The Problem with the Outer BeltwayIN THIS ISSUE

Meet regional photographer David Anhold on page 5.

www.pecva.org

Meet two women

who’s work and passion for conservation spans generations

PAG

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Six of PEC’s nine counties are

undergoing Comp Plan updates. Why we should all care about this process.

PAG

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The goings-on at PEC’s Piedmont

Memorial Overlook

PAG

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The Piedmont ViewA M E M B E R S H I P N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E P I E D M O N T E N V I R O N M E N T A L C O U N C I L S U M M E R 2 0 1 3

The Outer Beltway (coined the “North-South Corridor” by VDOT) isn’t just a bad deal for the residents of

Prince William and Loudoun Coun-ties—it’s a bad deal for people who live in neighboring counties, and for Virginia taxpayers as a whole.

It would cost at least $1 billion, and associated connector roads to the west side of Dulles could cost $500 million or more.

It doesn’t address the over-whelming east-west traffic problem faced by Northern Virginia residents and travelers (and there are better ways to fix north-south traffic).

It would spark higher levels of residential development within the Prince William Rural Crescent and the Loudoun Rural Transi-tion Area, adding more traffic to already congested com-muter routes I-66 and Rt. 50.

It comes with extensive negative impacts—to the environment (think runoff and air quality); to the exist-ing communities (it would split neighborhoods from schools, increasing noise and air pollu-tion); and to historic resources, including Manassas National Battlefield Park.

The Impact on the National Park

As proposed, the Outer Beltway would cut through the western edge of Manassas National Battlefield Park. This has proved to be an important sticking point, because it means that VDOT needs permission to proceed from the National Park Service.

But this is also where it gets complicated...because, while the Park Service is clearly interested in protecting the battlefield, it is also obligated to comply with 1988 federal legislation that directs it to “develop plans for the closing of those public highways (known as Rts. 29 and 234) that transect the park.”

The Virginia Secretary of Transportation, Sean Connaugh-ton, and VDOT are using this situation to pressure the National Park Service to accept the Outer Beltway. They claim that if the Park Service allows the Outer Beltway, then VDOT will give them control over Rt. 234 (along with some unenforceable promises to also close Rt. 29 through the park).

Growing OppositionPEC has been keeping an

eye on this proposed project for decades, but we refocused in early 2011 when the Commonwealth

Transportation Board made it clear that the road was going to be a priority for the McDonnell Admin-istration. Since then, we’ve been writing, talking, and sometimes jumping up and down—trying to bring attention to this wasteful

proposal.In late 2012, VDOT finally put

some more detailed lines on the map for the “N-S Corridor,” and began soliciting citizen input on the plan. Since then, there’s been

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The Piedmont Through the Viewfinder

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Proposed Segments

Publicly Owned Lands

0 4 8Miles

VDOT is pushing to create a new major highway in Northern Virginia referred to (among other names) as the Outer Beltway. PEC’s take? This mega-highway would cut through a National Park, open up over 100,000 acres to residential development, and has the potential to actually increase traffic congestion on I-66 and Rt. 50. The good news is—after years of trying to get more press coverage and citizen engagement on the issue—we may have reached a turning point.

They say a picture’s worth a thou-sand words, and that couldn’t be more true than when it comes to the beauty of Virginia’s Piedmont.

No one knows this better than our regional photographers. With this region’s moun-tains, rolling farmland, forests, meadows, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife, plants, interesting towns and history—it’s enough to make anyone have to grab a camera and start shooting.

PEC will continue to celebrate the Piedmont’s photographers of all skill levels with the opening of our 4th Annual Photo Contest this July. We’ve been delighted with the success of our past three contests, and we are excited to see this year’s submissions.

Continued on page 2

Support PEC

Thank you for helping to protect the Piedmont!

Make a donation or get in touch with PEC at:

Post Office Box 460Warrenton, VA 20188540.347.2334 (general)

540.316.9972 (donations) pec@pecva.org

or make a secure online donation at www.pecva.org

&3

Planned Outer

Beltway

Planned Outer

Beltway

Photo by David Anhold

www.pecva.org

The Piedmont View

2

Pop Quiz

ANSWER

False. Most tick-borne diseases (including Lyme) require a tick to be attached for 24 hours or more for trans-mission. So, a quick daily check is helpful in preventing Lyme.

Deer ticks are the carriers of Lyme disease, and our Sustainable Habitat Program Manager, James Barnes, has a few tips to help you avoid potential infection:

• Beyond daily checks, James uses insect repellant when outside. Since there isn’t significant scientific testing on natural products (like citric acid or citronella) for ticks, James uses synthetic repellents like DEET and Permethrin. He prefers to use a 0.5% permethrin spray that is sprayed directly onto clothing and shoes—not onto your skin.

