Conservation News

November 2014

from the Land Trust of Virginia

High Acre Farm: A High Point for LTV’s Year in ConservationThe Land Trust of Virginia works diligently to save land. As is true for all land trusts, however, it is the landowners who make the decisions to permanently protect their properties. Each year when we report on the success of our conservation efforts, we are tallying the comm-itments that families and individuals have made to d o n a t e c o n s e r v a t i o n easements. Each year one of those donations stands out and deserves special notice.

Dr. Edward MacMahon and his wife, Anne, recently recorded a conservation easement on their 413 acre High Acre Farm near the Plains, VA. High Acre Farm has been home to the MacMahon family for more than forty years. By protecting this property they have made a significant addition to a broad area of protected land in northern Fauquier County including adjoining properties that are in easements held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

One of the conservation values protected by the easement is the scenic open space as viewed from the

more than one and a half miles of frontage on public roads. As is evident in the photo on the left, this

viewshed protection ex-tends well beyond those roads to Halfway Road, a Virginia Scenic Byway, and across the rolling land-scapes to the west toward the Blue Ridge Mountains.

High Acre is located within the Little River watershed and the Little River Rural Historic District as well as the Broad Run / Little G e o r g e t o w n H i s t o r i c District. The MacMahon’s

conservation easement ensures the permanent protection of almost 250 acres of forestland that provides important habitat for forest dependent wildlife species. There are also numerous other cultural and historic resources found on their property that are protected by the easement.

After the easement was recorded, Carole Taylor, LTV’s President, said, "The Land Trust of Virginia applauds the MacMahons for conserving these valuable resources and for their commitment to environmental stewardship."

High Acre Farm, Fauquier County Virginia

The Land Trust of Virginia held its annual membership meeting on November 19th at the Carriage House at Oatlands Plantation. Birge Watkins, LTV’s Chairman, Carole Taylor, LTV’s President for 2013-2014, and John Magistro, LTV’s Executive Director, delivered their annual reports to the membership, followed by Jim Behan’s presentation of his treasurer’s report.

They summarized LTV’s ongoing successes in protecting more land in Loudoun County and Fauquier County. LTV completed the monitoring of all of its conservation easement properties in 2014, and expanded and improved its work with landowners on the stewardship of those properties.

LTV earned the renewal of its accreditation status and received an award for this achievement from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. Accredited land trusts are required to go through a rigorous review of their operations once every five years. LTV is one of the first forty-three land trusts in the country (out of about 1,700), and one of the first two in Virginia, to successfully complete the renewal process.

Turner Smith, chairman of LTV’s Nominating Committee, nominated four new board members: George Thomson, Harry Atherton, Malcolm Baldwin and Lilla Ohrstrom. All were elected to the board of directors in a unanimous vote along with three existing board members: Carole Taylor, Chris Dematatis, and Jay Bryant. After the annual meeting the Board of Directors elected the following as LTV’s officers for 2014 - 2015: Birge Watkins, Chairman: Chris Dematatis, President: Carole Taylor, Vice President; Jim Behan, Treasurer; Sally Kurtz, Secretary.

George, Harry, Malcolm and Lilla bring with them a depth of experience and knowledge that will help Land Trust of Virginia continue its successful land conservation work and its growth as an important member of Virginia’s land conservation community.

George Thompson

A native of Fauquier County, George attended the University of Virginia and earned a BS in Engineering from MIT. He presently serves on the MIT Energy Initiative as an Affiliate Member.

George founded Commonwealth Scientific Corporation, a leading research and development firm specializing in ion beam technology. He is a former Chairman of the Marshall National Bank and served on its Board of Directors for 30 years. George also founded the Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. Over the years George has been involved in farming, restoring houses and land conservation. His commitment to land conservation is evidenced by the thousands of acres on which he has donated conservation easements in Fauquier

County.

