Lake Cowart: Mt. Zion and Kennersley Conservation Easements
By Rob Hedelt
Lake Cowart, Jr. smiles sincerely when talking about the conservation easements placed on his family’s land: nearly 400 acres in the Kennersley tract between the Coan River and Glebe Creek, and 311 nearby acres known as Mt. Zion farm on Lodge Creek, which flows into the Yeocomico River, and most recently 4.25 acres – the Land Conservancy’s smallest stewardship interest – adjacent to Kennersley.
Cowart, Jr. joined the family businesses in 1971 and worked side-by-side with his father until he passed in 2008. Since then, Mr. Cowart has expanded the Cowart Seafood oyster beds, leased in partnership with Bevans Oyster Company, to 12,000 acres. In 2009, the two companies created an oyster hatchery at Kennersley.
“For me, [a conservation easement] means that we’ve protected this land that has so much waterfront, and hopefully improved and protected water quality keeping dense population [impact] back from the Coan River,” he says.
His family’s different business interests have faced their share of ups and downs, and Cowart said he’s seen a troubling reality repeated when selling off property seems to be the only answer to get out of a financial hole.
“Sure, there are times when people need the money that a sale can bring, but too often I’ve seen situations where soon enough the money’s gone, the land is gone, and there’s nothing left to produce income,” he said.
Cowart believes placing land in a conservation easement can be an alternative for many, providing income now, while retaining options for future income.
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