Conservation Program Updates, Spring 2005

Conservation Easements: The salability of Virginia land-preservation tax credits and the acceptance of two Rappahannock easements by the Land Trust of Virginia helped make 2004 an outstanding year for voluntary landscape protection in Rappahannock County. Major properties given new easement protection include Whippoorwill, Ben Venue, and lands owned by the McNear and Parrish families. As of late March, 20,646 Rappahannock acres are protected by conservation easements—that's 15.2 percent of all privately owned land in the county.

Farmland Preservation Program (FPP): The county-appointed committee that oversees FPP has developed eligibility criteria for selling or buying development rights. In March, it approved its first farmer applicant for sale of a number of development rights on 300-acre farm in Rappahannock County. Other funding is in the works, with the ultimate goal of placing the farm in conservation easement.

Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation: Since December 2004 the Krebser Fund has assisted two landowners with limited means in placing their property in conservation easements. Currently the fund, which protects Rappahannock land from development by placing it in easement, is working toward its first annual fundraiser in September 2005. For more information, please contact Fran Krebser at (540) 635-0821 or Alan Zuschlag at (540) 937-6124.

Small Watershed Protection Program: In January the Rappahannock Friends and Lovers of Our Watershed (RappFLOW) submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation a proposal for funding from the Small Watershed Protection Program, and RLEP has pledged $1,000 in matching funds and a letter of commitment to support the project. For information on the new initiative and other water protection resources, go to the new RappFLOW website, www.rappflow.org.

Return to RLEP Archives

Return to Search