• If you do have a tick bite, always save the tick in plastic bag, in case it needs to be tested later.

TRUE OR FALSE:Ticks transmit illnesses, such as Lyme Disease, as soon as they bite.

a major upswing in citizen interest and grassroots opposition.

Thanks to this work, local, state, and national politicians are now listening. On April 29th, six republican Virginia legisla-tors—Delegates Hugo, Marshall and Webert, along with Senators Vogel, Black and Stuart—spoke out against the Outer Beltway at a press conference. Soon after, VA Congressman Frank Wolf added his voice to the choir questioning the Outer Beltway in a letter to Gov. McDonnell:

“I am fully aware of the unique trans-portation challenges facing northern Virginia and have worked hard to make improvements to the region’s transportation network,” Rep. Wolf wrote. “That said, I am concerned this project now seems to be on a fast track and many of my constitu-ents are frustrated that they are not getting a fair hearing... These people have invested their lives here and are deeply disappointed with the way the project is being advanced. I share their concerns.”

In other big news, on June 4th, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted to remove the Outer Beltway from their 6-year plan recommenda-tions to the State.

Better AlternativesPEC staff have crafted an alter-

native plan to the Outer Beltway, and we welcome your feedback. Our proposal focuses on fixing the current east-west routes for commuters, and it provides lower impact fixes on local roads as well as additional connections to help local residents. It would preserve Prince William’s Rural Crescent and Loudoun’s Rural Transition Area, and it would improve access to Dulles. Our proposal prioritizes long-promised, but much-delayed improvements like:

Improving the interchange at Braddock Road and Rt. 28

Expanding the interchange at I-66 and Rt. 28

Extending VRE to Gainesville and Metrorail to Centreville

Targeted use of roundabouts to keep people from sitting at key

intersections in Loudoun and Prince William.

This set of connections would improve traffic movement throughout the area quickly—benefitting more travelers and creating a greater variety of trip types. You can see more of our alternative list at our website: www.pecva.org/outerbeltway

So, Why is the Outer Beltway Getting Prioritized?

VDOT is not proposing a road that would make sense to most residents of Northern Virginia. They aren’t even claiming it’s the best solution for traffic. They are emphasizing the potential for additional north-south traffic in the future, and for an expansion of cargo shipping at Dulles Air-port—but those claims don’t hold up much under scrutiny. In fact, Congressman Wolf was told by the

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that proponents “should not claim the project will lead to an increase in cargo being handled at the airport.”

The real reason this project is being pushed seems much simpler and fairly classic: a major road would bring major profits to the developers who have pur-chased land along the route.

It’s PEC’s job to help you stay on top of projects that will impact your lives and your environment. It is only with an informed and engaged citizenry that we can keep publicly funded infrastruc-ture and eminent domain from

being used for needless, damaging projects. We hope you’ll weigh in with your local, state and national officials about the need to take this project off the priority list.

Add Your VoiceWe’ve created an email cam-

paign for your federal and state elected officials. Take a moment to write by visiting our webpage: www.pecva.org/outerbeltway

To say that Marie Ridder, 88, is an accomplished woman is an understatement—and as I drove to meet her for our interview, I

was both excited and nervous. Marie has been a highlysuccessful journalist and editor who would later devote her career to social and environmental issues. She worked for Lady Bird Johnson in the ‘60s as her liaison to White House poverty programs, and became the deputy direc-tor of Head Start. Marie also worked for the Department of the Interior and was appointed to Secretary of the National Parks Advisory Board. She serves or has served in numerous conservation organizations, including the Virginia State Parks Commission, the Virginia Council on the Environment, the Virginia Out-doors Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and PEC. She helped acquire the first state park on VA’s Eastern Shore at Kiptopeke, and spearheaded funding for important studies of migratory bird patterns to prioritize land conservation. Marie also chose to permanently protect her own land, and she was one of the first conservation easement donors in VA.

At the end of the day, Marie gives a substantial part of her life’s work to the conservation movement—particularly in Virginia. Yet, when I asked her during our interview if she is hopeful for the future of the environmental conservation move-ment, she said: “Frankly, no—not really. I

think the world has increasingly too many people. I don’t think there’s much hope, and I’m sorry for my grandchildren.”

As a young environmentalist myself, this response was somewhat bewildering. You see, I had already formed this story in my mind prior to our interview: a veteran conservationist bestowing words of wisdom and hope onto the next genera-tion of environmentalists—onto me. This response did not fit into the story I had hoped to write, and so I tried to again. I pointed out that she must have some hope because she has given so much to the conservation movement over the decades. Why would she keep working if she didn’t have much hope?