LTV’s Annual Meeting

Harry Atherton: After graduating from Harvard, Harry served two years in the US Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. Harry subsequently earned his JD from Catholic University.

When talking about his career, the first thing Harry will mention is his almost forty years of work as a cattle farmer in Fauquier County. What most people in Fauquier know Harry for, however, is his generous service to the county. He served on the planning commission from 1981 to 2000, serving as chairman for six of those years. From 2000 to 2008 he was on the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors, during which time he was chairman for three years.

Harry was on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation from 2008 to 2012 and has been a director at the Middleburg Bank since 2004.

Malcolm BaldwinMalcolm is a graduate of Haverford College and the University of Chicago Law School. He worked for over 35 years as a lawyer, manager and policy analyst specializing in environmental and natural resource management. Malcolm helped organize the first environmental law conference in 1969, helped found the Environmental Law Institute. His public service career included seven years as a Senior Staff Member at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter (1974-80), and as Acting CEQ Chairman under President Reagan (1981). At CEQ he played a leading role in the early implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including the drafting of initial regulations for preparation of environmental impact statements.

Malcolm continues his environmental consulting while he and his wife manage WeatherLea Farm’s vineyard and flock of sheep and llamas in Lovettesville, Virginia. They are involved in local efforts to preserve farmland and the historic and natural heritage of Loudoun County, while promoting the rural economy.  In 2008 they donated a conservation easement on their 28-acre farm to the Land Trust of Virginia. Malcolm served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Piedmont Environmental Council from 2005-2011. Since 2013 he has been a member of the County’s Rural Economic Development Council.

Lilla OhrstromLilla Ohrstrom lives in The Plains, Virginia, where she is the owner of the Youngblood Art Studio and is a practicing artist. She also teaches classes and exhibits the work of other artists. Lilla and her family have been involved in land conservation and wildlife preservation activities for many years. Their farm is under conservation easement.

Lilla has served on the auxiliary board of Dow Chemical Family Foundation and on the board of George Mason and the Arts. She has a degree in sculpture from Skidmore College University Without Walls, and has studied at the Corcoran School of Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design, and L’Ecole des Arts Decoratif in France.

LTV’s Blue Ridge Initiative

LTV’s Blue Ridge Initiative

The largely unprotected section of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the Shenandoah National Park to the Potomac River represents a serious conservation challenge. Of the roughly 200,000 acres in this section of the Blue Ridge, only about 30,000 is currently protected by federal and state parks or by private conservation easements.

Of the 14,200 acres on which the Land Trust of Virginia holds conservation easements, more than 2,500 acres are on properties in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These protected mountainside areas are located in Loudoun, Fauquier, Clarke, Rappahannock, Madison, and Greene Counties.

The terms of these easements include limits to the amount of clearing allowed, restrictions on the location, size and height of structures, and other restrictions intended to protect the conservation values on the individual properties.

Almost all of the remaining 11,700 acres protected by LTV conservation easements enjoy views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. A consequence of the conservation of the mountainside land is that the view of the mountains from the adjoining valley floors is protected. In turn, the conservation of the land in the valleys serves to protect the views from the mountain.

The conservation of the natural resources on the Blue Ridge Mountains serves a broader community than those living in the nearby valleys. For example, the Blue Ridge contains the headwaters for numerous streams and creeks feeding into rivers that eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay.

The conservation of the Blue Ridge from the Shenandoah National Park to the Potomac River is important for those living on the mountain, those living within its viewshed and for a large extended community “over the horizon.”

Beginning in 2013, the Land Trust of Virginia undertook a mapping study of the conservation values and the natural, cultural and historic resources within this section of the Blue Ridge. Twenty-five maps identifying the presence of these resources on individual properties have been completed. LTV is currently analyzing the data it has compiled to determine those properties that hold the highest concentrations of the full range of these resources.

