FREDERICK, MD. - The Frederick County Division of Energy and Environment (DEE) has opened its annual application period for participation in the Creek ReLeaf reforestation program. Property owners interested in having native trees planted on their land for no cost may apply between October 1 and December 31, 2024.

The Creek ReLeaf program installs new plantings on public and private lands and provides maintenance to ensure their success. This program aims to reverse the trend of local tree loss and increase the total amount of forested acreage in Frederick County. Since 2017, Creek ReLeaf has helped protect our watershed through reforestation of more than 575 acres. The program provides:

• Planting native trees and shrubs at no cost to landowners.
• Five years of county-provided maintenance to establish the forest stand.
• Payment for a permanent conservation easement on the parcel planted.

Properties included in the Creek ReLeaf program receive considerable benefits at no cost to the landowner. If accepted into the program, property owners receive payment for a permanent conservation easement, based on 75% of fair market value of the land to be planted, up to $9,000 per acre. The property owner may utilize the land in ways that do not violate the easement's terms, such as selective harvesting. A forestry management plan can provide long-term revenue to the landowner, in addition to the benefits of having a healthy forest.

This project is subsidized by grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund. Forested lands provide stormwater control, improve air and soil quality, lessen temperature impacts on county streams, increase wildlife habitat, help prevent soil erosion, reduce water pollution, and contribute to the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

To learn more or apply online, visit the Division of Energy and Environment's website at www.frederickcountymd.gov/reforest. Those interested in staying up-to-date on the County's many efforts to create environmental resilience can join community conversations on Facebook and Instagram at @SustainableFCMD. For additional information about Creek ReLeaf, please contact project manager Linda Williamson by phone at 240-608-7426 or by email to [email protected].

###

Contact: Annmarie Creamer, Communications Manager
Division of Energy & Environment
301-748-9483