“Well,” Marie explained, “Because someone has to fight—someone has to try. If we don’t the world will get darker every second. We have to keep trying.”

Driving away from our interview, I thought about Marie’s words, and I began to see an almost epic heroism in them. Here is a woman who has worked in the environmental movement for decades; who sees the grim state of things today and has little hope for the future. Yet, despite all of this, she continues to work and fight for something better for the coming generations because she believes it is the right and only thing to do.

What Marie may not realize is that the important work that she and her col-leagues have accomplished has laid the path for, and even created, the environ-mentalists of today and tomorrow. The natural and wild places that they have protected for future generations—these are the places where environmentalists like myself are born. My time as a child in Tennessee spent in the mountains, woods, and streams is what made me realize the importance of the natural world and the pressing need to protect it.

So, I would like to thank Marie and all of those who have dedicated their lives to conservation. Despite the odds, you have helped protect many of our wild places so that my generation could experience them, fall in love with them, and grow to stand by you in the fight to protect them.

A Conservation Ethic...Marie Ridder

The Problem with the Outer BeltwayContinued from cover

The real reason this project is being pushed seems much simpler and fairly classic: a major road would bring major profits to the developers who have purchased land along the route.

Photo by Lennart Tange

At a VDOT meeting in early June, over 600 citizens attended—with a majority opposed to the Beltway. Photos by Bri West

by Katherine Vance

Summer 2013

33

Did you get your Buy Fresh Buy Local guide?

As of May, PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local guides were mailed to every home in our nine-county region—about 260,000 homes altogether. PEC

mails these guides as a free service to help bolster the local food economies in the region and to educate consumers. Together, the guides for the Northern Piedmont, Loudoun County, and the Charlottesville area include nearly 600 listings where people can buy locally grown food—including markets, farms, orchards, wineries, restaurants and retailers.

To help consumers navigate the various food label terms, this year’s guides include definitions of common terms. The guides also encourage consumers to “Ask for Local” when buying food from retailers or res-taurants: “By asking for local, consumers raise the awareness of retailers, support our local producers, and drive our local food system forward,” explains Jessica Palmer, PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator.

Each Buy Fresh Buy Local guide also includes a list of upcoming food events in the Piedmont region, as well as a Travel Map that highlights area farms, orchards, wineries and markets.

Didn’t get your area Buy Fresh Buy Local guide? You can view and download any of the guides by visiting PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local webpage: www.buylocalvirginia.org

Support Local Farms and Food at Our ‘Meet the Farmer’ Dinner Series!

Over the past five years, Virginia’s Piedmont has experienced an unprec-edented demand for local foods. To support that growing interest, PEC is hosting a series of Field to Plate and Meet the Farmer dinners. These dinners are designed to celebrate and support local farms, as well as

increase awareness about where and how local foods are produced.

PEC has supported regional farms and produc-ers for over 40 years through our work in land conserva-tion, land use planning, the distribution of our Buy Fresh Buy Local food guides (which reach over 250,000 households each year), and our Rural Agriculture and Economy Program. The pro-ceeds from these dinners will

benefit PEC’s continued efforts to promote local agriculture. Although the dinners are part of a series, each has unique features—from family-style BBQs to a more upscale dinner featuring celebrity chef Pati Jinich.

The dates and locations for the dinners are:

June 30th—Historic Long Branch (Clarke County)

July 20th—East Lynn Farm (Loudoun County)

August 3rd—Moriah Farm (Fauquier County)

August 11th—DuCard Vineyards (Madison County)

September 8th—Annadale Farm (Orange County)

For more details about these and other PEC events, visit PEC’s website: www.pecva.org/events

Alex Ramey

From One Generation to the Next

Alex Ramey of Culpeper grew up in suburban neigh-borhoods without exposure to the wilderness. She laughs and says that her closest contact to the “wild” as a kid was a single tree in her backyard.

“It’s not that I didn’t like being outside,” Alex explains, “but I had never really been in wild places...I know a lot of people have felt a connection with the outdoors since they were really young and went fishing with their grandpa or something, but I never had that.”

Today, that has all changed. Alex just finished her first year at Roanoke College, and she has officially declared her-self an environmental studies major. She is also co-president

of Earthbound, the environmental education club on campus—where she organizes and leads hikes, field trips to nature preserves, tree plantings, and helps with campus-wide recycling. Alex is passionate about the environment, and is the kind of student who goes to her environmen-tal studies professors to see how she can be even more involved—creating new projects and initiatives on her own time.

