True North Data is being proposed on an environmentally sensitive site in Loudoun’s Transition Policy Area. At the same time, the Board of Supervisors is asking citizens what they would like for that area’s future as part of a Comprehensive Plan review…. Read more in this email alert from PEC field representative Gem Bingol.
Our Work
Safeguarding the landscapes, communities and heritage of the Piedmont by involving citizens in public policy and land conservation. Learn more about our work by browsing the subject areas below and find out how to get involved!
Nov. 9 Key Vote for Waterloo Bridge – Time to Act!
After nearly four years working to save Waterloo Bridge, success is within arm’s reach! On November 9, 2017 at 6:30pm the Fauquier Board of Supervisors will make a decision that will effectively determine the bridge’s fate. This text was taken from an email alert we sent out on November 4, 2017.
Free Flow
PEC has taken on the work of restoring local rivers by removing culverts and low-water crossings that can be roadblocks to stream health. By replacing these barriers on roads and driveways with fish- friendly designs, we are improving habitat and water quality.
Many aquatic species, including Virginia’s state fish, the Eastern brook trout, benefit from these restoration projects. Ideally, we hope these projects will influence government agencies to incorporate fish-friendly designs as they update roads and stream crossings.
Making the Connection
Bike and pedestrian connectivity is a great way to enhance quality of life and create healthy, thriving urban communities. This is why PEC is teaming up with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission to build support for a comprehensive greenway system in the Charlottesville and Albemarle urban area.
“These locations have an opportunity to create a world-class bike and pedestrian system that connects neighborhoods, retail areas and places of work with iconic resources such as Monticello, the Downtown Mall, UVA Grounds, the Rivanna River and Biscuit Run State Park,” says Rex Linville, our Albemarle County field representative.
A Buzz Worthy Home
You don’t have to be a genuine bee keeper to help our native bees. You can create a place for them to thrive right in your backyard garden. First, assess your location. Is your project area in full sun, partial sun or is it fully shaded? Soil drainage also matters, whether it’s average, dry or wet soil. Once you know this, pick the plants that would thrive in that specific environment.
Choosing native plants is best for native bees, as they have adapted to each other over time. You can visit the Virginia Plant Atlas at vaplantatlas.org to see a selection of native species or review PEC’s “Go Native Go Local” guide at pecva.org/gonative to find retailers selling natives.
On the Ground — Fall 2017
Updates from the around the PEC region, organized by county. Albemarle: Route 29 Transportation Improvements & Land Use Planning Update. Clarke: Quarry Site & Sporting Clays for Conservation. Culpeper: The Future of Solar Farms. Fauquier: Water in Marshall & Buckland Bypass. Greene: Making Main Street More Walkable. Loudoun: Transportation Planning & Comprehensive Plan Updates. Madison: Civil War Battlefield Research. Orange: Gordonsville Park Initiative. Rappahannock: Sprucepine Branch Restored!
More than $1 Million Worth of Solar Installed
The benefits of solar power are multi- fold: it provides peak power close to the demand, energy security, cost savings, local employment opportunities and emission reductions. These benefits are why, for the last three years, we’ve partnered on a Solarize Piedmont campaign with friends at the Local Energy Alliance Program and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission.
Now that the 2017 Solarize Piedmont campaign has come to a close (it ran from mid-March through April), we wanted to share the results from these past three years: — Signed Contracts: 41– Dollar Value of Systems: $1,260,005 — Installed Capacity: 395 kW — Locations: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Orange & Rappahannock…
Charlottesville’s Strategic Investment Area (SIA)
The City of Charlottesville in the process of creating a plan to redevelop an approximately 330 acre area south and east of the downtown mall, called the Strategic Investment Area (SIA). This target area was identified by the City as a potential “growth” area due to its currently low density of development, vacant parcels, and location as a gateway to downtown, including pedestrian connections to the Downtown Mall area.
Eastern Brook Trout Monitoring Protocols for Headwater Streams in Virginia’s Piedmont
During the summer of 2017, PEC Fellowship participants Dana Ek and Callee Manna put together this stream monitoring guidebook as part of their final practicum project. The guidebook is meant to serve as a reference for PEC and other entities who are planning of stream restoration projects, especially in the development of improved monitoring procedures.
Robinson River
SYRIA, VA. At the Robinson River, 350 linear feet of stream was restored to its natural channel, stabilizing banks from erosion, and ultimately removing sediment from going downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. In all, 5.3 miles of habitat was restored for aquatic species such as American eel and brook trout. PEC worked with USFWS, Shenandoah Streamworks, Trout Unlimited, and local landowners to complete this stream restoration project in April 2017. Monitoring for water quality, and fish population health with the help of partners of VA DGIF and TU.