Essex County, VA - The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the U.S. Fish "and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today the protection of additional 90 acres in Essex County as part of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge. This purchase completes a conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.
Learn more about conservation easement on the 162-acre Laneview property, located along the Rappahannock River and marks the protection of over 8,000 acres protected by the refuge.
"The purchase was made possible thanks to federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, secured by the Virginia Congressional delegation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and from the Virginia Aquatic Restoration Trust Fund. The property contains a diverse mixture of tidal marsh, freshwater wetlands, upland forest, and opens fields and is in the Jones Point Marshes focus area of the refuge.
"I am pleased to see the completion of this project as part of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge," said U.S. Senator John Warner. "The acquisition will protect these valuable lands, provide habitat for numerous species, and enhance the overall quality of the refuge.
"The inclusion of these 90 acres to the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge will further protect Virginias abundant and diverse wildlife," said U.S. Senator James Webb. "I will continue to support these critical conservation efforts in Virginia, and I applaud The Trust for Public Land and their conservation partners for working with local communities and landowners to advance wildlife refuges.
"Thanks in large part to The Trust for Public Lands tireless efforts and the foresight of the Rose family, the Rappahannock Refuge will be further enhanced with the inclusion of these 90 acres of pristine land," said Rep. Jim Moran, senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. "I have been pleased through the appropriations process to support the protection of critical habitat lands and am glad to see that the refuge has reached the 8,000 acre milestone.
As a resident of the Northern Neck, I have spent countless enjoyable days in the field and in the marshes, wetlands and tributaries within the Rappahannock River Valley," said U.S. Representative Robert J. Wittman. "I am proud to offer my support to conservation partnerships like this one that promote wildlife habitat and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.
U.S. Representative Jo Ann Davis, who died on October 6, had been a longtime supporter of conservation efforts along the Rappahannock River, and strongly supported this project.
"We are grateful to the Rose family for making the important decision to conserve this property for present and future generations," said Joseph McCauley, refuge manager. "The steep wooded ravines and wetlands of this tract provide outstanding habitat for several species of migratory birds.
This acquisition is the second land conservation success story for the refuge in recent months, according to McCauley. In April, the Service purchased 175 acres on Cat Point Creek in Richmond County from The Conservation Fund. Revenue from federal duck stamp sales supported the purchase.
The refuge now holds a permanent conservation easement on the property, which will help protect important habitat areas while the landowners retain ownership and could continue traditional uses of the property.
"The Rose family has been an excellent steward of this land and we are so pleased that they have committed to its permanent protection," said Lynda Frost, program manager for The Trust for Public Land. "We are continuing to work in the area to add more land to the refuge and hope that other landowners will consider selling their land or a conservation easement."
Thousands of waterfowl winter in the Rappahannock River corridor adjacent to the Laneview property, including high priority species such as canvasback and scaup. The upland forest and wooded swamp on the property serve as habitat for other migratory bird species of concern including the Louisiana waterthrush, yellow-billed cuckoo, and wood thrush. Osprey nest on a platform along the property's shoreline and there are several bald eagle nests near the property. Wild turkeys nest in the open fields, which also provide foraging habitat for many bird species such as the prairie warbler. Conserving the property in perpetuity through an easement will significantly increase shoreline protection along the Rappahannock River while enhancing the refuge's ability to manage lands with significant habitat.
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996. The goal of the refuge is to protect 20,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands along the river and its major tributaries. To date, including the latest purchase of a conservation easement on 90 acres, over 8,000 acres have been protected as part of the refuge. For more information visit "www.fws.gov/northeast/rappahannock.
"The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 2.4 million acres nationwide, including more than 16,000 acres in Virginia. TPL helped establish the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge and has protected seven properties totaling 4,240 acres to date. For more information, visit www.tpl.org.