“We rely on a healthy environment to be healthy ourselves,” says Alex. “We need clean water, clean air and healthy ecosystems...From a personal level, I think people need nature to be fulfilled. I have seen what it has done to me—to be outside, to go hiking, to watch a sunrise over a mountain. I think it is almost a spiritual thing that people have lost touch with.”

So, how did the kid who didn’t feel a connection to the environment grow into a young woman determined to help protect it? The answer is Envirothon.

Envirothon is an annual academic competition for high school students in which the students develop solutions to real-life environmental issues. Alex joined the Envirothon group at her high school because they desperately needed another member. “My biology teacher practically begged me to join,” she laughs. “I thought it could be fun, and I wanted to try something different.”

The experience changed Alex. She and her teammates focused the pollution issues in the Chesapeake Bay, and she

was taken in by learning about this real-life problem facing her region. “Over time I realized that I was developing a pas-sion for what we were doing,” she remembers. “I had never really known what I wanted to do when I grew up, but that totally changed...I want to find something that caters to this new passion for nature and my desire to promote change.”

Alex is optimistic about the future, and about her gen-eration’s ability to take on some of the issues facing us today. Yet, she knows it will never be easy: “Making change is really hard,” she says. “Our environmental issues are some of the most difficult problems that you can come into contact with. But, that’s what I want to do. I want to do it. I like challenge, and this is kind of the greatest challenge of them all.”

Photo by Diana Cowdery

These dinners are designed to celebrate and support local farms. Photo by Katherine Vance

Find Local Food, Join the Conversation

www.facebook.com/BuyFreshBuyLocal.PEC

CSAS (Community SuPPortEd AgriCuLturE)

loudoun county

2013Food Guide

F r e s h F o o d s F r o m L o u d o u n C o u n t y ’ s Fa m i Ly Fa r m s

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDCharlottesville, VA

Permit No. 232

Post Office Box 460 • Warrenton, VA 20188

www.pecva.org

The Many Reasons To

Buy LocaL!Buy LocaL!Buy LocaL!Buying local gives you

freedom of choice for your

family’s health and nutrition.

Locally grown & produced

foods are exceptionally

fresh, delicious & abundant.

Buying local protects

the environment.

Buying local supports

endangered family

farms and strengthens

the local economy.

Buying local protects

open space and farmland.

Celebrate the start of this year’s growing season!

Don’t miss Loudoun’s

2013 Spring

Farm Tour

Don’t miss Loudoun’s

2013 spRing

FaRM TouR

Don’t miss Loudoun’s

2013 spRing

FaRM TouR

saturday, may 18th & sunday, may 19th

10 am – 4 pm

www.loudounfarms.org

Phot

o by

Mol

ly P

eter

son

Herban Avenues at the AHHA Ranch38363 Stevens Road

Lovettsville

Laura Davimes

(804) 320 · 0665

greatday@chooseherbs.com

www.ChooseHerbs.com

Sells online, CSA,

LoudounFlavor.com, Purcellville &

Middleburg Farmers Markets

Herbal Teas, Potted Herbs, Eggs,

Body Care and Bath Products, Dried

Fresh Cut Herbs/Flowers

Mountain View Farm at

Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship11661 Harpers Ferry Road

Purcellville

Shawna DeWitt & Attila Agoston

(571) 271 · 2136

shawna_dewitt@yahoo.com

www.mvforganics.com

www.blueridgecenter.org

CSA, sells on-site, DC Area

Farmers MarketsCertified Produce, Free Range

Eggs, Pastured Pork

Moutoux Orchard15290 Purcellville Road

Purcellville

Rob Moutouxmoutouxorchard@yahoo.com

www.moutouxorchard.com

Whole Diet CSAPeaches, Apples, Seasonal Vegetables,

Whole Wheat and Spelt Flours,

Pastured Eggs, Grass Fed Lamb

Painted Sky Farm18651 Trinity Church Road

Purcellville

Steven Kennedy

(703) 470 · 3739

PaintedSkyFarmVA@gmail.com

www.paintedskyfarm.com

Sells on-site, CSA and at Purcellville,

Hillsboro & Ashburn Farmers Markets

Seasonal Heirloom Produce,

Culinary and Medicinal Herbs

Chicama Run, LLC14809 Purcellville Road

Purcellville

Joseph and Dana Sacco

(540) 668 · 9828

dana@chicamarun.com

www.chicamarun.com

Sells On-Site (Tues & Wed 10 am-2 pm,

Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm)

Free-Range Eggs; Pastured Chicken

& Pork; Grass-Fed Beef, Lamb &

Goat; Meat CSA; Fresh Milk

Great Country Farms18780 Foggy Bottom Road

Bluemont

Mark & Kate Zurschmeide

(540) 554 · 2073

CSA@greatcountryfarms.com

www.greatcountryfarms.com

PYO & Farm market, CSA,

Agritourism, Family Fun, School

Tours, Birthday Parties, Corporate

Picnics, Dog Park, Festivals

Strawberries,

Blueberries,

Blackberries,

Peaches, Veggies,

Apples, Pumpkins

WhaT is a csa? A CSA is a farm that grows for a

group of families. Members join

before the season begins and

receive a weekly basket of farm

products.

