheds associated near the Antietam, Monocacy and South Mountain battleelds. MET holds more than 82 perpetual conservation easements in Frederick and Washington Counties that protect adjacent landscapes and provide a buer to the National and State parks that protect and interpret the battleelds. Easements restrict development on approximately 8660 acres and maintain the land in farms and forests. Sixteen easements (1040 acres) were donated, (six in Washington County, 410 acres and 10 in Frederick County, 630 acres) while 66 were purchased (7614 acres) using Federal and State funds provided by the Federal Highway ISTEA-Battleeld Protection, National Park Service, and Maryland Rural Legacy and Program Open Space programs. South Mountain is often overlooked by those less familiar with Civil War battleelds, overshadowed by the slaughter of Antietam, which took place three days later and resulted in a loss of 23,000 men. Approximately $4 million has been spent to protect approximately 1,313 acres of the historic battleeld at South Mountain through Program Open Space. Much of this acreage has been preserved through easements rather than outright purchase, enabling the State to accomplish more for its dollar. Antietam might be the most signicant Civil War site in the nation and was the bloodiest single day in American history. Listed on the National Trust for Historic Places Americas 11 Most Endangered List for several years, Antietam was once threatened by sprawl and incompatible development but is now a more bucolic setting with its historic approaches to the battleeld protected. MET easements include the Grove Farm where President Lincoln met with U.S. generals after the battle and the 200-acre Roulette/Callas farm, just outside the National

On September 18, MET held a special event to celebrate four decades of private land conservation. e Daniel Sheer Farm in Middletown served as the perfect venue to celebrate METs success in the western region. Owned by MET Area Representative, Geb Byron and his wife, the property served as a temporary hospital for wounded soldiers during the Battle of South Mountain in September 1862. is signicant historic home and farm complex is protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement held by MET and the Maryland Historical Trust and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Battleeld, the site of the Confederate advance on the morning of the battle and the southern line at the end of the day. While being protected for their historic signicance, these battleelds have now become a haven for wildlife and oer habitat for more than 30 rare and endangered plants and animals. e battle of Monocacy helped save the nations capital from Confederate invasion. After the battle the Union Army used the omas farmpart of the Monocacy National Battleeld site to rest and reorganize. e adjacent 178-acre Mathias Farm was protected in 2002 through an easement purchased from the Conservation Fund and held by MET. Located to the south of the

battleeld, it served as headquarters and an encampment area. e easement protects the viewshed of the battleeld and Baker Valley Road, as well as the Monacacy River watershed, important habitat for interior forest dwelling birds. MET continues to work with its partners to protect these hallowed grounds, including the Maryland Historical Trust, the Conservation Fund, Frederick County, Save Historic Antietam, Central Maryland Heritage League, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWT), the National Park Service and others. To date, over 10,000 acres have been preserved through preservation easements and fee acquisition, but there is still more conservation work to be done! is year marks the beginning of a four year Sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War. In this period of heightened interest, we hope to increase the number of acres protected by easements near battleelds. MET together with CWT, the largest preservation group dedicated to the preservation of Civil War battleelds, has applied for Transportation Enhancement Funds to combine eorts and preserve additional acreage near Marylands battleelds.

Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference

n Friday, May 13th and Saturday, May 14th, the Maryland Environmental Trust hosted the annual Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference, the only state-wide land conservation conference and training workshop for land trusts. e two day event was held at the Conference Center at Sheppard Pratt in Towson. Nearly one hundred attendees from state, regional and national conservation organizations gathered to share information and learn. e conference provides training on best practices in land trust management, land transactions and stewardship, said MET Director Elizabeth Buxton. It oers a forum for learning about the most pressing issues facing land conservation today. Nick Dilks, Treasurer for the Chesapeake Conservancy, was the keynote speaker and spoke to the role of the Conservancy in expanding conservation funding through ecosystem mitigation

