South Mountain is more than the geographic spine of the Heart of Maryland. The Appalachian Trail running along its crest embodies our wild side; the sites interpreting the Battle of South Mountain express our role in a tide-turning Civil War battle; the farms and forests along its flank define our countryside. The mountain also is an important headwater for our prized creeks and streams. No wonder, then, that HMCA partners chose the South Mountain landscape as focus area in the alliance’s formative meetings. Now conservation partners in the Heart of Maryland are moving toward a South Mountain Campaign to protect a combined 11,000 acres on either side of the mountain’s southern half — within the Priority Preservation Areas of Washington and Frederick counties. This multi-year campaign aims to leverage each county’s investment by identifying securing matching funds to accelerate conservation. Contact David Lillard for more information.