Cheese & Dairy

Meat

Poultry/Eggs

Specialty Products

U-Pick

Produce

Quarter Branch Farm40327 Quarter Branch Road

Lovettsville

Kevin Grove(540) 822 · 0123

kevin@quarterbranchfarm.com

www.quarterbranchfarm.com

CSA, Rockville Farmers Market,

Leesburg Winter Farmers Market,

Email Orders (see website for details)

Carrot, Celery, Beet, Garlic, Squash,

Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Salad, Cooking

Greens, Sweet Potato, and Much More

Potomac Vegetable Farm15227 Berlin Turnpike

Purcellville

Stacey Carlberg

(540) 882 · 3885

Stacey@potomacvegetablefarms.com

www.potomacvegetablefarms.com

CSA (on-farm pickup & Leesburg

drop), Farmstand (Tues-Sun,

10 am-6:30 pm), Leesburg Farmers

Market. See website for all locations.

Ecoganically Grown Vegetables,

Herbs, Cut Flowers

Stoneybrook Organic Farm and Market37091 Charles Town Pike

Hillsboro

Matt Scott(540) 668 · 9067

matt@stoneybrookfarm.org

www.stoneybrookfarm.org

Sells on-site, roadside stand, CSA

Farm: Certified Organic Produce. Farm

Market: Produce, Eggs, Dairy, Meat, Cheese,

Grains, Bulk Foods, Natural Foods, etc.

Willowsford Farm23595 Founders Drive

Ashburn

Mike Snow(571) 297 · 6900

info@willowsfordfarm.com

www.willowsford.com/farm

Sells at CSA and Farm Stand,

Wednesdays & Saturdays,

May 11-Nov 23Seasonal Produce, Strawberries, Honey,

Eggs, Local Grass-Fed Meats, Dairy,

Fruit, Baked Goods, Natural Foods

We hope to see you

there!

“Our environmental issues are some of the most difficult problems that you can come into contact with. But, that’s what I want to do.“

www.pecva.org

The Piedmont View

4 www.pecva.org4

Albemarle County—PEC is concerned about recent efforts to expand non-agricultural commercial activities into Albemarle’s Rural Area. On July 23rd, the County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft Comp Plan. PEC will track this issue and provide comments at the hearing. We will keep you informed as to how you can pro-vide input. We hope to see you at the hearing! Questions? Contact PEC’s Jeff Werner: jwerner@pecva.org

Clarke County—The County’s initial Comp Plan draft was out for public review and comment through June 14th. PEC provided comments and will be following the process through to the Board of Supervisors’ vote to adopt the Plan. Some good news: the draft features strengthened resource protection measures and a new objective highlighting the importance of conservation easements. Questions? Contact PEC’s Gem Bingol: gbingol@pecva.org

Fauquier County—Fauquier will be reviewing and potentially revising multiple parts of the Comp Plan—including the Rural Land Use, Natural and Historic Resources,

Telecommunication (regarding cell phone towers), and Opal Service District Plans. The Rural Land Use and Natural and Historic Resource Plans provide the framework to preserve our scenic landscapes and rural character. We encourage residents to stay informed, because there’s often pressure to remove important preservation tools. Questions? Contact Julie Bolthouse, PEC’s Fauquier County Land Use Officer: jbolthouse@pecva.org

Loudoun County—While Loudoun is not currently going through a full Comp Plan review, the Board of Super-visors is being petitioned to amend the current Plan. The petitioners would like approximately 425 acres of Loudoun’s Rural Policy Area to be rezoned to permit higher density development. PEC is very concerned about this piecemeal approach to planning, as well as the precedent that would be set—allowing suburban development to encroach into the Rural Policy Area. Questions? Contact PEC’s Ed Gorski: egorski@pecva.org