and trading, advocacy for federal funding around the Chesapeake and bringing payments to landowners. is years annual conference oered a variety of sessions on: emerging trends in climate change, restoration opportunities for land owners, bridging land conservation and historic preservation, and new partnerships in land conservation and accreditation of land trusts. A featured workshop was the Soulful Landscape Creative Ways to Connect People, Place and Community by Erica Wheeler. Erica, a Maryland native, is nationally recognized for using her landscape memories to tell stories of place and belonging. Ericas work helps kindle passion for inspiring and engaging others through writing and arts to care about the places land trusts protect. e Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference was co-sponsored by e Abell Foundation, e National Park Service, e Conservation Fund, and e Trust for Public Land.

Maryland Land Trusts Address Sea Level Rise in Strategic Conservation Planning

everal Maryland land trusts are gaining skills in understanding the local impacts of climate change and incorporating this into their decision making for land preservation. Due to its geography and geology, the Chesapeake Bay region is ranked the third most vulnerable to sea level rise, behind Louisiana and Southern Florida. Maryland's people, wildlife, land and public investments are at risk due to expected consequences of climate change including sea level rise, increased storm intensity, extreme drought and heat waves, and intensied wind and rainfall events. In addition to protecting forests and farmland, scenic open space and valued habitats, land trusts also help preserve the ecosystem services counted on by coastal communities. To help land trusts gure out what to do to meet this challenge, the MET Land Trust Assistance Program has provided several educational opportunities for land trusts to participate in addressing and engaging their communities in this critical issue in the context of habitat conservation.

A workshop entitled Building Our Own Vision of Climate Change Adaptation: An interactive workshop to dene how land trusts will protect their habitat conservation priorities was oered at the Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference, on May 13th . Judy Boshoven and Natalie Dubois of the Defenders of Wildlife Living Lands Program and Kate Patton of the Lower Shore Land Trust led this participatory workshop

which helped the participants to dene their own vision for helping their communities adapt in the face of climate change. e workshop participants produced their own situation analysis which is a process that helps a group build a common , understanding including the biological environment and the social, economic, political, and institutional systems that aect their conservation priorities. On June 30th, the Defenders of Wildlife, Maryland Environmental Trust and Maryland Department of Natural Resources hosted the Coastal Land Conservation training. Participants learned about sea level rise data and how to incorporate Blue Infrastructure and climate change into project decisions. e workshop oered information on using DNR modeling data and an overview of research by MET on conservation easement language for properties impacted by climate change. Data can be utilized to research how the property will be impacted when determining the conservation values and therefore the restrictions on the property. e Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) with assistance from Defenders of Wildlife and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, hosted a threeday workshop to identify their land conservation priorities within their service area (Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties). rough rening their conservation priorities, LSLT recognized that sea level rise will impact their service area, including important migratory waterfowl and shorebird habitats along the Atlantic coast. Developing a land protection strategy early in the process is essential to the preservation of not only the habitat of threatened species, but to the economic boost that bird watching and tourism dollars bring to the Lower Shore. One of the focus areas identied during the workshop is the coastal wetlands in the Somerset-Wicomico Important Bird Area (IBA) from the National Audubon Society. e Somerset IBA is a distinctive habitat that occupies the tidal transition zone inland from the open water of the Chesapeake Bay. e wetlands provide a range of ecosystem services of economic and social benet to the community, including: buers against storm surges, nursery grounds for commercial sheries, tourism and recreation, lters for nutrients and pollutants, wildfowl and furbearer hunting areas. ese wetlands are also critical for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, and are home to a unique ora and fauna, including two birds, Seaside Sparrow and the Salt marsh Sparrow, that evolved in this

