This May we received word that landowners had begun receiving notices from Spectra Energy, referencing a proposal for a new natural gas pipeline through Virginia.
Maps & Resources
Making Progress at the Piedmont Overlook
It’s been busy at the Overlook these past few months! PEC is in the final year of a cost-share agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to improve the property’s habitat and increase its biodiversity. The marquee part of this grant is the creation of a 17-acre native grass and wildflower meadow on land that was formerly a pasture dominated by tall fescue.
Lending a Lens
At PEC, we have the privilege of working with countless individuals who are dedicated to protectingthis wonderful region. Carl Zitzmann is one such person. Some of you might not immediately recognize his name, but there’s a good chance that you’ve seen his photographs in one of our publications,weekly news emails, or on our website.
On the Ground – Summer 2014
Read "On the Ground" updates for Albemarle, Clarke, Rappahannock, Fauquier, Madison, Greene, Orange and Loudoun Counties.
Conservation Milestone at Gilberts Corner
Weathered barns, historic buildings, forested rolling green hills and pastoral open fields with large bales of hay—this is the view surrounding the intersection of Routes 15 and 50 in Loudoun County, known by many as Gilberts Corner.
Remembering Stewards of the Land
Learn more about the contributions to conservation made by Robert Tier Dennis and Janet Ketchum Grayson Whitehouse.
Released: For the Love of the Land
From the coast to the mountains, many landowners have been tending to their properties in Virginia for generations, carefully sustaining its resources and passing them on. In an effort to honor and highlight conservation efforts in our state, PEC has released For the Love of the Land: 100 Conservation Stories from Across Virginia.
Meet George and Jean, Our New Co-Chairs
PEC is excited to introduce the newly elected co-chairs of our Board—George Ohrstrom II of Clarke County and Jean Perin of Fauquier County!
Teaming Up to Save the “Brookie”
Virginia’s state fish, the eastern brook trout, is in trouble. The Commonwealth’s only native trout has seen a sharp decline in population due to a detrimental combination of rising temperatures, physical barriers to streamflow, pollution, and habitat loss. Many expect the species to be added to VA’s Wildlife Action Plan list in the near future.
Renovating Worn-Out Pastures
Like many Piedmont farms, Over Jordan Farm in Rappahannock has been a pasture-based operation for decades. After 20 years of overgrazing, however, it’s facing issues that are common in the region—poor soil health, a lack of grass and plant diversity and the resulting lack of nutrients for livestock. This not only decreases a farm’s profitability, but it’s also a major source of runoff and soil erosion in VA.