Orange County

PEC’s Orange County office supports our land use and land conservation activities in the county. PEC is dedicated to promoting healthy communities and the preservation of Orange’s rural character, environment and historic resources.

aerial photo of orange county where wilderness crossing is proposed

Wilderness Crossing is Back

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I’ve been monitoring the project for several months, as it has slowly made its way through the county application process. Now, the developer is finally holding a community briefing, and I want to make sure the word gets out ...
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View of a snowy landscape at sunrise from Shenandoah National Park

PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30

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Now through September 30, professional and amateur photographers alike are invited to submit their best images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 11th Annual Photo Contest. All image submissions must be taken within Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, ...
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Terry Tempest Williams at PEC's Annual Meeting (Highlights)

Terry Tempest Williams at PEC’s Annual Meeting (Highlights)

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It was a tremendous honor to host author Terry Tempest Williams at our annual meeting in May. The event, a celebration of PEC’s 50th anniversary, was held at the beautiful Mistwood property in Orange County. A special shout out to ...
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On the Ground Updates – June 2022

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A series of short updates from around the PEC region - Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock ...
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On the Ground Updates – March 2022

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A series of short updates from around the PEC region - Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock ...
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a map that show the Wilderness Crossing site in red, with at least seven former mine sites denote with pick axe symbols

A Potential Superfund Site?

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Last year, we told you about a developer's proposal for a 2,602-acre development across from Lake of the Woods on Rt. 3 in Orange County and next to Wilderness National Battlefield. With continued investigation, we found some unexpected and truly ...
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a man and women hold a green sign between them that says "This property is forever protected with a conservation easement"

Protecting a Historic Landscape in Orange County

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Within the nationally recognized Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District, near Barboursville in Orange County, William K. “Wik” Dove II partnered with The Piedmont Environmental Council to permanently protect his 108 acres with a conservation easement ...
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aerial photo of orange county where wilderness crossing is proposed

Wilderness Crossing developer proposes reckless path forward

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In January, the developer behind Wilderness Crossing submitted a letter to the county regarding unreclaimed mine sites on the 2,602-acre property ...
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map showing pec's 9-county region, green areas that are conserved, orange areas with new easements

Conservation in 2021 bring regional conserved land totals to 25 percent

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In 2021, private landowners partnered with various land trusts and conservation agencies to permanently protect an additional 6,474 acres of land in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties ...
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a map that show the Wilderness Crossing site in red, with at least seven former mine sites denote with pick axe symbols

Shocking news about historic gold mining contamination

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Last fall, PEC learned some important new information related to the gold mining legacy at the proposed site of the Wilderness Crossing residential development: of the five formally-named gold mines located on the property, none have been closed and cleaned ...
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