tidal environment and are found only in these salt marsh habitats along the US Atlantic Coasts. Local evidence shows that sea levels are rising at a rate of approximately 3 mm a year along the coastline. Maryland is the fourth most vulnerable state in the U.S. to sea level rise, with 6.1% of its land area below 1.5 m in elevation. Scientists predict that the majority of Marylands coastal wetlands will be submerged by sea level rise by 2100. In regions, such as the Chesapeake Bay, where coastal wetlands are not growing vertically at a sucient rate to keep pace with sea level rise, this ecosystem will remain viable only if allowed to migrate inland. e Salt marsh Sparrow, dependent on salt marsh habitats could be threatened with extinction. Adjacent uplands that can act as migration corridors must remain free of barriers such as development and hardened shoreline protection. e partnership formed by LSLT will raise awareness of the combined impacts of sea level rise on the social, economic, and natural resource values of the wetlands. e information will help landowners interested in protecting their land to understand the benets from protecting the natural wetlands and marshes from development. Recommended actions will be implemented to ensure that ecologically signicant coastal wetlands in the Somerset IBA can persist and remain viable habitat for Maryland State species

of greatest conservation concern. Hopefully, these local actions will contribute to key state-wide strategies for responding to predicted impacts of climate change. e Maryland Commission for Climate Change made recommendations in its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Marylands Vulnerability to Climate Change and include identifying high priority natural resource protection areas and strategically and cost-eectively direct protection and restoration actions work that LSLT has now started. Land trusts in other areas of Maryland are also using analysis of spatial data in rening and understanding their conservation priorities. Catoctin Land Trust and Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust with assistance from Defenders of Wildlife and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program and METs Land Trust Assistance Program are using available data to help understand conservation attributes that add to the resilience of ecosystems such as: climate change vulnerable species habitat, marsh migration corridors, soft shorelines, ground water recharge areas, and enhanced role for the vegetative buer along waterways. If you are interested in nding out more about available climate change data, please contact MET or Chelsie Papiez, Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 410-260-8726 or email at cpapiez@dnr.state.md.us.

$26,000 in Annual Grants Awarded by MET

he Board of Trustees of MET announce this years recipients of the Margaret Rosch Jones Award and the Bill James Environmental Grants which are part of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program. Eleven community groups and schools were awarded grants totaling $26,000 to restore streamside habitats, create community gardens and educate citizens on the environment across the state. ese annual grants are made to nonprot groups or communities that advance environmental issues and/or address environmental problems. e Keep Maryland Beautiful Program is funded in part by the Maryland State Highway Administration, a division of the Maryland Department of Transportation. THE MARGARET ROSCH JONES AWARD is awarded to an ongoing project or activity that has demonstrated success in solving an environmental issue, whether local or statewide. e Margaret Rosch Jones Award is named in memory of Margaret Jones, the former executive director of the Keep Maryland Beautiful Program. e Margaret Rosch Jones Award recognizes organizations that have been actively educating people in their community about litter prevention, community beautication and local or statewide environmental issue(s) and have been successful in eliminating or reducing the causes of a local environmental problem. e 2011 recipients of the Margaret Rosch Jones are Antietam Creek Watershed Association, Braddock Run Watershed Association, C.A.R.E Community Association, Friends of Pataspco, Maryland Public Television, Marley Middle School, the National Aquarium, and St. Marys River Watershed Association. Projects include community gardens, invasive plant removal, stream clean-ups, rain gardens, and conservation education programs.

THE BILL JAMES ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS are awarded to nonprot youth groups for new environmental education projects in their community. e Bill James Environmental Grants are given in memory of Senator William S. James who drafted legislation in 1976 to create the Maryland Environmental Trust, incorporating the activities of the Governors Committee to Keep Maryland Beautiful. is years Bill James Grants are awarded to Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School Green Club, the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Red Wiggler Community Farm and Manchester Valley High School Science Research. Projects include reducing stream erosion, native tree nursery and planting programs, blue crab and water salinity science projects and on-farm learning opportunities in educational programs. MET is pleased to be able to provide funding to other organizations to help advance our shared goals and mission. says Elizabeth Buxton, Director the MET. ese grants encourage organizations to promote environmental education and demonstrative projects that help keep Maryland beautiful.

