Shenandoah National Park just grew a little bigger and a little more beautiful. This past May, The Piedmont Environmental Council donated a 17.2-acre property it owned in Rappahannock County to the National Park Service. A forested and vacant parcel on a mountain slope south of Sperryville, VA, the land is within the legislative boundary of Shenandoah National Park.
Rappahannock County
PEC is proud to join other local groups and interested citizens in successful efforts to protect the magnificent natural and cultural heritage of Rappahannock County.
PEC Donates Land to National Park
Shenandoah National Park just grew a little bigger and a little more beautiful. This past May, We donated a 17.2-acre property of ours in Rappahannock County to the National Park Service. A forested and vacant parcel on a mountain slope south of Sperryville, Virginia, the land is within the legislative boundary of Shenandoah National Park.
“The property is surrounded by the park on three of its four sides, so it’s a key puzzle piece,” says Carolyn Sedgwick, PEC’s Rappahannock County land conservation officer, who oversaw the donation from PEC to the National Park Service. “This great public-private partnership with the National Park Service has resulted in the expansion of one of the most important wildlife corridors on the east coast.”
The donated acreage is by an area in the national park designated as federal wilderness — the highest conservation designation for federal land — making it an important and strategic area to conserve.
Good News for the Brook Trout
We’re continuing our efforts to increase the habitat available to the eastern brook trout and other fish species with two pilot culvert removal projects…
Rappahannock’s Mountain Heritage: An Open House at the Thornton Gap Primitive Baptist Church
On April 11, 2015, PEC hosted our fourth annual mountain heritage celebration in partnership with Rappahannock Historical Society at Sperryville’s Thornton Gap Primitive Baptist Church. More than 250 people attended throughout the day – visitors learned about the rich culture and traditions of the families that once called these mountains home and many even walked the trails through Shenandoah National Park to see some of these former home sites in person. It was a wonderful day, filled with music, memories, and a renewed appreciation for the Blue Ridge Mountain heritage. Thank you to all who took part!
Please consider becoming a PEC member or renewing your membership to help make events like this one possible!
The Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance (RCCA)
RCCA was founded in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization focused on preserving open space and farmland in Rappahannock County. Its mission was to ensure that Rappahannock County remains a scenic, rural community by promoting conservation easements and farmland preservation.
The Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation
The Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation (the “Krebser Fund”) is dedicated to protecting important conservation lands and supporting conservation projects in Rappahannock County, Virginia. The Krebser Fund is a land conservation fund managed by the Piedmont Foundation–a 509(a)(3) supporting organization established to hold and manage the funds of The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC). Assisting with the establishment of conservation easements in Rappahannock County is one of the chief purposes of the Fund.
Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance Dissolves
Text from our Dec 2014 Member Newsletter:
The Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance (RCCA) is planning to finalize the process of dissolving itself as an organization and transfer its assets to the Piedmont Foundation this month. Those funds are designated for PEC’s Kresber Fund, which supports a variety of conservation efforts in Rappahannock County. A portion of the funds contributed by RCCA are prioritized for the Farmland Preservation Program.
Protecting the Jordan – A Community Effort
When James and Karen Allen placed their Flint Hill property under a conservation easement this August, they protected over 100 beautiful acres of scenic open space and viable farmland; over 4,000 feet of the Jordan River; and more than 1,600 feet of front-age on Zachary Taylor Highway—one of Virginia’s Scenic Byways.
Building Fences for Cleaner Streams
Farmers are using a unique incentive program coordinated by PEC to substantially expand water quality protections in our region. The program helps cover their costs for fencing livestock out of streams.