Land in the watershed is a finite and fragile resource, and what happens on land has an enormous impact on local waterways. Population growth and development have increased the need to preserve natural places such as forests. Parks, wildlife refuges and other preserved lands provide habitat for animals and filter pollution before it reaches the Bay and its tributaries. Bay Program partners have pursued land preservation by buying property, accepting donations, arranging for easements and purchasing development rights.
Learn more about land preservation.
The goal is to permanently preserve from development 20 percent of the total watershed acreage in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia, or 6.8 million acres, by 2010. The total watershed acreage of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia is estimated to be 34 million acres.
Amount completed since 2000 (baseline year)
1,068,371 acres have been preserved between 2000 (the year the goal was established) and 2008. Cumulatively, 7,319,478 acres have been preserved.
Amount completed in 2008
115,613 acres were preserved in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia
Note: The historic data featured in this indicator changed from that reported in the 2007 Assessment due to corrections by Maryland and Virginia.
Land Included in this Indicator
For the purposes of this goal, preserved land includes land that is permanently protected from development with a perpetual conservation or open space easement or fee ownership. These easements are held by federal, state or local governments or non-profit organizations for natural resource, forestry, agriculture, wildlife, recreation, historic, cultural or open space use, or to sustain water quality and living resources. Parks, wildlife refuges and private lands protected through conservation easements are counted in this measure.
In Maryland, some of this acreage may fall outside the watershed for counties that have land area both inside and outside the watershed.
Virginia lands include military lands under the stewardship of the Department of Defense that are additionally managed for recreation, open space and habitat. While these lands are always available for future military needs, they are also considered by Virginia as permanently preserved from development so long as so managed.
Baseline Acreages
Baseline acreages are estimated using the best information available. In Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, the baseline acreages are for 2000; in Pennsylvania, they are for 2001. As information on lands protected prior to June 30, 2000, is improved, the baseline may be adjusted, both for overestimates and underestimates of acreage protected.
Mike Fritz at (800) 968-7229 ext. 721
Chesapeake Bay Program Office