Landowner Spotlight: Andrew Bradley

e land conservation profession often revolves around statisticsnumber of acres protected, miles of shoreline preserved, value of development rights extinguished. At MET we try not to lose sight of the fact that behind every one of our easement properties is a landownerand each landowner has a story to tell. Landowner Spotlight is a series that captures and shares those inspiring stories.

hanks to Andrew Bradley 136 acres of important farmland on Pomona Road in Kent County is protected forever. In July of 2011 the Andrew C. Bradley and Associates, LLC generously donated a conservation easement to MET and the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC). Mr. Bradley wanted to ensure that the farm would remain a farm and would never be destroyed by development. A conservation easement was a good t for Mr. Bradley because of his strong connection to farming the property. MET was particularly interested in protecting this beautiful farm because of its importance to the agricultural and scenic landscape. e soils of the property qualify as prime farmland. Kent County identied the farm as a priority for agricultural preservation and it is in close proximity to more than 2,000 acres of farmland and forestland also protected by conservation easements. is farm is an integral part of the pastoral setting of the area providing views of open elds and rolling hills from Pomona Road. e farms marsh and woodlands along the East Fork of Langford Creek helps maintain water quality of the creek and provides wildlife habitat. e woodland area is mixed hardwood; species include tulip poplar, American beech, American basswood, sweet gum and black cherry. Further residential development of the farm would have damaged the rural character of the landscape. e placement of the conservation easement on the farm means that the agricultural soils will always be available for production and open space. e farm will continue to provide scenic enjoyment to those traveling Pomona Road. While MET and ESLC were working with Mr. Bradley on the conservation easement, it became clear to Mr. Bradley that farming the property on his own was no longer feasible due to his extensive international travel schedule. At the same time young farmer Marshall Owings was looking to purchase a farm. Mr. Owings shared Mr. Bradleys vision and love for this farm. Mr. Bradley and Mr. Owings worked closely to come up with a solution that would allow Mr. Owings to acquire the property after the conservation easement was in place. MET is thrilled to have helped Mr. Bradley protect this farm and to see it transferred to a new landowner committed to conservation and farming.

Annual Conservation Awards Presented

Liz Buxton, MET Director and Jim OConnell, MET Chair, present the Dillon Award to Jerry and Bobette Harris.

he Board of Trustees of the MET presented the 2011 Conservation Awards at the recent Annual Statewide Land Conservation Conference held in Baltimore and at a meeting in Crownsville. In selecting the winners, the Board considers a variety of factors including the protection of conservation values, the impact on the environment and best management practices. ese individuals and projects represent the best in conservation, environmental education and volunteerism in Maryland, said Jim OConnell, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Each award highlights important conservation projects and the important and powerful ways that individuals can signicantly impact the environment and help protect the valuable scenic, historic and natural resources in Maryland. Jerry and Bobette Harris were honored with the Dillon Award for their work in preserving the unique landscape of the Eastern Shore by donating three conservation easements to MET and purchasing an easement property from the Biophilia Foundation. e easements combined protect more than 800 acres in Dorchester County and include water quality buers and scenic views on the Honga River, Spicer Creek, Wallace Creek, Punch Island Creek, Dunnock Slough, the Chicomacomico River and the Chesapeake Bay. is large area is an integral part of preserving the scenic and rural landscape of Dorchester County and protects nearly 300 acres of productive agricultural land. e Forest Management Plan further protects critical forest habitats for delmarva fox squirrels and bald eagles. e Dillon Award, inaugurated in 2002, is presented annually in honor of Alverta and Louise Dillon of Garrett County. e sisters donated a conservation easement and then left their entire property to MET in 1984. e goals of METs conservation easement program complement those of the Dillon Award;

