Tuckahoe Rural Legacy Focus Area

Click for detail map

The Tuckahoe RLFA is a partnership between Caroline and Talbot Counties Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and includes an area on both sides of the Tuckahoe River between Tuckahoe State Park and the Choptank River. This RLFA focuses primarily on the habitat areas of the Tuckahoe and upper Choptank Rivers, prime farming soils of the two counties and parcels in close proximity to Tuckahoe State Park. Steep bluffs, tidal marshes, forested non-tidal wetlands and extensive "Tuckahoes," or areas of wetlands plants, make the corridor one of the Mid-Shore's most scenic.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has identified the entirety of the Tuckahoe River corridor between Hillsboro and the mouth of the Tuckahoe as important for protection. Marshes along the Tuckahoe in this stretch are of particular importance. Well known species calling the Tuckahoe home include striped bass, otters, wood duck, osprey, shad, herring. This area also contains Maryland's best example of a coastal plain hemlock forest. In addition, the north-south orientation and forested nature of the river corridor serves as important migration channels for neo-tropical songbirds. The Tuckahoe State Park and the Tuckahoe corridor attract local and regional birdwatchers for annual migrations.

The Tuckahoe River has been a popular recreational attraction for generations. Activities include boating, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. The Maryland Greenways Commission has identified the corridor as a potential Water Trail with a route along the Tuckahoe and Choptank Rivers.

Properties within the RLFA represent some of the most important soils for agricultural production in Caroline and Talbot Counties. These soils are considered prime for agriculture. The local agricultural economy is evident not only in the rolling landscape of corn, wheat and soybeans, but also in thriving village centers where grain storage and farm equipment dealers are located. Because of the productivity of the soils and operations in this area, significant land protection has already been accomplished through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program. Properties in close proximity to these "anchors" will be of primary importance for protection through the Rural Legacy Program.