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July 12, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

Ecosystem Eco Notes

New ESLC Easement Creates 4,000 Acre Corridor of Protected Land in Dorchester County

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) closed on a 339-acre conservation easement owned by the Jones Family in Dorchester County. Nestled between two existing ESLC easements and an expansive Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) easement, this final stretch of forest creates a 4,000-acre corridor of protected lands. As he looks forward to sharing the natural beauty of these woodlands with many future generations, avid wildlife manager Ben Jones is delighted “to know that when we’re not around it’s going to be the way it is or better than we left it.”

The Jones’s woodland property falls within the Southeastern Forest Legacy Area, identified by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a forest of high economic, environmental, and societal importance. Once threatened by fragmentation and conversion, the property is now protected for perpetuity, safeguarding habitat for Delmarva fox squirrels, deer, groundhogs, foxes, and forest interior dwelling bird species like tanagers, ovenbirds, and pine warblers. The easement’s silt-loam soil anchors abundant pine responsibly managed through a forest stewardship plan.

Located within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, the new easement provides an essential buffer for the Transquaking River, a 23-mile-long Chesapeake Bay tributary left notoriously vulnerable to nutrient pollution. In addition to aiding in Maryland’s clean water goals, large woodlands provide a number of services to the entire surrounding community and ecosystem. The forest will help to prevent flooding and soil erosion, sequester carbon, prevent light pollution, and shelter wildlife including the property’s recent abundance of wild turkeys.

If one large tree provides four people a one-day supply of oxygen, then this easement provides clean air and safe breathing for the Jones’s entire community and beyond. “We have a number of farms and every one of them has been put in preservation,” noted Ben’s father Skip Jones. “Everything we’ve ever done, every land we’ve ever bought, we’ve put into preservation. Our heart is in the soil.”

ESLC is grateful to the Jones family, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy for their technical and financial support of this project. To learn more about conservation easement programs please contact ESLC’s director of land conservation, David Satterfield, at dsatterfield@eslc.org.

 

Established in 1990, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s mission is to conserve, steward, and advocate for the unique rural landscape of the Eastern Shore. ESLC works to forever protect this special place of diverse and abundant natural resources and thriving rural communities.

 

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Celebrates Trails

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy invites you to join us and our trail partners and advocates from all across the Eastern Shore in celebrating our amazing trails. First started by the Rails to Trails Conservancy in 2013, Celebrate Trails Day is more than a day outside—it’s an opportunity to enjoy your local trails while appreciating the many ways that trails make an impact on our lives and communities. It’s an opportunity to show how beneficial our current trails are and why we need more trails, longer trails, and trails that better connect diverse destinations.

On Saturday, April 27th, the Eastern Shore Trail Network Steering Committee will lead various trail walks at locations across the Shore, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and the Town of Oxford. Steering Committee Chair and ESLC Land Use and Policy Director, Owen Bailey will lead the walk along Chestertown’s Gilchrest Rail Trail, a scenic path that curves past the Chester River dockyard, a historic farm supply warehouse, vintage rail lines, and picturesque Washington College.

We invite you to come out and learn about the value of trails and tell us why you like trails and where you think we need more trails.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

589 Acres Protected Forever by ESLC in Dorchester County

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The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is excited to announce a new conservation easement in Dorchester County. The property, owned by Ed “Biff” Burns, protects 589 acres of land southeast of Cambridge. The permanent protection of the property helps to secure the agricultural and natural resources of the region, with approximately 227 acres planted in grain and 363 acres held in woodlands, with many qualifying as forested wetlands. The woodlands are especially important, as they provide significant habitat for Forest Interior Dwelling Species (FIDS), including woodpeckers, thrushes, and nuthatches, as well as Delmarva fox squirrel.

Mr. Burns grows grain in Dorchester and Wicomico Counties. Dr. Candy Burns, Biff’s late wife, was a driving force behind conserving the farm, a goal that Biff remained steadfast in honoring even after her passing in 2021. He hopes that the farm will continue to be enjoyed as a great place for farming and hunting for he and his family.

ESLC would like to thank the Burns family for its contribution to regional conservation. We’d also like to recognize and thank our partners in this endeavor: the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (via the North American Wetland Conservation Act; NAWCA). Their technical and financial assistance was key to securing this beautiful farm for generations to come.

To learn about conservation easement programs, including whether your property may qualify, please contact ESLC’s director of land conservation, David Satterfield, at [email protected].

To learn more about the U.S. Navy Conservation Program in Maryland, check out the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program page at: https://www.repi.mil/. To learn more about the NAWCA program, check out their home page at: https://www.fws.gov/program/north-american-wetlands-conservation.

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Hosts U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen at Dorchester County Conservation Easement

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On Thursday August 17, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and Skip and Barbara Watson hosted U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen for a tour of Waterloo Farm in East New Market, Maryland. Several bay conservation partners also attended, including representatives from Choose Clean Water Coalition, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Waterloo Farm’s conservation and wetland protection efforts (including impoundments, native plantings, protected woodlands, and vegetative buffers) will be replicated across Dorchester County by ESLC and essential partners through Chesapeake WILD funding, which includes $500,000 in federal funding that the Senator fought to secure to protect habitat migration corridors between Blackwater and the Nanticoke River Watershed. 