Orange County—PEC feels that the current draft being considered in Orange is a severe departure from the

standing Comp Plan. The impacts this draft would have on housing values, future tax rates, and Orange’s rural character are extreme. If it’s approved, many productive agricultural lands will be targeted for increased density and non-agri-cultural commercial activities. Also, expanded economic development areas encourages new residential, industrial and commercial—ignoring a backlog of vacant properties currently zoned for development and thousands of unbuilt, approved housing units. The County will post meeting dates in the near future, and we will keep you updated. Questions? Contact PEC’s Dan Holmes: dholmes@pecva.org

Rappahannock County—Rappahannock’s Comp Plan is currently being updated. While many members of the community have made suggestions and comments, there is still at least two more opportunities for the public to weigh in. As it stands, the County’s Plan provides a strong vision of protecting the County’s natural and cultural resources. We hope you will join PEC in telling the Planning Commission that the County should continue down this path. Questions? Contact PEC’s Don Loock: dloock@pecva.org

What Is a Comprehensive Plan, and Why Should We Care?

Dominion Power has come back to Fauquier County with yet another transmission line pro-posal. The plans for this new proposal are still

vague, but Dominion is floating two different ideas:

1. Rebuilding a 230 kV line from Remington to Warrenton within the existing right of way, and upgrading an overloaded line near Gainesville from 115 kV to 230 kV

2. Create a new transmis-sion corridor from east of Warrenton to the Gainesville substation near Vint Hill

We are very concerned about this second idea. Though they have yet to put any lines on a map for this proposal, Dominion has cre-ated a study area in northern Fauquier County that encompasses two Civil War battlefields, a Historic

District, six schools, numerous neighborhoods, and over 25,000 acres of rural land in the Cedar Run watershed. PEC is concerned that Dominion wants to build new lines across historic countryside without

adequately exploring less intrusive solutions.

Dominion spokespeople claim that there is a need in the area for the new lines, and PEC is planning to work with engineers to evaluate their claims. At a minimum, Dominion must analyze whether there are lower voltage solutions that can accomplish the same reliability goal with less impact on the surrounding communities.

Dominion has created a citizens advisory group to help a routing consultant locate

sensitive areas. The group has met three times and will continue continue to meet through the summer. We will keep citizens informed as this issue progresses.

Reading Between the [Power] Lines

Opal

Remington

Bealeton Bristersburg

Nokesville

Gainesville

Catlett

Calverton

Midland

172915

28

28

17

2915

2915

Auburn BattlefieldNational Historic

District

Auburn I & IIBattlefields

BucklandBattlefield

RappahannockStation I & IIBattlefields

BristoeStation

Battlefield

ManassasBattlefield

BucklandHistoricDistrict

Warrenton

New Baltimore

17

FAUQ

UIER CO

UNTY

RINCEILLIAM

OUNTY

0 2.5 5Miles

Substations

Existing Lines to be Upgraded

Existing Transmission Lines

Sudy Area for New 230 KV Line

For more information about this issue, contact Rob Marmet, PEC’s Senior Energy Policy Analyst: rmarmet@pecva.org or (540) 347.2334

Comprehensive Plan Updates in Our Region

Six of PEC’s nine counties are in the process of updating their Comprehensive Plans, or will be doing so soon. It can be easy to tune out these updates, but revisions to the ‘Comp Plan’ can mean drastic changes to the

look, feel, and functionality of your county, town, and day-to-day life. This is because the Comp Plan is the community’s most important docu-ment regarding land use, growth, development, transportation, and resource utilization.

This document is a community’s road map for the future. It projects needs and trends over the next twenty years, and every locality in Vir-ginia is required to have one. A Comp Plan covers topics as basic as where to place crosswalks, and as detailed as specific policies to address energy conservation. Although this Plan is not legally binding, it’s intended to guide

all local policy and to serve as legal justification for a City or County’s decisions on proposed projects and development.

State law requires that Comp Plans be reviewed, and potentially revised, every five years. During this revision

process, there’s often a temptation to allow for a major increase in new residential development and expanded non-agricultural commercial activities in the rural area—particularly during a down economy.

Due to the importance of these documents, and the potential impact of revisions, PEC follows this process closely in our nine-county region. Our staff contribute comments and suggestions at public meetings, and we keep citizens informed as to what proposed changes could mean for their community. Most importantly, PEC works to assure that the revision does not eliminate or alter current policies that PEC has long supported and worked hard to maintain. PEC wouldn’t be able to do this without citizen participation, so stay tuned and be sure to attend public meetings concerning your locality’s Comp Plan!

The comp plan is a community’s road map for the future—with a plan for future land use, growth, development, transportation and resource utilization. Photos by Katherine Vance

New Study Area

Summer 2013

5

The Piedmont Through the ViewfinderContinued from cover

In 2000, PEC purchased over 1,200 acres of Ovoka Farm (in Paris, VA) to ensure that this beautiful property—and the vista enjoyed by a young

George Washington—remains rural for generations to come. All of the land is now protected by conservation ease-ments and back in private ownership. However, PEC retained ownership of 50 acres at the top of the ridge called the Piedmont Memorial Overlook.

