The Piedmont View

A MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SPRING 2020

CONSERVATION EDITION So Many Bills, So Little Time By Dan Holmes Conservation

PAGE 2 Totals for 2019 t is March, a time when most people eagerly await the end of winter and embrace the A Few Key Budget Numbers first signs of spring. For me, the spring also marks the end of long days and nights spent Agricultural Best Management Practices walking the halls and occupying committee FUNDING NEEDS: Roughly $100 million/year rooms in Richmond. The 2020 Virginia General I BUDGETED: $66.6 million and $10 million for Assembly session concluded on March 7, and technical assistance over a two-year period* by the time you read this, we will all be awaiting

Governor Northam’s response to the legislation Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and budget passed by both houses. FUNDING SPECIFIED IN CODE: $16 million/year This year’s session, being an even calendar BUDGETED: $10 million/year* year, was what we refer to as a “long session” (60 days vs 45) as it includes the discussion of More than 3,600 pieces of legislation were a biennial budget. So, besides chasing down Farmland Preservation Fund introduced this General Assembly Session. Photo by Marco Sanchez legislators on a slew of bills, we were also FUNDING SPECIFIED IN CODE: $2 million/year discussing the funding levels for some of the BUDGETED: $250,000/year* Spring at most important conservation programs and approach to cattle-exclusion, and becomes a Roundabout * Budgeted numbers reflect conference committee mandate in 2026 only if the commonwealth tools we rely on to protect the Piedmont. And agreements. Final vote occured after this newsletter

PAGE Meadows 5 this year we had an added twist as both the went to press. fails to meet targets outlined in House and the Senate changed to Democratic the bill. We believe the biggest limiting factor to achieving the watershed restoration goals majorities. Besides seeing many new faces in local PDR programs). But the introduced budget for the Chesapeake Bay is the lack of funding the legislature, this meant that the committees is only the framework and does not reflect the for agricultural best management practices. that consider the bills and the budget had a different priorities of the House and the Senate. It has never been more critical to increase the very different composition than in years past. Those priorities were hammered out in House funding for our cost-share programs, which This change created opportunities and chal- Appropriations and Senate Finance over the help farmers install practices, like fencing lenges alike. last 60 days, including the reconciliation of the cattle out of streams, to improve water quality The Budget two budget bills by a conference committee— on the farm and downstream. Current budget comprised of a select group of members from numbers do not adequately address the need. Our first look at the introduced budget the two committees. from the governor showed improvements Conservation • Besides grant program in some areas, including substantial funding The Bills funding, we were focused on preserving the integrity of the Land Preservation Credit, increases for the Virginia Land Conservation preventing the breaking up of family lands, Foundation and the Stormwater Local Stream Exclusion • We, along with our and strengthening conservation Assistance Fund. But it also showed weakness in partners, participated in the discussion around law. We are pleased to report that the Uniform its failure to provide full funding for Agricultural the cattle stream exclusion and nutrient Upcoming Partition of Heirs Property Act, which would Best Management Practices or other critical management plan bill. The restructured

PAGE Events! 7 tools like the Farmland Preservation Fund (for legislation continues Virginia’s voluntary Continued on page 4 Osage Oranges, Hydrological Cycles, and Ruminations on Conservation By George Ohrstrom II

y wife and I, and our animal fam- part of human settlement on the landscape that runs through Virginia, western Maryland ily, have lived on the same farm in and everything we do should be compatible and into Pennsylvania. Osage orange trees MClarke County for over 35 years. We with nature’s processes. love limestone, and over the years I’ve come donated an easement on our land 20 years I have walked every inch of this farm and to understand the cycle of osage fruit as ago for the usual reasons—we loved the farm am beginning to understand the ecology of food. In late November, hard green and wanted to make sure it wouldn’t become it. I know the open fields, where wildlife like balls resembling the human brain cover the Support PEC a future subdivision. We feel that we are all to live and the corridors they travel through. ground. I wonder every year about the attrac- The western woods harbor fox families every Make a donation tion of the one eaten fruit surrounded by or get in touch with PEC at: spring, and the eastern woods is home to hundreds of untouched others. Once winter barred owls that sound off constantly. I know Post Office Box 460 is well established and the fruit has frozen the big trees in the creek drainage, the giant Warrenton, VA 20188 and thawed numerous times, the wildlife 540.347.2334 walnut that quietly gets bigger every year, the all eat it, and often, squirrels will carry them [email protected] huge busted-up hackberry just down the hill, over to a fence post or tree limb to eat. After and, of course, Sampson, the white oak that Or visit: the fruit is torn apart and eaten, bits of it are www.pecva.org fell over a few years ago whose growth rings often scattered around, and one can easily counted 325. see that they are called oranges because they Thank you for helping Most of Clarke County west of the are segmented like the citrus fruit we eat. We to protect the Piedmont! Shenandoah River sits on a limestone ridge have two large matching osages in front of our house 30 feet apart. Oddly, one tree’s fruit is the size of large grapefruits while the other’s PEC Board Co-Chair, George Ohrstom II. Photo by Ken Garrett Continued on page 5

www.pecva.org PA OH NJ MD The PiedmontThe View Piedmont Easements Recorded in 2019 WVA DE Conservation Easements Publicly Owned Land PEC Service Protected Land KY Area VIRGINIA 0 5 10 q Miles 2019 Land Conservation Totals TN NC

ek B M Sandy Hook Buckeystown e )"29 k E i Rosemont r e ll )"230 Harpers Ferry l C e R C )"454 ¤£15 355 il c r K ree Urbana )" M a C E k r ¤£522 Brunswick e ¤£ k L 50 E v c Ranson Adamstown m E Y i a W 51 R o )" ¤£340 K F t B R C Lake E D y R I 270 o E R E Middleway c ¨¦§ P Holiday Point of a S c I a h Charles Lovettsville Rocks c T )"85 n A K Town M o n H n 2019, privatea landowners, working together with land trusts and public §¨¦81 J V M r I )"9 k

