| Contact Information | Date |
|---|---|
| For Immediate Release Contact: Mike Santucci 434.220.9182 |
January 27, 2012 VDOF 12007 |
VDOF Easement Recorded in Albemarle County
Benjamin, Terry and Thomas Warthen have granted the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) a working forest conservation easement that protects 223 acres of land in Albemarle County. The easement combines four tax parcels into a single property whose future development is restricted, conserving a large block of forestland in perpetuity.
The Warthens’ conservation easement is the second VDOF easement recorded in Albemarle County during the past 12 months. It was one of 24 VDOF easements recorded on 8,005 acres in 2011, and brings the total program acreage to just under 20,000 acres conserved in just five years.
Located just southwest of Charlottesville on the upper slopes and summit of Piney Mountain, nearly the entire property is covered with hardwood forests that are actively managed under the guidance of a Forest Stewardship Management Plan. The easement is within the viewshed of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and future Biscuit Run State Park, helping maintain the scenic vistas that support their historic sense of place.
Ben Warthen said, “When Jefferson thought of our country's westward expansion, he must have glanced out his window and seen this mountain due west of Monticello, a view that is now forever protected. The terms of our agreement, pleasantly derived, allow my family to utilize the property, and will not interfere with such use of the property.”
The property contains the headwaters of several large streams that flow into Biscuit Run, which, in turn, is a major tributary of the Rivanna River. In addition to being a state-designated scenic river, the Rivanna provides a source of drinking water to downstream communities. Forested watersheds, such as those on the Warthen easement, are critical in protecting water quality and aquatic habitat in the area, as well as mitigating potential downstream flooding.
Sen. Creigh Deeds said, “Albemarle County is rich with historic landmarks and beautiful landscapes. By granting this easement, the Warthen family is preserving hundreds of acres of valuable forestland thereby improving water quality and protecting the Monticello viewshed. I extend my sincere appreciation to Ben, Terry and Thomas Warthen for their sound stewardship of the land and generosity.”
Del. C. Matthew Farris said, “I truly appreciate what the Warthans have done. I, myself, have placed properties under conservation easements and realize the importance of what it means for the future generations of our Commonwealth.”
The Warthen easement is another addition to the growing number of protected private forestland acreage in Virginia. More than 373,600 family forest landowners control 10.1 million acres of forestland in the Commonwealth.
Mike Santucci, VDOF forest conservation specialist, said, “These working forestlands are critical in determining a sustainable flow of natural benefits and timber products, which contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by all Virginians.
“I cannot express enough my appreciation to the Warthens for their donation. Loss and fragmentation of family-owned woodland reduce the potential of the forest to provide the economic, social and ecological benefits on which we depend. The Warthens have made a conscious decision to conserve their forestland for future generations. We are thankful for the opportunity to help them achieve their natural resource goals for their property as well as being able to be a part of the continuing successful conservation efforts in Albemarle County.”
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a non-profit conservation organization that protects the conservation values of a property. The landowner continues to own, use and control the land. A working forest easement protects forest values and benefits by assuring sustainable forest management practices will run with the property in perpetuity, providing continuous supplies of forest products and natural benefits, such as clean air and water, wildlife habitat and scenic values.
The VDOF conservation easement program is the only one in the state that focuses primarily on protecting working forests. To be considered, a property must be at least 50 acres in size, 75 percent forested, and the landowner must be willing to have a forest stewardship management plan prepared. Landowners who want to ensure that their land will be forever maintained as forest may consider a VDOF easement.
Ben Warthen said, “I chose to give the easement to VDOF as they have the experience and knowledge to best protect a forest management land use. The mountain has always been predominantly forested. This most important and magnificent feature of the mountain will best thrive under the invited and reasonable eye of the VDOF.”
The Warthen easement was among the latest to receive funding under the VDOF’s Forests to Faucets (F2F) Program. First introduced in 2010, the F2F program focuses on protecting water quality within the Rivanna River basin. The program is designed to maintain and expand forest cover in the watershed through financial incentives to landowners who undertake forest management and conservation practices, including easements.
“Santucci said, “The F2F program offers funding to forest landowners within the watershed who are willing to donate an easement that directly protects water quality by permanently retaining forest cover on the landscape. The ultimate payment amount is determined on a sliding scale based on the property’s attributes and selected easement enhancements, but is often enough to offset most, if not all, of the easement preparation costs.”
VDOF will continue to offer the F2F program to other interested landowners through August of 2012 or until funding is exhausted.
For additional information on the VDOF conservation easement program or the conservation easement portion of the F2F Program, contact Mike Santucci, forest conservation specialist, at 434.220.9182, or visit the VDOF website.
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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, the Agency has forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide citizen service and public safety protection across the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.
With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 144,000 Virginians employed in forestry, forest products and related industries, Virginia forests provide more than $27.5 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth.