PEC will care for this 50 acres in perpetuity—a beautiful site that overlooks one of the most protected landscapes in the Eastern United States. PEC has three main goals for this land: to act as a memorial site for this region’s conservationists; to be a showcase and demonstration site for good habitat management practices; and to provide the public access to a spectacular over-look along the Appalachian Trail.

PEC received a grant from the USDA to improve wildlife habitat on the prop-erty, and we’ve been busy ever since! We

started renovating a fescue pasture into a native grass and wildflower meadow, as well as working to remove and control woody invasive plants on the prop-erty. And in May, PEC began a second round of bird, pollinator and vegeta-tion surveys as part of Virginia Working Landscapes.

PEC will be hosting all sorts of out-reach events at the Piedmont Memorial Overlook—such as bird walks, wild edible walks, land management demonstrations, history hikes, and more. In the mean-time, hikers along the Appalachian Trail and the Whitehouse Ridge Trail can enjoy the views provided by this high overlook to the Piedmont. Stay tuned for more events and updates on this beautiful corner of the world!

PEC’s Piedmont Memorial Overlook

Photo by Tom Lussier

Above: The Piedmont Memorial Overlook looks over one of the most protected landscapes in the Eastern U.S. Left: PEC’s Sustainable Habitat Program Manager, James Barnes, has a number of exciting outreach events and projects to take place at the site.

PEC Receives ESRI Mapping GrantPEC was excited to receive a geographic information systems (GIS) software and training grant from Earth Sciences Research Institute (ESRI) this spring—valued at more than $100,000.

PEC uses ESRI’s ArcGIS software to produce high-quality maps and to analyze potential project impacts. This helps us convey important information to the public, partner groups and decision-makers about land use proposals, active campaigns (like uranium mining or the Outer Beltway), as well as land conservation successes and opportunities.

This grant provides a major upgrade to our current platform, and it will allow us to continue to innovate. Stay tuned for more interactive maps online that take advantage of this software.

A big thank you to ESRI’s Conservation Program for their continued support of non-profit work in the Conservation field!

To view PEC’s existing map library visit: www.pecva.org/maps

Meet Photographer David AnholdDavid Anhold regularly shares his photos with PEC, and we love

how he captures the beauty of this region—from gorgeous panora-mas to close-ups of insects. Anhold is a landscape architect based out of Albemarle County, but he’s always had an interest in photography and shoots as a hobby.

“I think it’s an outgrowth of my work as a landscape architect,” he says. “it’s a natural fit...Photography helps me notice that there is beauty around us all of the time. You just have to look.”

Anhold and his wife live at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and he loves to grab his camera and run up to the Blue Ridge Parkway when he sees a storm rolling in to get some dynamic landscape shots. His go-to is a view of Rockfish Valley from a Parkway overlook. Yet, he also likes to get low and look more closely at

the macro world. “With this crazy world we live in,” he laughs, “there is something interesting at every level.”

Photography has instilled a deep appreciation in Anhold for this region’s natural resources, as well as an awareness of the need to protect them. “As a photographer who enjoys the outdoors,” he explains, “I know that we are blessed to have beautiful and bountiful natural places around us, and I absolutely see that we should protect these resources.”

Photographer David Anhold Photo by Katherine Vance

Check out more of David Anhold’s work by visiting his Flickr page, www.flickr.com/danhold, and visit PEC’s webpage for more information about our photo contests: www.pecva.org/photocontest

Photos by David Anhold

www.pecva.org

The Piedmont View

6

On the Ground

ALBEMARLE

FA U Q U I E R

Historic Warrenton Farm Property ProtectedMarion Poynter permanently protected her historic 47-acre farm property, called The Meadows, by donating a conservation easement this spring. The easement is held by PEC, and it was the first ease-ment recorded in Fauquier County in 2013.

The property was a part of a grant from the King of England given to the Blackwell family in the mid-1700s, and the oldest part of the historic house was built in the late 1700s. The Blackwell-Carter Family Cemetery, where at least four generations of the Blackwell and Carter families are buried, lies just southeast of the house.

Poynter bought the property in 1983: “I didn’t know about the historical aspect of this house and property when I bought it,” she explains, “but now I find it the most interesting part. This is a reference to what used to be, and that’s fascinating and

something worth preserving... Since the property is on a scenic byway and close to town—it could be very appealing to developers. I wanted to be sure that didn’t happen.”

