The Maryland chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has recently closed on 1,273 acres of land in Garret County, adjacent to the Jennings Randolph Lake Recreation area and the town of Kitzmiller, MD. The land contains both former strip mine fields and harvested forest stands, which the organization will work to restore by using machinery to loosen compacted soils and planting native tree and plant species.
In addition to a 97-acre protection project near Swanton in September of last year, this latest deal is part of a renewed effort on TNC’s part to restore and connect land throughout the Appalachians. This property in particular sits right next to the Potomac River and Jennings Randolph Lake, making a prime restoration site to benefit water quality.
The property is currently closed while a stewardship and access plan is developed. Field surveys, hydrology and soil assessments, and safety considerations come first, alongside local input. Community priorities such as thoughtfully designed trail loops, permitted hunting, youth field days, and volunteer plantings will take time and phasing, and they succeed fastest when neighbors are part of the process. The Allegheny Front is among the most important ecological corridors in the Appalachians for species movement as conditions change. Keeping this link intact helps brook trout, migratory birds, and high-elevation plant communities and supports businesses that depend on clean water and outdoor recreation.
This effort also connects Garrett County to a broader Appalachian story. From Canaan Valley to Spruce Knob and Blackwater Canyon, the lesson is consistent: when land is cared for, communities benefit. The Potomac Highlands project is an opportunity to add to the bounty.
Add Your Input:
Two public meetings in Kitzmiller are scheduled: Friday, Sept. 12, 6:00–7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6:00–7:30 p.m., at the Kitzmiller Botanical Gardens Pavilion (across from the Community Center, 288 W Main St.). Your perspective is welcome.
More information on the project can be found here: https://bit.ly/45SgP8k
Land Acquisition by The Nature Conservancy
Land Acquisition by The Nature Conservancy
Land Acquisition by The Nature Conservancy