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agencies,u protected 12,475 acres of land in Albemarle,r Clarke,259 Culpeper, F ¤£15 R o e ¤£50 I ÿ I } )"109 S M v I N

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conserving not just theS land, but all that its preservation offers the } Hill 7 107 ÿ A Berryville } Hamilton a O )" "28 ¤£50 7 Purcellville c Poolesville ) R 7 E R M people, wildlife and well-being of the northern Piedmont,” said Piedmont ¤£17 R iv

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City v N ÿ ek } i E Lansdowne ÿ 55 Cre } Environmental Council President Chris Miller. Cedar 255 R h o 7 a r Darnestown o t ¤£15 k University )"55 d h e n F e Center D r Belmont “By conserving undeveloped land, we benefit from its natural flood ¤£340 a o Countryside Lowes n L O r C e U kD Island ¤£50 h O Cascades ¤£17 S Ue n controls and protect our drinking water supplies and other waterways rdam Creek os N Ashburn u Sugarland

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s H ¤£50 Dranesville ÿ ¤£340 Station } o Oak L Strasburg 228 and roadways.)"29 When we protect working farmland, we invest in our food66 ¤£522 Brambleton Loudoun Grove A §¨¦ Shenandoah Valley

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r Middleburg Herndon ÿ } ¤£ O N 17 C supply. By preserving and pastures that absorb carbon from our55 se UV267 o Arcola E Skyland o Washington - DullesMcNair

Mauertown ¤£11 G International Airport Reston

D Apple Estates Stone ÿ atmosphere, we play our part in addressing climate change issues. And for R Mountain Ridge ¤£50 } Floris

28

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)"29 N a ¤£15 X ÿ )"59 R } South Franklin o Royal B 81 d 55 66 u Riding Farm §¨¦ n §¨¦ P l A millions of visitors to our national parks, scenic trails, anda historic sites, land l R A n A u Chantilly e Bull Run n h Mountain F Oakton

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conservation preserves theN spectacular views, character,k and qualityW of R Fair Oaks ÿ r }

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life of this region,” Miller said. }

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conservation in the Upper Rappahannock River watershed. The Hill er i v ÿ } U ÿ e } Manassas ve Linton Hall 263 ri r 234

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line Br Sky I £15 oa ÿ grant set the stage for the protection of 2,079 acres in 2019. ¤ New Baltimore } d Manassas Mt. Jackson Run 215 n h ¤£340 o Riv a E K Buckhall qu er o Warrenton et o In total, 421,415 acres have been conservedd throughout tle c n Ru O c

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PEC’s nine-county region, accounting now forS nearly 20 Center ÿ 28 } k ¤£211 Nokesville Lake r ¤£522 234 o Ridge F ¤£211 K I h C percent of the entire land area in the ninet counties. The u Sperryville O ¤£29 o Luray N Catlett Dale S ¤£211 ¤£17 L Independent Thornton N City amount of conservation in the northern Piedmont A ¤£15 Hall Timberville New ¤£211 E Ri un Market H ver R L

demonstrates the tremendous appreciation landowners A Calverton Cedar Montclair ÿ

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hold for the character andh quality of this region. Their A A p Midland ÿ } 259 it m p 42 S R Bealeton a A h commitment toO long-term land protection makesStanley a M ¤£522 n §¨¦95 n Quantico o £340 C c Base this a very special place for every¤ one of us. P k C Remington