promotion of land protection, environmental education and inspirational achievements are considered as much as the number and acreage of donations. e MET Board of Trustees presented the Aileen Hughes Award to Joanne Flynn, president of the Black Swamp Creek Land Trust for her success over the last decade in promoting land conservation and small-scale sustainable farming in the rural tier of Prince Georges County. Originally formed as a local chapter of the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust, the Black Swamp Creek Trust was later organized as an independent non-prot tax exempt land trust. Flynn, together with the Black Swamp Creek Land Trust, has pursued land conservation options with private landowners using government programs and soliciting donations of conservation easements in exchange for tax benets. She has been instrumental in promoting Maryland's Rural Legacy Program between Croom Road and the Patuxent River, and later advocating for its expansion. In addition, Flynn and her husband Nick Newlin, purchased a 120-acre farm on Milltown Landing Road preventing its sale for subdivision and development. ey have since put approximately half of the farm under a permanent conservation easement through the county's forest conservation program, and will conserve the remainder through other programs. e Aileen Hughes Award is given annually to an individual representing a Maryland land trust for leadership, partnership and innovation in a conservation project. e award is named in honor of the late Aileen Hughes, a true leader in the conservation movement. Hughes was president of the American Chestnut Land Trust and a supporter of womens and civil rights, as well as the protection of our States natural and cultural resources.

Sta Updates
I
n September, MET bid farewell to Rebecca Howey who returned to her homeland, England, after working for ve and a half years for MET. Beki was rst hired as METs Volunteer Coordinator and then served as the Land Trust Assistance Coordinator and provided technical assistance and educational events for the land trusts in Maryland. Beki has assisted MET in countless ways and she will be sorely missed by all. MET board, sta and members of the land trust community gathered for a special reception on September 12 to say goodbye and recognize Bekis many contributions to MET and the land conservation movement in Maryland! MET extends many thanks to Beki for her many outstanding eorts and wishes her success in her next endeavor.

Senator Dyson presents Beki Howey with the Governors Citation on September 12, 2011, during the September Board of Trustees Meeting.

CATHY FORD joined MET in July and is assisting with the Land Trust Assistance, Stewardship and Easement Programs. She is focusing her eorts on outreach and monitoring, and will help administer the Keep Maryland Beautiful grant program. Cathy formerly worked for Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and has a BS degree from Campbell University in Social Services and MSW degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. Cathy lives in Arnold with her family and enjoys freelance photography and spending time outdoors. CAROL HOLLAND was hired in August as the parttime book keeper. Before moving to Maryland, she served as the business manager of an architectural rm in North Carolina. She previously served as the business manager for Preservation Maryland for two years. Carol resides in Lutherville with her husband.

KEVIN BULL joined MET in August as a seasonal employee and will assist the Stewardship Program sta with monitoring MET easement properties among other things. Previously, Kevin worked as a forester for PEPCO in Prince Georges County. He received his BS in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Kevin lives in North Laurel with his wife and pets. He enjoys birds, trees, wildlife and all other things outdoors as well as aquariums and technology.

New Area Representatives Named to the MET Board

ET recently appointed two new Area Representatives to the Board of Trustees. Bill Crouch will serve as a representative for Anne Arundel County and David Greene returns to MET as area representative for Baltimore County. BILL CROUCH is the Maryland Director for e Conservation Fund (TCF), a national 501(c)(3) non prot land trust. Working in partnership with private and governmental organizations, TCF has protected over 145,000 acres in the State of Maryland and over 6,500,000 acres nationwide. Bill completed his undergraduate work at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and studied law at the University of Baltimore where he earned a Juris Doctorate. Bill is a member of the Maryland State Bar. Bills appreciation of the outdoors stems from his years of summers spent working on his grandparents cattle farm in Hillsboro, Texas; hiking on the Appalachian Trail; and hunting on Marylands Eastern Shore.

