Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
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: | Farmland Protection along the Blue Ridge Turnpike |
|---|---|
| Category: | Farmland Preservation |
| Grant Round: | FY21 Round 1 |
| Acres: | 450.58 |
| Locality: | Madison County |
| Management Agency: | Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Owner: | Private |
| ConserveVirginia: | Agriculture & Forestry, Cultural & Historic Preservation, Scenic Preservation, Water Quality Improvement |
| Amount Awarded: | $315,000.00 |
| Applicant: | Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Latitude: | 38.247116 |
| Longitude: | -78.219406 |
| Description: | The 451-acre M&W Farm in Madison and Orange Counties has a prominent view shed identified in the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Corridor Management Plan. Current farming operations include producing beef cattle and mowing hay. M&W Farm encompasses high-quality farmland with 43% of the property (193 acres) having prime and statewide significant soils. About 74 acres of the property are located in the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District south of Montpelier. The project protects over 2.3 miles of perennial and intermittent watercourses in the Rapidan River watershed. Approximately 1.1 miles of buffers are located within the Natural Heritage designated Rapidan River-Blue, Cedar, Barbour Runs Stream Conservation Unit, where the federally threatened Yellow Lance mussel is known to occur. The project utilized VLCF funds with matching federal Agricultural Land Easement funds. PEC co-holds the conservation easement with the local Soil and Water Conservation District. |
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