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The Relentless Pursuit

By Rex Linville

n the 16 years I’ve been working for The Piedmont large 4,500-acre piece of land Environmental Council, I have had the privilege and within the eastern viewshed opportunity to help many landowners protect the of Monticello. It is one of the wonderful natural, cultural, and scenic resources of largest contiguous blocks of Iour Piedmont region. During that time, I’ve never been land in Albemarle County, and accused of finding a property unworthy of protection. its location just 15 minutes from As a conservation organization, we identify land downtown Charlottesville puts ripe for conservation due to attributes such as important it at great risk for development. agricultural soils, forested area, wildlife , river When I started with PEC, the frontage, or scenic views, and our staff build long-term land was owned by the timber relationships with landowners. My primary job with company, MeadWestvaco. For PEC is to help landowners understand the conservation a few years, I brainstormed options that are available and then work with them to with colleagues at The Nature protect their property with a conservation easement, Conservancy on strategies that is, if they decide conservation is right for them. to protect the property, but Landowners often say “no'' to conservation, or “not nothing panned out. Eventually, now,” at least initially, and in this line of work, we MeadWestvaco put it on the develop a thick skin, grow accustomed to rejection, and market and sold it to the James PEC Conservation Field Representative Rex Linville. Photo by Marco Sanchez learn the value of persistence. C. Justice Companies in 2010. From the beginning, I've had on my radar a Shortly after the property changed hands, I conservation easement deserves 100 percent of reached out to a local representative for the Justice the credit for their decision. That said, I truly believe family and began exploring conservation options for that if The Piedmont Environmental Council had not 29 20 the property. Over the years, I felt like I tried everything. allowed me to invest years of effort into patiently Maybe the Commonwealth would purchase it as a state cultivating a relationship and staying at the table to 250 ? Perhaps the owner could establish a carbon find a conservation solution, the landowners of this 250 mitigation bank and sell carbon credits? How about a remarkable property would not have been in the Charlottesville 22 limited development scenario that preserved the most position to make the decision they did. 64 64 important parts of the property? For a host of reasons, 29 Monticello This same type of scenario has played itself out time 64 nothing worked. But I stayed after it and touched base and time again over the past 50 years in the nine counties 250 every six months or so. served by PEC. Having local staff on the ground who Justice Persistence eventually paid off, and in early 2019, build relationships with individual landowners is one of 53 Property the landowner expressed a desire to conserve the the key reasons that the northern Virginia Piedmont is property with a donated conservation easement. We one of the most highly protected regions in America. connected the owner with the Albemarle Conservation 20 Easement Authority, which actually holds the easement, and by July 2019, this important property If you know of a conservation opportunity in your was permanently protected. It is now one of the largest neck of the woods, please reach out to us! You can call

0 1.5 3 conserved properties in the region. our main line at 540-347-2334 or shoot us an email at Miles Ultimately, every landowner who donates a [email protected].

Map created by Watsun Randolph, PEC

3 The Piedmont View

Fronting the Costs: PEC Conservation Funds Catoctin Creek Clarke Fund LOUDOUN County Fencing at Mountain Hollow Farm CLARKE James Fund M. Rowley By Tracy Lind Goose Creek Fund Bull Run ight generations of cattle Mountains RAPPAHANNOCK farming had taken its toll Fund Krebser Julian on the streams at Dean and Fund for Scheer FAUQUIER Carina Elgin’s Mountain Rappahannock Fauquier E County Fund Hollow Farm in northern Fauquier MADISON County. Historically, “all the cattle Culpeper County had access to the creek. That was our Madison Fund watering system. And that was the GREENE County CULPEPER Fund norm in that day,” Dean Elgin said. But Greene by 2015, the Elgins wanted to repair County Orange Fund the streambank erosion and reduce County Fund ORANGE the water pollution caused by the foot Albemarle traffic and waste generated by 200 V cattle moving in and out of the water County ALBEMARLE I Fund R repeatedly. But there was a problem. G Although the Elgins qualified for I N I A state and federal cost-share funding for fencing, gates, hardened stream Carina and Dean Elgin at Mountain Hollow Farm. Photo by Hugh Kenny 0 10 20 crossings, water pumps and water Miles troughs for livestock, those cost-share programs only Water Initiative, a project of the Chesapeake Bay This map shows donor-designated funds created reimburse landowners after a project is completed. Like Funders Network and Alliance, helped us for on-the-ground conservation and restoration many landowners, the Elgins couldn’t afford the more create this short-term loan program as a means of projects in specific geographic areas within The than $120,000 upfront cost, and the projects were put helping farmers like the Elgins,” said PEC Director of Piedmont Environmental Council service territory. The majority of the funds are held by the Piedmont on hold. Conservation Mike Kane. “We think the loan program is Foundation, a separate 509(a)(3) charitable orga- But last year, The Piedmont Environmental Council a cost-effective way to accelerate the pace of needed nization, established to hold and manage special was able to offer the Elgin’s a short-term loan through water quality improvements in our region, and we hope funds in support of PEC’s mission. Learn more at our James M. Rowley Goose Creek Conservation Fund. it will become a model for our other funds that support piedmontfoundation.org This fund is one of 11 similar conservation funds that PEC other parts of the region.” manages and that support on-the-ground conservation As Dean, Carina, and their sheepdog Jenny walk and habitat restoration projects in specific geographic along a Hungry Run tributary on the farm, Dean says he with an advisory committee that helps identify areas within PEC’s nine-county region. The mission of looks forward to seeing what will happen now that the projects and provide information to landowners. the James M. Rowley Goose Creek Conservation Fund cattle are fenced out. “There’s something to clean water. These funds all provide cost assistance for protecting is to preserve the water quality, scenic beauty, and All of a sudden the cattle are drinking well water instead land with a conservation easement or through a fee rural landscape of the—you guessed it—Goose Creek of stream water.” simple purchase. They also offer short-term loans for watershed. The Elgins believe they’re lucky to live here. If it landowners interested in working with their local soil With PEC’s loan, the Elgins fenced out over 4,100 weren’t for PEC’s short-term loan program, Carina said, and water conservation district on land management feet of streams in the Hungry Run watershed and “everything would have deteriorated. We couldn’t have cost-share programs. installed a new well and livestock watering system at afforded it, otherwise, when all the fences eventually Mountain Hollow Farm. They’ll repay the loan when the fell down. Dean would’ve had to give up the cows and For more information on the James M. Rowley Goose cost-share reimbursement comes through. farming. This lets us start anew.” Creek Fund or other PEC conservation funds, give us a “A grant from the Chesapeake Bay Land and Most of PEC’s 11 conservation funds operate call or email [email protected].