Through strategic landowner outreach, ESLC and the Chesapeake WILD project will permanently protect 300 acres, benefiting the long-term resilience of wildlife populations and critical ecosystems throughout Maryland’s lower Eastern Shore.

“What this shows is that this requires a team effort,” said Senator Van Hollen. “It does require everybody working in the same direction. If we’re going to address all the issues and if we’re going to protect the Chesapeake Bay, which is a global treasure, we have to make sure here in the bay, which is an extra sensitive area ecologically, that we have a program specifically targeted on the Bay and that’s what Chesapeake WILD is all about.”

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Eastern Shore Regional Trail Network Receives National Park Service Grant

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Eastern Shore Regional Trails Network steering committee

The Eastern Shore Regional Trails Network has been selected by National Park Service – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS-RTCA) as a 2023 “community assistance project.” The designation means that this recently-formed, Shore-wide consortium of partners, led by Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, will receive support for one year in the form of invaluable, one-on-one expertise and technical support from knowledgeable National Park Service staff.

“The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS-RTCA) is excited to partner with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and community partners to create a connected network for active transportation across Maryland’s Eastern Shore that supports safe places for people to walk, ride, roll, and explore nature,” stated Natalia Sanchez Hernandez, the NPS-RTCA expert supporting the initiative. “NPS-RTCA recognizes the need and strong community support to enhance multimodal transportation to encourage healthy living, provide safe access to close-to-home recreation and community amenities, and increase tourism and economic development for communities in Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

The Eastern Shore Regional Trails Network partnership is a newly-formed group of community organizations working to connect with stakeholders, initiate the first new trails across the region, and build a regional trails coalition to serve as an advocating body for trail resources. This Wednesday, June 14th, ESLC will kick off the first planning meeting between the steering committee and National Parks Staff at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center. The meeting will include:

  • Patti Stevens, Eastern Shore Representative for Maryland Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and co-founder of Worcester Bike and Pedestrian Coalition
  • Sue Simmons, former Director of Caroline County Recreation and Parks
  • Kat Stork, Owner of Shore Strategies
  • Jim Bogden, Chair of Chestertown Recreation Commission
  • Joe Kelley, Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator
  • Josh Hastings, Wicomico County Council
  • Bob Zillig, Chair of Queen Anne’s County Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
  • Margaret Enloe-North, Interim Director Talbot Thrive

Owen Bailey, Chair of the Steering Committee for this project and Director of Land Use and Policy for Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, is thrilled about the future saying, “We are so grateful and excited for this new project to raise awareness and engage people across the Shore. And we can’t wait to hit the trail!”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

ESLC Celebrates a ‘Returning to Roots’ at Annual Party to Preserve

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Supporters and friends of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy gathered at Duvall Farm and Lodge on Saturday, September 17, 2022, for the organization’s annual premier fundraising event, the Party to Preserve. The evening included wagon tours of the spectacular wildlife habitat on Duvall Farm, performances from renowned jazz performer Lena Seikaly, and a live auction of singular experiences.

“This is an evening meant to feature some of the most iconic and beautiful farms the Eastern Shore of Maryland has to offer, as well as to highlight the important work of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. On behalf of the entire ESLC board of directors and staff, thanks to Chip and Sally Akridge for opening Duvall Farm and Lodge for this year’s Party to Preserve and to Al and Marty Sikes for chairing the event, it was a fantastic and successful night,” said ESLC Board Chair William D’Alonzo.

“ESLC’s mission has never been more important than it is today, with the future of a rural Eastern Shore facing enormous pressure from all sides. The contributions from our Party to Preserve ensure we can continue our critical work, both around the kitchen tables of our partner landowners and in the meeting rooms where public policy decisions get made. Thanks to all of our supporters; we simply could not do our work without them,” added ESLC President Steven Kline.

ESLC is also pleased to announce that the 2023 Party to Preserve will return to Kent County. To stay up-to-date on all of our events, sponsorship opportunities, and news related to ESLC, join our mailing list and get updates via email.

About Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization
committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands
and waters that connect them. For more information, please visit www.eslc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

ESLC Announces Addition of Local Community Leaders to Board of Directors

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the organization’s board of directors: Jules Hendrix of Queen Anne’s County and Darius Johnson of Talbot County; the new additions were approved by the current board of directors during their most recent meeting on Monday, June 13, 2022.

Jules Hendrix is the owner of Crow Insurance Agency in Middletown, Delaware, a full-service insurance agency serving clients through the mid-Atlantic region; with a focus on agribusiness, Hendrix and the Crow Insurance team specialize in the insurance needs of businesses and families, including farm, crop, business, home, auto, and life insurance. Hendrix has spent years working in and with the ranch and farming community, and has authored a book on crop risk management for insurance professionals. She has a Master of Science degree in Horticulture and Agronomy from the University of California-Davis and holds the Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) and Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designations.

