All photography by Jack Foley

Late in 2004, a small group of Kent County conservationists had round-robin discussions about the possibility of organizing a local non-profit land trust.  They recognized the need to complement State efforts to preserve open space and farmland and to cooperate with state and national preservation organizations.  Lots of good things were happening in Kent County but there was little local initiative and support.

Just before the end of the year, Nick DiPasquale organized an extended lunch-hour meeting with Charles Salkin, Terry, Higgins, and Carl Solberg.  All agreed that a local conservancy would be an important component in the ongoing efforts to preserve Kent County’s natural and cultural resources and landscapes.

In the first six months of 2005, the four founders formally incorporated as the Kent County Conservancy, Inc.   Interim officers were Nick as President, Terry as Vice President, Chazz as treasurer and Carl as Secretary.  By-laws were soon adopted and an account was set up at the Delaware Community Foundation to accept tax-deductible memberships and donations.

The first KCC Annual Meeting was held in January 2006 where the

Interim officers for formally elected except Dorothy Lehmann became Treasurer.

Later that year, IRS approval of 501(c)(3) status was received and the Conservancy affiliated with the Land Trust Alliance.

The organization’s first major project was supported by grants from the DNREC Coastal Management Program and the Holden Family Fund.  The KCC Board gathered natural resource data from Kent County land records to assist in identifying preservation targets.  Training sessions were held to familiarize the board and other local citizens with the techniques of land preservation and associated state and federal tax incentives.  This was followed by a series of landowner contacts.  KCC also instituted an annual awards program to recognize landowners and other individuals and organizations that advance the cause of land protection in the county

The first success came in March of 2011 with the donation of a Conservation Easement from Terry and Martha Higgins.  Permanent restrictions were placed on their 9.8-acre forest tract southeast of Marydel in the Choptank River watershed.  The management plan requires the protection of a forested wetland ecosystem and the restrictions are monitored annually by the KCC.

In 2012, the KCC also formally supported and made a small financial contribution to the acquisition of the 747-acre Vance Morris Farm by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife as an addition to the Ted Harvey Conservation Area.  Settlement took place in early 2014.

For a couple of years, the Conservancy was relatively inactive.  Few meetings were held and no projects were undertaken.  In 2013, Gerald Street and George Fisher talked while kayaking the Fork Branch of the St. Jones River about the need for a strong, local organization to preserve such critical natural areas and to bemoan the apparent demise of the KCC.  Gerri and George called a meeting in November 2013 and invited Chazz Salkin and Dean Holden, one of the last active members of the KCC board.  The four agreed that it was important to revitalize the existing organization.  A formal re-organizational meeting was held in April 2014 with a quorum of the last board and several new volunteers.  New officers were elected to serve until the next annual meeting.

Highlights of the Kent County Conservancy in recent years include:

  • Participated in a Land Trust Alliance webinar on easement monitoring followed by on-site review of the Higgins conservation easement.
  • Advocated for funding for a trail and other access improvements for Delaware State Parks’ Fork Branch Nature Preserve in Dover.  Sen. Brian Bushweller and then-Rep. Darryl Scott joined together to provide $100,000 of Community Transportation Funds for the effort.  With matching federal funds, the Division of Parks and Recreation expects to begin construction in late 2017.
  • Coordinated the participation of state agencies and other conservation non-profits at Old Dover Days in 2015 and 2016.
  • Presented special programs at Annual Meetings on the topics of creation of a countywide youth conservation corps (Maryland State Parks) and the ins and outs of operating a community land conservancy (Eastern Shore Land Conservancy).
  • Actively pursued contacts with a dozen landowners in the St. Jones watershed to initiate discussions on potential easements, donations and/or sale to public agencies.

Kent County Conservancy Presidents

            Nicholas A. DiPasquale        2006 - 2009

            Christopher Zimmerman     2009 - 2013

            Charles A. Salkin                  2014 - 2017

            Gerald I. H. Street                2017 - Current