So Many Bills, So Little Time Pop Quiz Continued from cover help protect heirs of family land from Lastly, we supported the Fair Energy QUESTION having their properties split up, passed Billing Act allowing the SCC to finally What was the annual with unanimous support. As well, we were hold Virginia Electric Power Company population growth in Virginia able to defeat legislation that would have accountable for over-earnings through from 2010 through 2019? inserted another layer of bureaucracy into a rate case for both generation and the easement process, creating delays and distribution. Unfortunately, that legislation the potential to lose out on important failed to pass the Senate Committee on conservation opportunities. Sadly, the Commerce and Labor. 1.6% 1.5% 1.4% PEC’s Dan Holmes and Rex Linville talk to Senate did not pass SB621, which would and Transportation • This 1.3% Senator Bill Stanley. Photo by Marco Sanchez have ensured that disputes involving year marks one of the first in which I ambiguities in easement terms are failed to see the dreaded words “Route 29 passed. Lastly, the transportation omnibus resolved in favor of conservation. Bypass.” And while no bad idea ever truly 0.7% bill passed. As with any omnibus bill, we Energy • This session, we supported dies, it was nice not to see an associated didn’t like everything. But the bill did the environmental community on bill. Speaking of bad ideas, attacks on include a lot of positives, including a larger initiatives, like the Virginia Clean Smart Scale scoring were still the focus 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010-19 Economy Act, while focusing our attention of some legislators as multiple bills were record amount of new money for transit on improving the underlying utility filed to weaken the scoring system. I am and rail. regulatory structure through legislation pleased to report that they all failed. Bills As always, thank you for any action ANSWER you took this session to improve the like the Virginia Energy Reform Act, which impacting localities’ ability to regulate According to the Weldon Cooper would de-monopolize Virginia’s electricity or appropriately evaluate utility scale Commonwealth. Please feel free to follow Center at the University of Virginia, system. That legislation was carried over solar were also defeated, or amended in up with me directly at dholmes@pecva. “though Virginia has added over until 2021 and remains a PEC priority. such a way as to remove major concerns. org or 540-347-2334 ext. 7040, if you have half a million new residents since We are pleased, however, to report the We also worked with Delegates Guzman questions on any of the bills or the final the last census in 2010, population passage of several bills. These include the and Webert on two bills related to the budget numbers. growth has slowed significantly Solar Freedom bill, removing barriers to dumping of construction fill dirt on across Virginia in recent years, small-scale solar; HB167, a bill on pipeline agricultural lands, one providing notice Please visit pecva.org/richmond2020 falling below U.S. growth levels cost recovery; and HB528, a bill to restore to localities and the other forming a for a more complete rundown of the to reach the lowest population authority to the SCC related to the working group to recommend changes to legislation and budget items we were growth rate since the 1920s.” payback period of retiring power plants. regulations and guidance. Both measures tracking this year.

4 www.pecva.org Spring 2020

Gilberts Corner Spring at Market Gilberts Corner Roundabout Meadows Gilberts Regional Park Corner 50 By Cindy Sabato 15 Community lot is going on, at and around our 141-acre Aldie, the Old Carolina Road Trail Farm Roundabout Meadows property at Gilberts is part of PEC’s ongoing effort to Corner in Loudoun County. We’ve got a new make Roundabout Meadows a 50 Atrail opening, the second season for the hub for community engagement, Community Farm and news to share about the market with interpretive history tours, New property at the northeast corner! pasture field walks, environmental Pasture / Habitat Mount Zion education, native habitat Trail Baptist Church Restoration h c New Trail Opening restoration and volunteer service n

a at the Community Farm. r We are excited to formally open the Old Carolina B

s

Road Trail this spring, with plans for a new information r

e kiosk, interpretive signs, and freshly planted native trees Call for Volunteers s at the Farm w and shrubs that will form a beautiful walking corridor. o

