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Home > Our work > News > Different Interests Converge to Preserve Farmland and Protect Deer Creek
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Different Interests Converge to Preserve Farmland and Protect Deer Creek |
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The
Harford Land Trust, a local farm owner and realtor, the U.S. Army, and the Harford County government have different reasons
for wanting to preserve a parcel of farmland along Deer Creek. In 2005, those
interests converged to create a partnership that in 2007 preserved a 164-acre
farm adjacent to Deer Creek and the Churchville Test Area of the U.S. Army
Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
The
farmland owned by the Harry G. Hopkins family since 1955 was a dairy farm and
orchard, but is now cropland and pasture for beef cattle and thoroughbred
horses. The family had already platted and recorded 11 residential lots when
the Army approached them about preserving their farm through the Department of
Defense's Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (ACUB).
Based
on previous experience elsewhere, the Army was concerned that a new residential
neighborhood so close to its' testing facility would become a source of
complaints about noise, dust and nighttime lights that are a part of vehicle
testing. Possible protests from neighbors might constrain operations on the 11
miles of engineered tracks and interconnecting roads at the Churchville Test Area
(CTA). The Army considers the CTA's hilly
terrain to be its' premier facility for evaluating endurance and reliability of
wheeled and tracked vehicles.
The
Harford Land Trust and Bill Amoss, director of the Harford
County's Agricultural Preservation
Program, considered the Hopkins' farm a keystone
in preserving farmland along the lower Deer Creek Valley.
The
Harford Land Trust was recommended by the staff at APG to act as an intermediary
for all parties, according to the Army, because its' "proven and recognized
expertise in land preservation and related management strategies". The
Department of Defense provided direction and financial resources, Harford County government provided financial
resources, and HLT provided professional & volunteer services to all
parties so that this project could reach success. The resulting partnerships
produced two conservation easements that will preserve the fields and forests
of the Hopkins farm in perpetuity, further help protect Deer Creek, and enable
the Churchville Test Area to fulfill its' significant mission.
HLT President Harry Webster and Executive Director Peg Niland sign and witness settlement documents.
Peg Niland and Harry Webster
invested many hours, days and months developing a working relationship with the
Aberdeen Proving Ground team, learning a whole new language of military
acronyms, and negotiating the terms of the Conservation Easement. One of the highlights of the project that
Harry observed was the courteous, professional, and light-hearted way the APG team
responded to all questions, quickly resolving situations as they arose, and assisting
Peg every step of the way. Despite
vowing never to learn military time, Peg, with the help of Andy Murphy of U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground, is no longer challenged by this feat.
Often
times the discussions in these kinds of transactions can be intense and
sometimes frustrating; however, the element of humor was never far away in our
discussions with Tim Hopkins, his father Harry Hopkins, and sister Peggy
Bachman. Peg Niland recalls the
first meeting with the family where Harry Hopkins circled but did not sit at
the table until initial concerns were clarified. Our meetings with the Tim, Peggy
and Mr. Hopkins were always amicable and we never left the room without a few
laughs. The family's choice to preserve the land, mirror the closeness of the
family and the values they hold. Spending
time with the family listening to their needs, desires, and concerns, while
expressing the wishes of the Army was never too difficult to do. Harry Webster,
who has known the family members for years, was critical to the success because
of his enthusiasm for the ACUB program and his determination to bring all
parties to agreement. Everyone involved
agreed that perseverance, patience and a good sense of humor were essential for
success.
When
Glenn Dudderar, Chairman of the HLT Lands Committee, interviewed Harry Hopkins
for this article, he learned that Harry grew up along Rt. 155 and later bought
the "Deer Creek hill-country farm" in 1955.
After relaying information about the farm's ponds, farming practices,
and the special feature of lying on Deer Creek, he told a special story. His parents had come to live with them on the
farm and in the waning days of his father's life, the family wanted to give him
something visual to occupy his days.
Their home at one end is covered mostly in large windows and the thought
came to him that a duck pond would be nice.
The pond was excavated to collect rain and run off but due to a serious
dry spell, there wasn't any water.
However, a mated pair of geese was available and Mr. Hopkins' mother
bought them and moved them onto the land with a dry pond for a home. Mr. Hopkins and his mother suffered a great
deal of joking about this, but not for long.
The entire pond was filled to overflowing in one day when a major
hurricane hit.
The Harford Land
Trust board of directors was particularly supportive and hopeful of this
projects' success. The Hopkins
farm is rich in history and family memories and we know that future owners can
continue to farm and to enjoy the ponds, fields and forests of the land. The
U.S. Army will continue to be a notable neighbor, but will not have to face the
threat of new residential neighbors objecting to its' testing. The big winners,
however, will be the citizens of Harford
County and beyond, because
the preserved land will help maintain the cold, clear water of Deer Creek for
recreation, drinking water and fish and wildlife habitat. The maintenance of
the water quality of Deer Creek contributes to the water quality of the
Susquehanna River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
In addition, it should be noted that Harford
County's Department of
Planning and Zoning partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
to develop a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) for Deer Creek
because of the creek's ecological and economic value. The evaluation of the
creek's condition and restoration needs was completed in 2006 and the strategy
for protection and restoration, to be completed in the coming year, will
include farm and forest preservation. Such preservation is vital because
research has shown that an increase of impervious surface in a watershed
results in a corresponding decrease in water quality and biological diversity
in the watershed.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 February 2008 )
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On July 16, 2001 the Harford Land Trust completed its purchase of 32 acres of woods, wetlands and waterfront s... |
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