Once this analysis is completed, LTV intends to make presentations of the results of this study to owners of mountainside properties and others with a shared interest in the conservation of the Blue Ridge.

and the Blue Ridge Coalition

A view from above Trappe Road north of Upperville, Virginia, showing an area that includes more than a thousand acres protected by LTV.

LTV and the Blue Ridge CoalitionIn October 2013 the Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the National Wildlife Federation held a “Blue Ridge Summit” to convene representatives from more than forty private organizations and state and local government agencies to build interest in forming a coalition of groups who share a common interest in the conservation of the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically the section between the northern end of Shenandoah National Park and the Potomac River. More than sixty individuals attended the Blue Ridge Summit, including LTV’s Chris Dematatis and Louise Searle.

Since the original “summit”, a steering committee worked to organize a mini-summit that was held on November 12th at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) to formally launch the Blue Ridge Coalition. This steering committee has been headed by Carole Napolitano, president of the Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a 2013 donor of a conservation easement to LTV. The committee also includes Joe Coleman, former LTV board member and current member of LTV’s Chairman’s Advisory Council, and current president of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental

Stewardship; Mike Kane of the Piedmont Environmental Council; Marie Uehling of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Jed Shilling of the Mountain Institute; Hilary Falk of the National Wildlife Federation; Bill Howard, Executive Director of The Downstream Project; and LTV’s Chris Dematatis.

The work of the steering committee was well received by those who attended the launch of the Blue Ridge Coalition at the SCBI. Mike Kane and Hilary Falk made presentations summarizing the work of the steering committee. Bill Howard gave a demonstration of the coalition’s new website which will serve as a common point for sharing of information among the member groups. LTV’s Director of Stewardship, Ashton Cole, joined Chris and Louise at the event.

L T V p r o v i d e d m a p p i n g outlining the focus area of the Blue Ridge Coalition. This mapping is separate from the maps LTV has produced as a part of its Blue Ridge Initiative. There is a strong overlap in the mapped

areas. It is this shared interest in the conservation of the Blue Ridge Mountains that is at the heart of the Blue Ridge Coalition and is the reason that the Land Trust of Virginia is a member and is committed to the support of the coalition’s mission.

For more on the Blue Ridge Coalition visit: www.blueridgecoalition.org

Looking northeast from Clarke County, Virginia.

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A Letter from Birge Watkins, ChairmanIt is the season of giving and needless to say, we welcome gifts. End of the year contributions in 2014 are essential for 2015 easement intake and stewardship operations. Our Fall Campaign, Building an Enduring Conservation Legacy, is now underway. Your contributions mean that additional properties can be put into easement in 2015. Your support will also allow us to annually monitor and defend every one of the 138 properties we already have under easement.

There are many more properties in Loudoun, Fauquier and neighboring counties that have important conservation values that should be protected. Your support will enable us to reach out to farmers and other landowners who wish to voluntarily protect their land on a permanent basis through conservation easements.

Many thanks to the landowners who have given the gift of an easement on their property to LTV in 2014, and to those that are preparing easements for 2015. And special thanks to all our contributors who have generously invested in LTV land conservation in 2014 and in previous years.

Every acre of land that we save, every farm that we conserve, and every historic property that we protect in perpetuity is a direct result of your support. We could not do it without you! Your contributions are truly building an enduring conservancy legacy. Please give generously.

Thanks for Your Support and Happy Holidays!

Sponsor Profile:

LTV is pleased to highlight a sponsor new to us in 2014: Fabbioli Cellars.

Fabbioli Cellars is a small, family owned and operated vineyard and winery in Loudoun County focused on growing and making high quality red wines using traditional methods and 21st century knowledge.

In defining the vineyard’s mission, Doug Fabbioli took into consideration the same conservation ethic that the Land Trust of Virginia follows - preserving what we have for future generations.

Fabbioli is always striving for more earth-friendly practices - or what he describes as “common sense for doing what’s right.” The Vineyard frequently monitors the vines to catch problems early and reduce the use of pesticides. Organic fungicides are used only as needed. The winery buildings are heated using a geothermal climate control system.