H Once a Native American trail used by early colonists Spring planting season is PEC's Roundabout as a north-south route through Loudoun County and upon us at the Community Farm beyond, the Old Carolina roadbed serves as the back- at Roundabout Meadows. With Meadows Property 0 500 1,000 bone for the 1/2-mile trail, which creates public access to our new greenhouse and a goal Feet the scenic, historic, agricultural and natural resources of of 10,000 pounds of produce for Gilberts Corner. Loudoun Hunger Relief, we need Convenient parking is at NOVA Park’s Mt. Zion more volunteers than ever before. County,” said Community Farm Manager Dana Melby. Historic Park, where visitors can see Mt. Zion Old School The season began on Saturday, Feb. 8 when more Find out more about the farm and sign up to Baptist Church, built in 1851 and used as a Union field than 30 volunteers planted 5,000 seeds that will sprout volunteer at pecva.org/farm. hospital during the Battle of Aldie in 1863. The trailhead into our first planting of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kiosk will be located in front of the cemetery wall and kale. Volunteers will transplant these seedlings Gilberts Corner Market directing hikers to the top of the historic roadbed. from the greenhouse to the fields as spring emerges. In PEC is proud to announce that we have taken The trail takes visitors first past a portion of the 1852 March, volunteers can help us begin seeding our warm ownership of the Gilberts Corner Market and look cemetery, where 14 Civil War soldiers are buried, and season crops, such as tomatoes, peppers and squash. forward to enhancing its history as a place to find past the 60 largely unmarked graves of the African- In April, we’ll need help putting potatoes in the ground local food and fiber. As a first step in ensuring local American congregation’s cemetery. It then leads visitors and planting our flower and herb gardens, which will into the seven-acre Roundabout Meadows Wildlife support pollinators and other beneficial insects for the production at the corner, we have happily entered into a Management Area, a sensitive wetland site with a farm. long-term agreement with farmer Tyler Wegmeyer, who fantastic array of flora and fauna. And finally, the trail We can accommodate up to 25 volunteers at a has been part of the market since 2012. He will continue goes down to the edge of Howsers Branch, where PEC time, and minors under age 14 must be accompanied by his popular pick-your-own service, enabling visitors to has been working to restore water quality for the past an adult. Volunteers can be school groups, scouts and roam his strawberry patch for the freshest, ripest berries, five years. clubs, businesses or individuals. “The only requirement beginning in May. Gilberts Corner Market is open, and A partnership of PEC, NOVA Parks, Fauquier and is a great attitude and a desire to help us provide fresh, we look forward to sharing more details in a future issue Loudoun Garden Club and the Mount Zion Cemetery of healthy food for the food-insecure people in Loudoun of The Piedmont View.

Osage Oranges, Hydrological Cycles, and MEET PEC Ruminations on Conservation Easements Maggi Blomstrom Continued from cover Rappahannock-Rapidan Conservation Initiative Coordinator is noticeably smaller, more like baseballs. Our farm is lucky enough e welcomed Maggi back to to have a stream bordering one PEC in November 2019 as whole side, and over the years, I’ve W our Rappahannock-Rapidan come to understand it has cycles Conservation Initiative Coordinator. In too—drying out in parts and this role, she will work with partners slowly backfilling successive pools to accelerate conservation easements, as groundwater rises, until the whole flow starts over again. water quality improvement projects, wildlife connectivity, and public access So what does the observa- Photo by Hugh Kenny tion of all this ecological activity throughout the upper Rappahannock have to do with a conservation Osage orange remnant left in honey watershed—which is comprised of land in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, easement? One of the major locust tree. Photo by George Ohrstrom II Orange and Rappahannock counties. benefits of an easement is the This initiative, forged through a collective vision and outcome-oriented ability to plan for and “codify” the future development of one’s land. Knowing the projects, aims to establish a continuous conservation reserve connecting ecology allows for planning a property’s future in a way that is compatible with nature’s processes. Our easement minimizes impervious surfaces and thoughtfully the Blue Ridge to the Chesapeake Bay. The initiative is funded by generous places buildings to respect these essential cycles, protecting the natural features grants from The Volgenau Foundation and Virginia Environmental that contribute to providing clean air and water to us, our neighbors, and the larger Endowment. community. Now, with the conservation easement in place, I know that future gen- Maggi previously served as PEC’s field representative for southern erations will hopefully observe and benefit from these cycles and, in turn, have the Fauquier and Culpeper counties. She brings years of experience and chance to share the same sense of wonder I have so enjoyed over the years. enthusiasm engaging with landowners, volunteers, communities, and Imagine the possibilities if one had a really large parcel that might be close to partners to advance environmental stewardship and land management. a town that might need some room to grow 50 years on. One could plan an ease- ment on the parcel to allow that growth to happen in the places that make sense, She holds a B.A. in geography and urban and regional studies from Virginia and ensure that inappropriate development doesn’t destroy the historical ecology Commonwealth University and a M.A. in community development and of the rest of the land. What could be better than that? planning from Clark University in Massachusetts.

