PEC Fellowship Application Deadline

The Piedmont Environmental Council (02/09/18)

“Are you an undergraduate or recent graduate interested in learning more about a career in environmental conservation? If so, you should consider applying for the 12th Annual Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Fellowship Program, based in Warrenton, Virginia! Twelve students will be selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend seven weeks in the Virginia Piedmont, while studying with seasoned professionals in land conservation, land use planning, agriculture, habitat and more. The deadline to apply is Feb 20. Learn more at pecva.org/fellowship.”

From the air, Virginia’s Piedmont transitions from mountains to metropolis

Chesapeake Bay Program (01/31/18)

“Virginia’s Piedmont region is an area of transition, where the densely populated District of Columbia and the serene forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains play tug-of-war over a patchwork of farm fields and residential development. As of 2017, three out of four of the most populated localities in Virginia reside in this area. The challenge amid this growth, according to Bri West of the nonprofit Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), is how to protect the land while using it at the same time.”

Raise a Glass: Crozet’s Water Plan on Tap for 2018

Crozet Gazette (02/02/18)

“Crozet’s water supply system is being overhauled with the long view in mind, says Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) Executive Director Bill Mawyer. “We are gathering usage data and growth projections for the area, and our goal is to make one plan that will cover all of the necessary modifications,” he said. That blueprint, called the Drinking Water Infrastructure Plan (DWIP), will be finalized this year, and parts of it are already underway. “

County slows on utility scale solar project policy

Culpeper Star-Exponent (02/07/18)

“A comprehensive policy over solar power farms stalled Tuesday after county elected officials decided to proceed with caution in adopting the first-ever rules that will govern a utility-scale project located in the Brandy Station area.”

Parking garage, taxes and development discussed by town leaders

Culpeper Star-Exponent (02/02/18)

“The proposed garage would go on the town-owned parking lot at North Main and East Spencer streets, across from the county administration building. Hively recommended the town start saving for the estimated $16 million project now with the idea that a private developer would fund half of the cost and develop stores on the ground level of the structure.”

Budget amendment would create battlefield state park in Culpeper

Culpeper Star-Exponent (01/30/18)

“Creation of a battlefield state park in Culpeper County appears to be gaining momentum. State Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, is sponsoring a budget amendment that would establish the park at Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station through the transfer by deed of gift of 1,205 acres at both sites – owned primarily by the Civil War Trust – to the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation.”

We’ve created an advocacy campaign in support of several conservation budget amendments, including the state park in Culpeper! Take Action >>

Journey Through Hallowed Ground creates summer residential program

Fauquier Times (02/08/18)

“The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area has announced the creation of the National History Academy, a five-week summer residential program where high school students will have the opportunity to learn by experiencing American history in the places where it happened. “

Owners link data center fate to undeveloped subdivision

Fauquier Now (02/05/18)

“To make a proposed data center project near Remington work financially, the landowners insist that a $2.7-million cash proffer tied to an undeveloped subdivision near Bealeton must be eliminated. Fauquier residents and brothers Bill and Bob Springer and GGFS/Foxhaven LLC of Alexandria own the data center and subdivision properties.”

Conservation easements here total 2,541 acres in ’17

Fauquier Now (02/05/18)

“Fauquier County landowners placed another 2,541 acres under permanent conservation easements last year, according to the Warrenton-based Piedmont Environmental Council. That brings the county’s total easements on private land to 104,873 acres, the most for any Virginia jurisdiction. The total represents about one-quarter of Fauquier.”

140-foot cell tower proposed in Warrenton

Fauquier Now (02/01/18)

“A New Jersey telecommunications company wants to build a 140-foot monopole tower in Warrenton. Capital Telecommunication Holdings LLC has submitted a special use permit application to put the tower on 6.2 acres off Industrial Road near the Warrenton Branch Greenway and the Eastern Bypass. Carter Equipment owns the property.”

Upperville battlefield site now under conservation easement

Fauquier Times (02/01/18)

“The Vineyard Hill property in Upperville, the scene of fighting during the “Prelude to Gettysburg,” has been placed under permanent conservation easement. The easement holder is the Land Trust of Virginia. The property is owned by Fauquier County and is managed as a public park. “

Hugo sees multiple avenues to bury Haymarket power lines

Inside NOVA (01/29/18)

“Del. Tim Hugo, R-40th District, believes he’s getting closer to passing legislation to force Dominion Energy to bury its planned power line through western Prince William, setting up a two-pronged strategy to fulfill one of his main campaign promises.”

