VLCF Funded Projects

Virginia’s working farms and forests, battlefields and other historic sites, natural areas, parks and rivers are critical to its economy, culture and quality of life. In 1999, the assembly and governor established the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) to fund protection of these resources. The interactive map below depicts VLCF-grant projects funded since 2000.

Name:	Pigeon Hill LLC
Category:	Forestland Preservation
Grant Round:	FY15
Acres:	302.17
Locality:	Essex County
Management Agency:	Virginia Department of Forestry
Owner:	Private
ConserveVirginia:	None
Amount Awarded:	$87,500.00
Applicant:	Virginia Department of Forestry
Latitude:	37.91814136
Longitude:	-76.889229
Description:	This grant request by Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) sought funding for partial purchase of a conservation easement on 302 acres in Essex County. The Pigeon Hill property is 77% forested, with over 40% classified as high forest-conservation value. The property includes nearly two miles of undeveloped shoreline and approximately 42 acres of wetlands. This project received a grant award of $87,500. In conjunction with a 200-acre adjacent property placed under easement with VDOF in 2011 (also partially funded by a 2011 VLCF grant) this project will contribute to permanent protection of over 500 acres of sustainably managed forested uplands and over two miles of a sensitive tidal creek ecosystem. Of the approximately 25 acres of farmland on the Property, all are considered prime, and 15 acres are currently used for row-crop production. The remaining farmland acreage is maintained as open-land wildlife habitat. The property's wetlands provide habitat for many native wildlife and plant species. The position of the property between three management areas of the USFWS Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge provides additional connectivity to the habitat of the migratory species these units were established to protect.