The State of Maryland has granted TMC $698,000 for the purchase of easements under the Rural Legacy Program in 2014. These purchases are often used to preserve land that adjoins other preserved properties and does not qualify for other programs. 

Our Rural Legacy area includes land in Harford and Baltimore Counties. TMC co-holds these easements with the Department of Natural Resources and is responsible for their administration in perpetuity.
Applications for RL grants are submitted annually.

The Manor Conservancy is an Internal Revenue Service qualified land trust as
opposed to an advocacy organization. Our focus is permanent preservation of land through perpetual easements and stewardship of the land that under easements held in which TMC has an interest. Although we do become involved in land use planning and zoning issues that have a wide impact on properties under easement, we cannot and do not represent individual landowners in issues that might affect their land unless it is under easement . In such a case, our interest is protecting the sanctity of the easement. We generally suggest that the landowner look elsewhere to deal with an issue not directly related to the easement. In fact, in some cases our protection of the easement may be in conflict with the landowner’s desires.

The pipeline expansion is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, with State and County input. It was approved by the Commission.
Columbia Gas has the right of condemnation and landowners are compensated for any diminishment in fair market value. Unless TMC holds an easement on an
impacted property, it has no standing to object.

Different landowners have different concerns. Location is a problem for some. Yet
if we became involved in a location dispute, we may be doing a disservice to the
owner of the land over which an alternative route would be proposed. The
inconvenience during construction is a problem for some. Compensation is an
issue for some. Some have no objection and settle on a price they are willing to
accept for the additional pipeline easement. These issues are unique to the
individual landowners unless the property involved is subject to an easement held by TMC. In those cases, The Manor Conservancy becomes involved, reviews the proposals, and deals with Columbia.

Any landowner interested in joining a group opposing the pipeline should contact
Theaux Le Gardeur at Backwater Angler in Hereford. Theaux runs the Gunpowder
River Keeper organization (http://www.gunpowderriverkeeper.org). Virtually all
of the property in our area over which the pipeline runs is in the Gunpowder
Watershed. Theaux has a legal team, and is looking for support.

The Manor Conservancy has received comments criticizing its lack of opposition.
We welcome the criticism, because it reminds us of the need to explain our role
and avoid future misunderstandings.

Preservation of an important locale in the Manor Area has been accomplished by the Merryman/Gilmore family who have granted a conservation easement for 209.8 acres.

The acreage includes agricultural land, forests, open fields, a portion of Sawmill Branch, natural habitat, recreational trails leading to Gunpowder Falls State Park and scenic value of significant public benefit along Stansbury Mill Road. The easement is co-held by The Manor Conservancy and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as this beautiful property remains under private ownership and management.

The community appreciates the efforts of the landowners to provide for conservation of the natural, agricultural, environmental, scenic, cultural, rural, woodland and wetland characteristics of the Property.

Columbia Gas would like to provide an update to all those concerned with the progress of the Line MB extension.

Information and application forms for the State program can be found at www.malpf.info/forms with specific County information at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/agencies/environment/landpreservation/index 

The application materials are to be sent to the attention of Wally Lippincott, Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, 111 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Room 319,Towson, MD 21204 by May 1, 2014. For any questions, please contact Wally Lippincott or Carmela Iacovelli at (410) 887-3854 or email at ciacovelli@baltimorecountymd.gov.

An important incentive for easement donations has been introduced via Maryland House Bill 789/Senate Bill 709 under consideration during this year’s General Assembly. Tax credits for qualified donated easements would be transferable and landowners who are corporations, trusts, limited partnerships or liability companies would be eligible to claim the credit as well as individuals or married couples. Unused credit could be credited against Maryland Estate taxes at the death of the owner.

This expansion of the existing Maryland income tax credit follows legislation passed in many other states for similar purposes. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR OR DELEGATE TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS.

Conservation provisions included in the Farm Bill just passed by Congress will provide significant funding for easements to protect working farms and croplands. In addition, previously required matching funds from land trusts or local governments were exchanged for match alternatives to help ensure that a lack of local funding does not exclude protection of strategically important conservation opportunities. 

Farm Bill Programs such as CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) and FRPP (Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program) can be a complex alphabet soup, but they do, along with donated and purchased easements, serve to keep working farms in family hands and reinvest dollars in our community.

At the TMC Annual Meeting October 22, 2013, Justin Batoff, Doug Behrens, Frank Durkee, Emily Emerick and Ned Grassi were elected to the Board of Directors. 

The Sergeant Murphy Land Preservation Award for 2013 was presented to Ralph Rigger and his late wife Rebecca, well known in the local and wider community for their tireless energy and dedication to civic duty and responsibility. Their hands on support of many worthy causes as well as their active participation in political and regulatory processes that influence our lives have been remarkable. The Manor Area as benefited in countless ways from their interest in rural preservation and land conservation. Since moving to Hess Road in 1955, they have seen changes and challenges to the rural community of the Manor and their leadership and commitment to the heritage and environment here is hard to match. They took the time to be informed, inform others, and be present when others stayed home, displaying the best of community activism and constructive and positive citizen engagement.