Board denies rezone

Greene County Record (01/31/18)

“The Greene County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to deny a rezoning on a piece of commercial property off U.S. 29 in Ruckersville. The owners were hoping to put affordable housing on that property.”

Grants are available for dams, as well as floodplain projects

Greene County Record (01/31/18)

“Dam owners and local governments may apply for $900,000 in grants available from the Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund. The fund is managed by the Virginia Resources Authority on behalf of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. All grants are reimbursements and require a 50 percent match. The maximum amount per grant will be determined based on amounts requested from eligible projects, application scores and available funds.”

Water In, Cash Out

Blue Ridge Leader (02/08/18)

“The Town of Purcellville, working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is actively exploring ways to innovate its approach to municipal water managment, through water reclamation.”

Decision Time for Cut-Through Traffic

Blue Ridge Leader (02/07/18)

“In 2011, it was 800 vehicles per day. By 2013 is was 1,000. And, according to an October 2017 count, it was 1,300. These numbers represent the cut-through traffic that zips through the Country Club Drive neighborhood in the northwest part of Purcellville, sandwiched between Main Street to the south, the Rt. 7 Bypass to the north, and Rt. 690/North 21st Street to the east.”

Sycolin Road Study Recommends Widening

Loudoun Now (01/31/18)

“A study of traffic on Sycolin Road has found the county will need to stick with its plans to eventually widen the road to four lanes, but also recommends some short-term improvements.”

An unwelcome visitor

Orange County Review (02/02/18)

“Watch out for the spotted lanternfly. That’s the word from Shawn Appling, associate extension agent for horticulture, serving Orange, Culpeper and Madison counties. The invasive insect was spotted in Frederick County in early January, and it is menace of potentially devastating proportions.”

Orange approves lease for cell tower in town

Orange County Review (02/01/18)

“The Orange Town Council voted unanimously to authorize a lease agreement with Verizon, which is interested in building a 199-foot cell tower on town property on Lafayette Street. The cell tower is expected to provide Verizon customers better wireless coverage, while also enhancing the county’s emergency communications center by allowing an antenna on the tower for free. “

The Descendants

Garden & Gun (02/01/18)

“Montpelier, the Virginia home of President James Madison, has pioneered a bold approach to historical interpretation, thanks to its relationship with a key group: the families of the men and women Madison enslaved “

Montpelier 2018 in a word: “creative”

Orange County Review (01/29/18)

“Every January James Madison’s Montpelier closes to the public for two weeks while staff gears up for a new year full of new programming, events and restoration projects that shine light on Madison’s legacy and Constitutional education. “

Anybody in there?

Rappahannock News (02/02/18)

“Shenandoah National Park is home to numerous centuries-old trees, including this giant hardwood with a tremendous tree hollow that hiker Kathy McNitt peers into below Hazel Mountain.”

Wild Ideas: “Woods and Wildlife Conference,” and mysterious animals

Rappahannock News (02/02/18)

“It’s time again for the annual “Woods and Wildlife Conference,” a one-stop (or first-stop) venue for owners and managers of woodland properties who want to learn more about woodland ecology and management from experts in a variety of related fields. “

Salamander wriggling its way into state law

Prince William Times (01/30/18)

“A bill slithering through the legislative process would designate the red salamander as Virginia’s official state salamander. If the amphibious creature gets the honor, it can thank a group of young nature conservationists.”

Washington to Amazon: How urban do you want to be?

Washington Post (02/08/18)

“Many locals cheered when the Washington area claimed three spots on Amazon.com’s short­list of regions still in contention of host a second headquarters and its 50,000 jobs. The winnowing left the area with the best odds of any in the country.”

All eyes on the pipeline

C-Ville Weekly (01/31/18)

“Hundreds of anti-Atlantic Coast Pipeline activists have emerged to monitor construction on the $6 billion gas fracking project. A coalition of more than 50 anti-pipeline groups called the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance launched the Pipeline Compliance Surveillance Initiative last week to ensure strict application of environmental laws and regulations for the ACP…”

White House plan would reduce environmental requirements for infrastructure projects

Washington Post (01/26/18)

“The White House has drafted a proposal to scale back environmental requirements in an effort to make it easier to construct roads, bridges and pipelines across the country as part of an infrastructure plan that President Trump could release as soon as next week, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post.”