HAGERSTOWN, MD (March 30, 2026) – The Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning is proud to announce that on March 19, 2026, Washington County preserved a 32.63-acre farm, adding to the more than 43,000 acres of permanently preserved land within the County.
The preservation was achieved through a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) easement on a farm located on Trovinger Mill Road in Hagerstown. The property is an active crop and livestock farm situated along Antietam Creek, offering abundant scenic and natural characteristics. The procurement of this easement will support and encourage neighboring properties in their pursuit of permanent preservation.
The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) accounts for more than 2,000 acres, representing nearly 5% of the County’s permanent land preservation easements. Funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and locally managed by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning, CREP plays a key role in protecting environmentally sensitive lands. Proposals for CREP easements are accepted on an ongoing basis and can be implemented on properties with existing CREP contracts through the Farm Service Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Washington County’s land preservation strategy includes a broad range of programs dedicated to protecting agricultural, scenic, historic, and environmentally sensitive lands. In addition to CREP, these programs include:
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) programs such as the Rural Legacy Program (RLP) and Program Open Space – Stateside
- Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program (MALPF)
- The County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP)
- Local forest conservation easements
- Federal programs including the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements
- Partner-supported easements through organizations such as MARBIDCO, Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), and Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT)
While state programs historically provide the majority of funding for these initiatives, Washington County has taken significant steps in recent years to expand local investment in preservation efforts, ensuring the long-term protection of the County’s agricultural and natural resources.
For more information about land preservation programs in Washington County, contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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