We are pleased to have DAVID GREENE return to MET as an Area Representative. David previously served on the board from 1999 to 2009. David has been active in the agriculture and preservation communities for many years. Before retiring, he worked for many years with the Maryland Cooperative Extension in Carroll County, rst as an Extension Agent and then as Director. He is a founding member of the Carroll County Land Trust and the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. David and his wife Nancy operate a 100 ewe ock sheep farm in northern Baltimore County. e one hundred acre farm has been in Davids family since 1786. Bill and David each bring valuable experience from the land preservation community and we look forward to working with them both. If you are interested in serving as an area representative, please contact Liz Buxton at 410-514-7903 or email at ebuxton@dnr.state.md.us.

My Summer Adventure at MET by Holly Bowen, Summer Intern

orking at MET this summer was a great experience. Not only did I use my previous knowledge and skills to help with numerous MET projects, I also gained valuable experiences and new skills that will help me throughout my college years and beyond. I was fortunate to work on several projects that will be used in the future such as creating aerial inspection and change/ alteration request forms, the land trust interactive online map, exporting MET easements from GIS to Google Earth, aerial monitoring, the soil conservation and water quality plan and total resource management plan study, and editing the MET easement GIS layer. I was able to go on monitoring visits to a number of properties, prepare monitoring reports for these visits, and experience the easements and landowners rst hand. is was a great experience for me and I hope that what I have accomplished will be able to help MET in the future.

Holly Bowen is currently a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in Environmental Science and technology with a GIS minor. She was selected as a Governors Summer Intern and worked for 10 weeks at MET over the summer. Holly helped with a variety of GIS tasks and assisted with monitoring easement properties.

Focus on Volunteers: Ann Burchard

Q: How long have you been a volunteer monitor with MET?
I have been volunteering with MET as a Volunteer Easement Monitor since at least June 2003.

Q: What motivates you to volunteer?

I am concerned about uncontrolled development and urban sprawl. e conservation easements overseen by MET are an essential for preserving habitat and watersheds. It is such a joy to drive past developments and see an oasis that is a conservation easement. Walking on an easement property brings a sense of peace and hope.

Q: What is your most memorable monitoring visit?

I visited a farm in northern Baltimore County. e elderly gentleman who owned the property took me on a tour of the easement on his old tractor. I was hanging on for dear life, bouncing over ruts while trying to take notes and yelling stop into his hard-ofhearing ears when I wanted to take a picture. He was raising some gorgeous heritage turkeys. It was amazing to stand in the middle of the ock while they gobbled around me.

nn Burchard is retired from the Department of Defense and lives part-time in Eastport and part-time in Catonsville with Bob, her husband of 43 years. Ann and Bob have two children, Robert and Rachel, and four grandchildren, Gracie, Simone, Ben, and Alex, who all live in the metro DC area. Ann was born in Chicago and moved to Minnesota when she was a teenager. Ann attended the University of Minnesota where she earned degree in medical technology and in 1982 she earned a degree in computer science from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Besides volunteering for MET, Ann prepares tax returns for low income and elderly people under the AARP program.

Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?

I enjoy kayaking in the creeks near Annapolis and in Chesapeake Bay. I particularly like to poke around the natural areas and watch the birds. Volunteers are a vital part of METs Monitoring and Stewardship Program. We thank Ann for her commitment and hard work. Ann is one of 30 active volunteers who have been trained to monitor easement properties. For more information on how to become a volunteer at MET, please contact Michelle Johnson at 410-514-7908 or email at mjohnson@dnr.state.md.us.

