HAGERSTOWN – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning announced today the permanent preservation of a 130-acre farm in Clear Spring, moving the county nearer to its goal of protecting 43,000 acres of agricultural and natural land forever.
The conservation easement, finalized on November 21, 2025, was achieved through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Situated on Spade Road along scenic Conococheague Creek, the property functions as a hay, equestrian, and livestock operation while offering exceptional natural beauty and ecological value.
This addition reinforces an expanding corridor of protected land in the Clear Spring area and is anticipated to encourage adjacent landowners to pursue similar permanent conservation easements.
CREP continues to play an essential role in Washington County’s preservation efforts, now responsible for more than 2,000 acres and nearly five percent of all permanent easements countywide.
Administered at the state level by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and coordinated locally by the county’s Land Preservation Office, CREP accepts easement applications year-round. The program is particularly well-suited for properties already enrolled in CREP contracts through the USDA Farm Service Agency.
Washington County employs a comprehensive suite of state, federal, local, and partner-supported programs to safeguard its irreplaceable farmland, forests, historic sites, and environmentally sensitive areas.
These include the Rural Legacy Program and Program Open Space through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, the county’s own Installment Purchase Program, local forest conservation easements, the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, and collaborative efforts with organizations such as the Maryland
Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation, Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust, and Mid-Maryland Land Trust.
Although state funding has historically supported the majority of these initiatives, Washington County has substantially increased its own financial commitment in recent years to guarantee the enduring stewardship of its agricultural heritage and natural resources.
For additional details about land preservation opportunities in Washington County, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or [email protected].