5 The Piedmont View

On the Ground

that protect water quality and habitat along the Albemarle Hazel River. The Hazel is home to the green floater Madison mussel, a federal species of concern, and is one of 30 & Charlottesville rivers in Virginia with “Exceptional State Waters.” PEC Criglersville School Morven East now holds an easement conserving 100 acres on the PEC weighed in against the county’s decision to Parrish Property, which has 5,964 linear feet on the demolish Criglersville School. We believe selling Good news! In January, the UVA Foundation Hazel River and its major tributary, Waterford Run, as the property for adaptive reuse is a better option, protected almost 1,200 acres of forest land, well as 51 acres of floodplain. especially considering the $250,000 price tag known as Morven East, located in the viewshed of for demolition. The county tentatively expects Monticello. This important project was part of a a rezoning application and purchase contract significant gift of land from John W. Kluge in 2001. to be submitted by an applicant this spring. The The new easement was donated to the Albemarle Fauquier applicant’s vision includes building updates to allow Conservation Easement Authority and is adjacent to Sanctuary at Barrel Oak for retail, event/venue, short-term or long-term the 4,500 acres recently protected by the James C. lodging, and restaurants/food service, in addition to Justice Companies (more on page 3). The Sanctuary at Barrel Oak Winery request for a hotel, restaurant, and event center on the 50-acre rezoning the property to light industrial. City Comprehensive Plan parcel next to the existing Barrel Oak Winery has Zoning Ordinance Changes As Charlottesville continues to work on its compre- been postponed at the request of the applicant. The The Board of Supervisors made changes to its rural hensive plan, PEC is at the table to ensure the city is proposed resort, located two miles west of Marshall resort ordinance, lowering the minimum parcel planning appropriately for future growth. A thought- on Grove Lane, would require approval of four spe- size to 10-acres in the A-1 and C-1 zoning districts. ful plan, reliant on citizen input, results in reduced cial exceptions. PEC weighed in against this action, which is a 90% infrastructure costs, better public health outcomes Community Planning Initiatives reduction from the original 100-acre minimum. and a thriving community where people want to Although we support revenue generated by rural live, work and play. In addition, a well-designed, In January, the Town of Warrenton held an open tourism, we believe rural resorts should require functional urban place is a key way to help protect house to get final public input before drafting its more land to mitigate impacts on neighbors and the the rural area. new Comprehensive Plan. Focus is being placed on economic development, creating diverse housing environment. options, mixed-use development, enhancing public services and amenities, and fiscal health. A draft is Clarke expected to be released for public review in early Orange Planning and Water Quality Spring. Fauquier County is following the town’s planning process carefully and intends to update its New County Administrator The Planning Commission continues to review and Warrenton Service District Plan soon after adoption. The Board of Supervisors has hired an interim update the Zoning Ordinance and will likely hold a county administrator, Brenda Garton, as they search public hearing after it is complete. for a new hire. PEC is following the hiring process PEC is partnering with Clarke County and the Greene and looks forward to meeting with and working Friends of the Shenandoah River to monitor local alongside the new county administrator. streams. You can help by becoming a Certified Streetscaping and Community Water Quality Monitor—visit streams, count bugs, Mobility Gordonsville Park and record data to help the community and orga- PEC continues to monitor the future of U.S. 29 in In January, Gordonsville purchased a parcel from nizations better understand our waterways. Join Greene County to ensure it is consistent with the CSX Transportation, which owns and operates one us for a hands-on demo on April 18, and follow it Ruckersville Area Plan, which calls for "appropriate of the rail lines passing through town, to formally up with training on macroinvertebrate monitor- development." Officials will soon conduct an audit incorporate into Verling Park. This latest addition ing on April 23 and April 25. Contact Tracy Lind at of the zoning code and are working on a streetscape to the park follows two previous ones, including [email protected] to learn more. plan to limit signage. A major goal is to build a the adjacent parcel on Linney Street, purchased parallel road network to serve local traffic and make and cleared in 2018, and a vacant lot in the block it easier for residents to bike and walk, as well as between Verling Park and the Firemen’s Fairgrounds, Culpeper preserve the integrity of the 29 corridor. Later this purchased by PEC last year to better link these two in-town open spaces through our Town to Trail Clevenger's Corner year, JAUNT will begin operating the Greene County Transit service. As Greene grows, PEC's ongoing work initiative. PEC, in collaboration with Rappahannock League for on community mobility issues will help increase , has vocalized concerns ridership. about the impacts of the Clevenger’s Village Planned Rappahannock Unit Development. Our organizations, along with

citizens from both counties, are concerned that Loudoun Beaver Believers & associated light pollution will be detrimental to both Rush River Volunteers counties’ night sky visibility. Culpeper County has Land Use Planning PEC partnered with Virginia Working Landscapes recently discussed updating its lighting ordinance PEC Field Representative Evan McCarthy was and Clifton Institute to bring attention to restoration to address lighting conditions and requirements; recently confirmed by the Board of Supervisors to ecology’s newest (and oldest) friend: the beaver. Skip we are pushing for an updated ordinance to include serve on Loudoun’s Facilities Standards Manual Lisle, a renowned wildlife conservationist, joined dark sky friendly language. (FSM) Public Review Committee. The FSM contains us at the Little Washington Theater to teach us Historic Resources information related to design and construction stan- about his non-lethal beaver management tools, the dards for subdivisions and site plans. When a change “Beaver Deceiver,” “Castor Master,” and other beaver- The Draft 2020 Comprehensive Plan severely lacks is proposed, the county’s director of building and proofing tools for landowners. A new film, Beaver the appropriate amount of detail related to the development requests advice from the committee, Believers, was shown, followed by an expert panel. county’s historic resources. PEC has submitted writ- prior to discussions with the Planning Commission ten comments to government and elected officials, Clean water has been the catalyst for a new citizen and Board. asking that the draft plan include all important, science group of volunteers who will monitor water documented historic resources, and strengthen PEC staff is helping local residents stay informed quality on the Rush River. Since 2007, the river has historic resources preservation language. PEC is and provide input on rural subdivision applications. been impaired by elevated counts of E. coli bac- compiling a list of these resources to communicate We are also partnering with other organizations teria. PEC is supporting the volunteers by leading to the county. to ensure a reduction of development impacts bi-weekly monitoring at two sites. The data will in the Rural Policy Area to better align with the be provided to DEQ and help make the case for a The Hazel River preservation goals outlined in the newly adopted cleaner Rush River that we can swim in, fish from The end of 2019 brought in several new easements Comprehensive Plan. and enjoy as a community.