Darius Johnson, a proud Kent County, Maryland native, is the Regional Director of the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program of America. Additionally, Johnson is a Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program and a Community Curation Fellow with Chesapeake Heartland: An African American Humanities Project at Washington College, Johnson’s alma mater. He also serves on various boards of other local nonprofit organizations, including Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, Rural Maryland Council, and the Alumni Board at Washington College. Additionally, Johnson previously worked with ESLC as a member of its staff: first as the Community Revitalization Project Manager, then as the Communications Manager.

“Jules and Darius are fantastic additions to our board of directors, with a clear and active commitment to our mission of protecting and enhancing the rural character of the Eastern Shore. I look forward to working with both of them for years to come,” said ESLC President Steven Kline.

ESLC Board Chair Bill D’Alonzo added, “Jules and Darius bring meaningful and relevant professional experience to the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy board of directors, from agriculture and business, to non-profit leadership and community engagement. Their addition to our board will clearly benefit the future of this organization and its critically important work.”

For more information, contact ESLC’s Communication Coordinator, Bethany Straus at [email protected], or visit www.eslc.org.

About Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization
committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and
waters that connect them. For more information, please visit www.eslc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Cornell Grant Partners Two Conservation-Based Non-Profits on MD Eastern Shore

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) will be collaborating with Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) on an initiative through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Cornell Lab)’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Small Grant Program. The $5,000 award will be utilized to develop a six part bird conservation series to be held from January to August of 2022 that will highlight various bird conservation and restoration practices across the Delmarva Peninsula; the series will also promote opportunities for engaging new and existing volunteers in meaningful stewardship of conservation lands through the lens of bird conservation.

The Delmarva Peninsula hosts a variety of critical ecosystem habitat and supports a plethora of habitats from forest interior, grasslands, wetlands, and saltmarsh habitat. However, the peninsula is a vulnerable area, with the Chesapeake Bay to the west and Coastal Bays and the Atlantic Ocean to the east; habitat loss from sea level rise and development, along with large-scale changes in farming practices have contributed to the declines in a variety of bird species once plentiful on the coastal landscape, such as saltmarsh sparrow, seaside sparrow, black rail, and bobwhite quail.

This upcoming conservation series will highlight regional restoration efforts being implemented by conservation partners through discussions of restoration practices and trainings geared toward land trust members and volunteers, as well as interested members of our community. Through these focused programs, which include bird banding demonstrations and birding walks, partners aim to increase awareness of the challenges to bird populations and of the actions being implemented to counter these declines.

Existing conservation easement landowners will gain insight and knowledge as to how their land plays a role in the larger picture of restoration efforts, and whether their property might have potential to be enrolled in the highlighted restoration projects. Individuals of our communities can become more involved with local land trusts and will have the opportunity to learn how to become more involved with our conserved lands.

ESLC and LSLT sincerely appreciate Cornell Lab for this opportunity to work with local conservation groups and for the ability to increase our community support of bird conservation. For questions about this upcoming series, please contact ESLC’s Restoration Specialist, Larisa Prezioso, at [email protected] or LSLT’s Executive director, Kate Patton, [email protected]

About the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. For more information please visit www.eslc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

American Farmland Trust Awards ESLC with Soil Health Stewards Program Grant

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American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national agricultural conservation organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and protection of agricultural land, has awarded Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) with a $10,000 grant through their Soil Health Stewards Program. The grant, along with associated trainings, will enhance ESLC’s ability to promote soil health practices to the landowners and agricultural producers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is a leading land trust in conservation easement protections. Since 1990, ESLC has protected 306 easements on approximately 52,000 acres across Dorchester, Talbot, Caroline, Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Lower Cecil County.

The grant, which is funded by the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), will allow two staff members to attend a 2.5 day Soil Health Workshop focusing on soil health practices and how to engage the community in the implementation of these practices. The workshop will prepare staff to build a Soil Health Stewards Action Plan on how ESLC will address soil health issues in our community.

“At ESLC, we are dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of conservation practices,” said David Satterfield, Land Program Manager at ESLC. “We are thankful for the support from AFT and NRCS to continue this dedication by building our knowledge around soil health practices and programs. We are excited to work with both groups at the upcoming workshop and through the Soil Health Stewards planning process to bring new resources to communities.”

ESLC’s Restoration Program plans to use the expertise gained through this grant to vastly improve the way it communicates soil health practices to its constituents through improved mailings and educational events. For those interested in assistance in achieving conservation goals for their property through management practice solutions, such as soil health improvements, please contact ESLC’s Restoration Specialist, Larisa Prezioso, at [email protected] or 410-690-4603.

About the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. For more information please visit www.eslc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

ESLC Hires new Policy Manager

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Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Sara Ramotnik as their new Policy Manager.  Sara replaces Josh Hastings who has gone on to become Program and Policy Director for Forever Maryland.

Sara comes to ESLC from the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership where she worked on policy development and stakeholder input on key conservation legislation. Sara graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy.  Sara also served as an agricultural nonpoint source pollution intern at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office.  

According to ESLC President Rob Etgen, “we are thrilled to have Sara join our team.  She has terrific experience with partners and legislation that are key parts of our future, and brings the energy and enthusiasm needed to take on big challenges like our Delmarva Oasis – an effort to protect half of the peninsula by 2030.”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.