For more information, visit fabbioliwines.com.

Thanks for your support and for your own conservation efforts, Fabbioli Cellars!

With your donation you will become a member of LTV for 2014-2015. As an LTV member, you’ll receive our newsletter and invitations to special events, our annual garden party, and our annual meeting. Membership levels are listed below.

LTV accepts tax-deductible gifts of real estate, securities, and personal property as well as monetary gifts. Contact our office (540-687-8441) for more information.

Become a member on our website! Visit www.landtrustva.org and click the “donate now” button!

Or, you can mail a check, along with this form, to LTV at P.O. Box 14, Middleburg, VA 20118.

Is this a gift membership? Please provide the following information for the recipient and LTV will mail them a holiday card with gift membership.

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail _____________________________________________________________________________________________

From (if gift) ___________________________________________

I would like to join LTV at the following level:

Please contact me:

With additional information on land conservation

With information on how to take an active role and volunteer with LTV

Regarding a legacy gift of real estate, securities, or other personal property.

$50 Individual$100 Family$250 Advocate$500 Supporter

$1,000 Guardian$2,000 Steward$5,000 Protector$10,000 President’s Circle

The holidays are coming... what’s the BIGGEST gift you can give?

Give yourself, your kids, your neighbors, and your friends a present that will last forever.

Help preserve our natural and rural heritage by donating to LTV -your community land trust.

At landtrustva.org, you can sign up for automatic monthly or quarterly installments on your membership!

P.O. BOX 14MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA 20118

2014 - 2015Board of DirectorsBirge S. Watkins, ChairmanChris Dematatis, President Carole Taylor, Vice PresidentSally Kurtz, SecretaryJames Behan, TreasurerHarry AthertonMalcom BaldwinJay BryantHenry C. DayPatricia EwingLilla OhrstromPhil PaschallJames RichClaude SchochTurner T. Smith, Jr.George Thompson

Advisory CouncilAva AbramowitzChilds F. BurdenSteffanie BurgevinPatric CopelandPenny DenegreWayne GibbensMissy JanesMerritt JonesYakir LubowskyMalcom MathesonMary Leigh McDanielAnne McIntoshJudge Terrence NeyMs. Allen OhrstromLinda PorterLaura RheintgenSchuyler RichardsonJohn RustEdith Smart

Staff & ContractorsJohn MagistroActing Executive Director and Director of Conservation Programs

Ashton ColeDirector of Stewardship

Stacie RaedelOffice Manager

Art CampbellLegal Counsel

Stephen C. PriceGeneral Counsel

Hunton and Williams LLPPro Bono Counsel

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAIDMiddleburg, VA

Permit No. 6

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LTA Excellence Enhancement ProgramThe Land Trust Alliance (LTA) established its Excellence Enhancement Program to provide growing land trusts with new tools to improve performance and sustainability. LTV was recently selected to participate in this program. The purpose of the program is to provide growing land trusts with new tools to improve performance and sustainability.

As part of the program, Birge Watkins, LTV’s Chairman, recently attended a three day retreat in Salisbury, North Carolina hosted by LTA’s Southeastern Region. The retreat theme was “Scanning the Horizon, Discovering the Future.” Birge reports that it was an interesting exploration of trends impacting land trusts and of the management challenges they face. It also provided guidance for developing strategic priorities for future growth.

Birge felt that his attendance at this retreat was an important opportunity to understand how LTV can make the most of the LTA Excellence program and to learn from the experiences of other top performing land trusts. He remarked, “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our operations and we view our ongoing participation in this program as a valuable resource in those efforts.”

Did you know? The Blue Ridge formed nearly 500 million years ago, and were an elevation similar to the Rocky Mountains before they eroded.

Read about what LTV is doing to save the Blue Ridge inside this issue!