6 www.pecva.org Spring 2020

UPCOMING Lucketts Easement and Land Management Panel

When Tuesday, April 21 • 6:30 – 9 pm APRILto JUNE Where 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg, VA 20176 Join us to learn about the variety of land management and land Events conservation programs and financial incentives available to Event details subject to change. Please check pecva.org/events for the latest information. rural landowners in Loudoun. Join the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, PEC and our partners for a presentation and panel discussion and take time to talk one-on-one with organizations. Rappahannock Solarize Piedmont Free. Registration required. Visit pecva.org/events or contact Tracy Lind at [email protected] or 540-347-2334 ext. 7066. Earth Day Clean-up When Monday, April 6 – Friday, June 5 When Saturday, April 4 Where Albemarle, Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, 9 am – 2 pm Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange Earth Day Ice Cream Social with Moo-Thru Where Rappahannock County and Rappahannock When Wednesday, April 22 • 3 – 5 pm Park, 7 Park Lane, If you missed PEC’s Solarize campaign last year, you have Where PEC Office, 45 Horner St., Warrenton, VA Washington, VA another chance to sign up this spring! PEC supporters Come celebrate Earth Day with free ice cream from a local dairy. Get a head start on celebrating the and area businesses within our service territory can take Moo-Thru Ice Cream will have their ice cream truck in our start of spring and an early Earth Day advantage of competitive rates and financing mechanisms Warrenton office parking lot. This year to promote sustainability at Rappahannock County Park for a designed specifically for solar energy systems. If you’ve been thinking about installing solar panels on your home, through local action PEC has partnered with Friends of the volunteer clean-up of the Rush River. farm or business, this is your opportunity to find out if it Rappahannock to offer residents free trees (limit 2 per person). Event partners include Rappahannock will work for you. Co. Recreational Facilities Authority, Supplies are limited! To reserve your free trees, PEC, Friends of the Rappahannock, More information at pecva.org/solarize. visit www.riverfriends.org/event/trees-pec RappFLOW, RLEP, and Old Rag Master Naturalists. Wear waterproof boots or waders and gloves. Children are Loudoun Nature Days Friends vs. Foes: Insects in the Garden welcome with an adult! When Saturday, April 11 • 10 am – 12 pm When Saturday, May 30 • 10 am – 12 pm Free and open to the public. Where The Community Farm at Roundabout Where The Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows, Visit Rappahannock County Park’s Meadows, 39990 Howsers Branch Dr., 39990 Howsers Branch Dr., Aldie, VA Facebook event page for more info! Aldie, VA When it comes to insects in the garden it can be difficult to Join the Community Farm in celebrating Loudoun Nature distinguish our friends from our foes. Join us on the Community Annual Bluebell Walk Days. We will spend Saturday morning improving habitat Farm for an on-farm lecture about which bugs are which and how to for beneficial insects and getting our hands dirty on the best manage them. We will look at which pests are active on the farm at Cedar Run farm! at this stage of the season, the basics of integrative pest management, and how you can improve habitat for beneficial insects. When Saturday, April 4 • 2 – 4 pm Free. Pre-registration is encouraged, visit pecva.org/events for (Rain or shine) more details or contact Dana Melby at [email protected]. Free. Pre-registration is encouraged. Visit pecva.org/events for more Where Bonny Brook Farm, details or contact Dana Melby at [email protected]. 8446 Old Dumfries Road, Catlett, VA Fauquier Farm and Land Conservation Rush River Free Fishing Day Celebrate spring and walk through a Workshop conserved farm to see native bluebells When Saturday, June 6 • 8 am – 2 pm When Thursday, April 16 • 6 – 8 pm along Cedar Run. Outdoor clothing Where Rappahannock County Park, 7 Park Lane, Where St. Stephens Episcopal Church, with waterproof boots is recom- Washington, VA mended. No dogs allowed. There is 8695 Old Dumfries Rd., Catlett, VA Bring the whole family for a celebration of Rush River Conservation no charge but donations are grate- There are a variety of land management and land conser- Day at Rappahannock County Park. Free fishing is being offered fully accepted toward PEC’s Julian W. vation programs available to farm and forest landowners state-wide June 5-7 and you’ll find both pole and fly fishing on the Scheer Fauquier Land Conservation in Fauquier. Join PEC’s Fauquier Fund and our partners Rush River. Native trout will be stocked in the river for the event, Fund. at the Fauquier PDR program for a free dinner and learn fishing gear is free to rent, and no fishing license is required! about federal, state and local programs, as well as hear a Registration requested. Visit review of conservation successes and challenges. Visit Rappahannock County Park’s Facebook event page for more info pecva.org/events or contact Kendra and to let us know if you are “going”! Corbin at [email protected] or RSVP with Claire Catlett at [email protected]. 540.347.2334 ext. 7005.

