WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD (August 25, 2026) – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning is pleased to announce the recent preservation of a 47.79-acre farm through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Program Open Space–Stateside (POS-Stateside) easement program, bringing the total amount of permanently preserved land in Washington County to more than 44,000 acres.
The easement was finalized on August 19, 2026, preserving a 47.79-acre farm located on Bikle Road in Smithsburg. The property features pasture and woodland resources, along with significant scenic and natural characteristics. The preservation of this property adds to a block of thousands of acres of permanently preserved land in the area and will support neighboring property owners in their efforts to pursue permanent conservation easements.
POS-Stateside is a developing land preservation program in Washington County, with this property representing the fourth POS-Stateside easement completed in the County. The program is funded and administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, with local administration provided by the Land Preservation Office of the Washington County Department of Planning & Zoning. Easements through the program are funded on a rolling basis throughout the year, with a focus on protecting properties with significant natural resources and providing public access to those resources.
The newly preserved property contributes to Washington County’s comprehensive land preservation strategy, which aims to protect agricultural, scenic, historic, and environmentally significant lands throughout the County. POS-Stateside is one of several programs supporting these efforts, alongside the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Rural Legacy Program (RLP) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP); the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) program; the County’s Installment Purchase Program (IPP); local forest conservation easements; federal initiatives such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and Federal Scenic Easements; and partnerships with organizations including the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), Antietam Battlefield Trust (ABT), Mid-Maryland Land Trust (MMLT), and others.
While the majority of funding for land preservation is provided through State sources, Washington County has taken significant financial steps in recent years to supplement these efforts and strengthen its local land preservation programs. These continued investments reinforce the County’s long-term commitment to protecting its agricultural heritage, natural resources, scenic landscapes, and rural character for future generations.
For more information about Washington County’s land preservation programs, please contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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