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 Rapidan River Tributaries |
|---|---|
| Category: | Farmland Preservation |
| Grant Round: | FY24 |
| Acres: | 229 |
| Locality: | Greene County |
| Management Agency: | Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Owner: | Private |
| ConserveVirginia: | None |
| Amount Awarded: | $282,500.00 |
| Applicant: | Piedmont Environmental Council |
| Latitude: | 38.261467 |
| Longitude: | -78.327853 |
| Description: | This project advances farmland protection in the Rappahannock Basin, where the Piedmont Environmental Council and Culpeper Soil & Water Conservation District have been awarded VLCF funds, which they have used to leverage significant federal and private funding to protect high quality farmland and improve water quality. This pioneering project also involves American Farmland Trust who provided bridge financing to a young farmer, so he could buy his aunt's share of the subject property and use easement proceeds for loan repayment. The young farmer currently runs a cow-calf operation on the farm within a matrix of pasture, hayfields and forest. This project will: conserve 229 acres of farmland and forestland, including 161 acres of prime and statewide significant soils and 135 acres of forest; protect and improve water quality by maintaining 35 to 50-foot forested riparian buffers along 1.2 miles of Rapidan River tributaries; and prevent subdivision by facilitating the transfer of the farm to the next generation. |
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