Restoring American Chestnut Trees in Maryland

(continued from page 1) Providing nuts and seedlings of American chestnut trees. MDTACF members have limited quantities of nuts and seedlings of American chestnut trees that are available for free. (ese are pure American chestnut trees and are susceptible to the blight fungus. ey will all eventually get infected and many will die, although they may resprout from their root systems. ey can be beautiful and can bear seeds for decades.) Advice on planting and maintaining chestnut trees. Chestnut trees prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil. ey do well on northern facing slopes. When they are young, they prefer full sunlight. Often, a simple visual inspection can rule out unsuitable sites and, for potentially suitable sites, a soil test can be used to determine whether a site is suitable as is or requires soil amendments. Members of MDTACF can identify good chestnut growing sites, can recommend ways to keep trees healthy and, when the trees do become infected with the blight, can suggest methods to help the trees defend themselves against the fungus. To have your trees identied, send samples, obtain seeds and/or seedlings, or obtain advice on growing chestnut trees and keeping them healthy, contact MDTACF by sending an e-mail message to mdchapter@acf.org or a letter to Barbara Knapp, Secretary, 21900 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, MD 20876. For more information, visit the Chapters website www.mdtacf.org. To learn more about the American chestnut tree and the blight, as well as the backcross breeding program of e American Chestnut Foundation, visit TACFs website www.acf.org.

Notes from the Field

by Megan Sines, Central and Western Regional Planner

ne of the obvious perks of this line of work is seeing amazing properties across the state. Another perk is working with the landowners and partner organizations who are interested in protecting these properties. On a recent mid-summer morning, I had the pleasure of combining the two in a monitoring visit with Allegheny Highlands Conservancy and landowner, Roy Weitzell to a co-held easement property in Garrett County known as Bear Creek Ranch. Monitoring easement properties is part of fullling our obligation to ensure that the terms of the easement are being upheld and while very importantit can also be a lot of fun! To complete the task of monitoring this 745 acre property, we set out for a days worth of hiking. We walked hills, woods roads, and stream corridors to see property lines and corners. We walked through dew coated spider webs and saw evidence of black bears. We took a break for lunch along Bear Creek in the shade of hemlocks. Along the way we took monitoring photos and made notes about property conditions as they related to the terms of the easement. As we made our way back to our cars we crisscrossed Bear Creek and passed many native wildowers along the way. One of the highlights of the day for me was happening upon a meadow of native bee balm and Turks cap lilies which stood above our heads! e day highlighted to me the reason that we work together in the name of land conservation. is property is a true gem which supports habitat for globally rare species. e easement will stand to protect this special place, long past the lifetimes of those of us who walked the property that day.

10

Non-Prot U.S. Postage

PAID
Lutherville, MD Permit No. 171

100 Community Place First Floor Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 PHONE 410.514.7900 TOLL FREE 877.514.7900 FAx 410.514.7919 www.dnr.state.md.us/met

is newsletter is printed on 100% recycled paper using soy-based inks.

MINERAL RIGHTS GUIDE AVAILABLE

Make a contribution to MET today!

o date, MET has protected over 127,000 acres of more than 1,000 easements across the state. MET has the long term responsibility for monitoring and stewardship these properties in perpetuity. Regular monitoring requires considerable resources and MET established the Stewardship Fund to help oset expenses related to monitoring our easement properties. You generous contribution to the Stewardship Fund will ensure that the conservation easements will be upheld into the future.

he status of a propertys mineral rights can aect the ability to

protect the property through a conservation easement. MET has recently prepared a guide, Mineral Rights and Conservation Easements A Guide for Landowners, for those who may be interested in donating a conservation easement to MET but have questions about the mineral rights status of their properties. e new guide can be found on our website under Resources & Links.

Thank You to Our Contributors:

Ann and Kenny Braitman Geb and Jane Byron Amanda A. Gibson and John W. Butler Charles E. Conklin, Jr. Robert and Julia Deford Robert James Etgen Ruann Newcomer George Julia Jitko and Stanislaw Maliszewski, LAiglon Foundation James R. OConnell Lauren and Rick Pollin William L. Susen e Abell Foundation e Conservation Fund e Land Trust Alliance e National Park Service e Trust for Public Land Bud and Nancy Virts