Stream Team Workshop Ridges to Rivers From the Rappahannock, When Saturday, June 6 • 6 – 9 pm When Saturday, April 18 • 10 am – 1 pm For the Rappahannock Where Oak Hill, Aldie, VA Where Shenandoah University River Campus at Although the annual Summer Safari gala on Racetrack Hill was When Sunday, April 5 • 12 – 3 pm Cool Spring Battlefield in Clarke County “sunset” in 2019, the collaboration between PEC, Shenandoah (Rain or shine) Clarke County, Friends of the Shenandoah River and the National Park Trust and Smithsonian Where Marriott Ranch, Hume Piedmont Environmental Council are hosting this fun and Institute continues! Enjoy cocktails and dinner at the historic informative water quality workshop. Learn what contrib- Join Friends of the Rappahannock, Oak Hill, former home to President James Monroe, to benefit the utes to clean and dirty water in our local streams, how it PEC and the John Marshall Soil and programs of the three organizations. Water Conservation District for a day at affects you and simple ways you can help. Registration: $300 per person. Contact us for more information the iconic Marriott Ranch to celebrate Fun for all ages. Lunch will be provided. Learn more and sign on tickets and sponsorship opportunities. Contact Karissa Epley, the Rappahannock River watershed. up to attend at pecva.org/events. [email protected] or 540-347-2334 ext. 7002. There will be Rappahannock River oysters, catered barbeque lunch from Marriott Ranch, local wine and beer, live music, hayride tours, fish shocking BikeCville! demonstrations and more! Thanks to a grant from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Tickets are $25 general admission Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community and $20 for members of PEC/FOR Foundation, our BikeCville event series is back for 2020. or participants in Soil and Water BikeCville is a series of free monthly all-ability bike rides that emphasize safety, visibility and community. conservation programs. Admission They’re appropriate for anyone who can stay on a bike includes Rappahannock oysters, BBQ for half an hour or so and a great way to learn more about and two drink tickets. Photo by Peter Krebs Charlottesville, meet new people and become better advo- To register, visit www.riverfriends.org/ cates for walking and biking. Join us on Sunday, April 19 events. Contact [email protected] for a Public Art Bike Ride. Learn more about all upcoming rides at pecva.org/bikecville. with questions.

7 www.pecva.org 7 Dear Friends, umor has it, the idea for Earth organizations is that we strive to Day was first announced at empower people to act, either Rthe Airlie Conference Center in individually or together, toward a more Fauquier County, spurring a national and sustainable region. We have a big, international movement to make the bold vision for great communities in a environment a major focus. That was conserved and restored landscape of 1969, and today, 50 years later, much farms and forests that runs from the progress has been made on those initial Blue Ridge down crystal clear streams concerns about air and water pollution, and rivers to a thriving Chesapeake Bay. loss of wildlife and endangered species. But we know that only happens if each But, as we are reminded daily, that and every one of us participates. PEC’s progress has been offset by population programs are designed to help each of growth and consumption around the us do what we can on our own land and world. Arguably, we are overwhelming in our own communities. the earth’s natural systems at a global In the northern half of Virginia, 70 PEC’s Marco Sanchez and Friends of the Rappahannock’s JoEllen Santulli at scale. percent of the air pollution comes from a tree planting in Orange, VA. Photo by Hugh Kenny Around the same time that Sen. transportation. To be blunt, too many of native for birds, insects, and During their growth period, white oaks Gaylor Nelson was cooking up the idea us drive, by ourselves, to almost every other wildlife, plant rain gardens to store large amounts of carbon. If each for Earth Day over at Airlie, people in activity in our lives. PEC has led the effort reduce stormwater runoff, and replace of us took the time to plant and care Fauquier and eight adjoining counties to plan communities in which people invasive plants with native plants that for a few new trees each year on our were cooking up a plan for a new can walk or ride bikes to jobs, restaurants, require less water and work to thrive. We own properties and volunteered to help organization that would promote better and services. While carpooling, transit plant trees around the region, that alone planning toward a more sustainable and electric vehicles can all help, help farmers with the costs of fencing future in the region. That organization reducing the number and duration of car out livestock and planting miles of forest would improve our part of the world. was founded in 1972 as The Piedmont trips is the single best way to improve buffers. And we are working to create In the end, 50 years has taught Environmental Council, and since air quality and reduce contributions pedestrian and bike path connections us that the cumulative actions of 8 then, our focus has been consistent to global warming. Other actions between urban areas and the rural billion people makes a difference to and persistent. With an eye keenly PEC has championed that reduce air areas in all of our communities, like environmental quality. What we choose focused on land planning, conservation, pollution include home weatherization, the Emerald Ribbons plan in Loudoun to do every day can make a difference. and restoration, we have pushed for distributed solar electric generation that County. So on this 50th anniversary year for Earth state, regional and federal strategies doesn’t risk open space and important If you’re looking for something Day, join me in committing to make to improve air and water quality and habitat, and properly-sited offshore wind even closer to home, the simple act of every day an Earth Day! natural habitats, battled ill-conceived energy and industrial-scale solar energy planting a tree can make a huge impact. development and infrastructure on recovered coal mines and other A mature white oak can absorb 11,000 Sincerely, projects, and worked to preserve historic brownfield sites. gallons of water per year, provides resources for decades. From backyard gardens to large habitat and food for upwards of 600 What differentiates PEC from landscape-scale buffers along a river’s species of animals, as well as shade and other conservation and environmental edge, PEC programs help citizens restore reduced erosion from storm events. Chris Miller, President

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QUESTION What was the annual population growth in Virginia The Piedmont View from 2010 through 2019? A MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL SPRING 2020 ANSWER ON PAGE 4

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #57 Warrenton, VA Post Office Box 460 Warrenton, VA 20188 www.pecva.org

INSIDE 2019 Land Conservation Totals, An Update from Richmond, Spring at Roundabout Meadows, Upcoming Events and more!

Fox kit in Crozet. Photo by Cass Girvin