About the Program

The Creek ReLeaf Program is a multi-year reforestation program assisting with the County’s MS4 permit requirements, and is designed to increase the total amount of forested area within Frederick County, including privately owned lands and public properties. Forested lands provide stormwater control, reduce temperature impacts on County streams, and increase wildlife habitat.  The program provides private landowners with native trees and shrubs planted on their property, 5 years of maintenance to establish the forest stand, and payment for a permanent conservation easement that will be placed on the planted parcel.  After the initial 5 years, the property maintenance reverts to the land owner with County inspections every three years.

What is a Conservation Easement?

Conservation easements are legal agreements between a landowner and a local government or land trust that permanently limit certain uses of the land to protect the conservation values. The landowner still owns and uses the land under an easement as long as the use does not violate the terms of the easement. The easement is permanent, even if the landowner sells the property. Selective harvesting is allowed as part of a forestry management plan under certain conditions, that may provide long term revenue to you from having a healthy forest.