Goals and Benefits of a Rural Stewardship Plan

Goals of a Rural Stewardship Plan

The main goal of a Rural Stewardship Plan is to help you achieve your objectives for your property without harming the existing ecosystem or affecting downstream neighbors. This usually means:

• Recognizing and understanding the unique features in your landscape worthy of protection
• Protecting or improving the flow and absorption of both surface water and groundwater on your property
• Identifying specific actions and methods to minimize or offset any environmental harm from development
• Monitoring your plan's success and making adjustments as necessary

Benefits of a Rural Stewardship Plan

By developing and implementing a Rural Stewardship Plan, you may be eligible to take advantage of:

• Technical assistance to look comprehensively at your property, finding options to achieve your short-term and long-term goals while protecting the natural resources present there
• Reduced stream and wetland buffers and increased clearing allowances
• Enrollment in the Public Benefit Rating System, which could reduce your property taxes
• Access to design, cost share and other resources to help with projects like restoring native vegetation
• A simpler and potentially less expensive permitting process for your development projects now and in the future

Is a Rural Stewardship Plan right for me?
   » Goals and benefits of a Rural Stewardship Plan
   » Key parts of Plan development
   » Example Plans compared to Critical Areas requirements
   » Resources and other options

For questions about the Rural Stewardship Planning, please contact Katy Vanderpool.

For questions about the Department of Natural Resources Website, please contact Fred Bentler, webmaster.

Updated: June 23, 2005