This easement will not only protect and important historical resource, but also the water quality of the streams on the property. These streams flow into Airlie Lake, which provides drinking water for Warrenton. They also flow into a tributary of Cedar Run, which is a part of the Occoquan watershed and provides drinking water for much of Northern Virginia.

“As I understand it, you can’t call yourself a Virginian unless you’ve been here for at least four generations,” laughs Poynter. “So, this is my way to be an adopted part of Virginia history...There are few things that you can really control after your death, but this is something that I can really ensure will continue on.”

L O U D O U N

New Middleburg Office and a Big ‘Thank You!’To better serve our Loudoun constituents, PEC opened the doors of a small, new office in Middleburg this spring. The office is located above the Middleburg Common Grounds coffee shop at 114 West Washington Street, directly across the street from the U.S Post Office. Be sure to stop by sometime and meet Mike Kane, PEC’s Loudoun County Conservation Officer.

We’d also like to thank the over 4,000 people who came out for this year’s EarthDay@Loudoun! The event was a great success, and our staff had a blast getting to meet and chat with those who came by our stations. We hope to see you at next year’s event!

Despite questions and bumps in the road, VDOT continues to push the Western Bypass

It’s been a year since Skanska-Branch was awarded the contract to build the Western Bypass. According to VDOT’s plan, environmental reviews were to be completed by November 2012—initiating the design

work by Skanska-Branch. Construction is supposed to start in March 2014, and the road would be completed in late 2016. However, it’s now June 2013 and VDOT is no closer to moving forward than they were two years ago. In short, this project was never ‘shovel ready,’ as claimed by proponents.

Groups like the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA have raised significant questions about VDOT’s environmental review of the project. They are calling for a re-evaluation that includes comparison of alternatives, like Places29, which were not considered when the Bypass

was first studied. Yet, VDOT continues to pressure the Federal Highway Administration to approve their current, inadequate review.

To top it off, the cost-cutting design submitted by Skanska-Branch has serious flaws. Project proponents insisted it would save travel time through the area, but a VDOT analysis of the Southern Terminus indicated little, if any, time savings. Design problems at North-ern Terminus are also emerging. Solutions will not be cheap, and VDOT has not said where the additional funds needed would come from. They’ve also been silent about the impacts these changes will have on local traffic and neighborhoods.

This project is now almost a year behind schedule. With upcoming elections, VDOT and the McDonnell

administration only have six months to get federal approval for this flawed project, as well as secure millions of additional funding needed to address those flaws. It is critical now for the community to continue to press VDOT for answers about this flawed project. We must continue to ask local, state, and federal officials to listen to the Army Corps and the EPA—insisting that VDOT complete a proper reevaluation; only possible through a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

We will be sure keep the community informed of opportunities to help ensure that this wasteful project does not move forward.

For more information and to take action, visit our webpage: www.pecva.org/westernbypass

Mike Kane, PEC’s Loudoun County Conservation Officer, outside the new Middleburg office.

Marion Poynter permanently protected her historic farm property this year. Photo by Katherine Vance

A view from The Meadows in spring. Photo by Katherine Vance

Photo by Katherine Vance

Summer 2013

7

M A D I S O N

Madison’s Mountain Heritage Day—Celebrating our region’s storyIn early March, PEC and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) hosted a free, public “Mountain Heritage Day” at the historic Edgar Meadows’ Cabin in Syria. The open house event was a great success—with over 250 people stopping by throughout the day.

The purpose of the Mountain Heritage Day was to highlight what life was like in Madison County’s mountain communities in the early 1900s. Those at the event could hike around the area, or just relax and enjoy the warm fire, good food, great local music and good company. Local families provided historical exhibits inside the cabin to celebrate and remember those who lived in the mountain communities—before they were forced off of their land in the mid-1930s with the creation of the Shenandoah National Park.

The descendants of these families who attended the event to share their family histories and stories included Doug Graves, whose family lived in the Grave Mills area; Kathy Slaughter of the Breeden and Slaughter families; PEC’s Kristie Kendall of the Shotwell and Tanner families; and Ellen Early and her father Alvin Meadows of the Meadows fam-ily—who grew up in the cabin where the event was held.

“I was so excited to see so many people there from all over the county, and there were more relatives than I ever expected,” says Ellen Early. “Mom and Dad get tired pretty easily and aren’t willing to stay in one spot too long... So, at about 3 p.m., I asked Dad if they were ready to go and he said, “In a little bit.” His response blew me away. I was overcome with joy to see them enjoying the people, stories and music so much. They both have asked when we can do it again.”

Looking for other great events in Madison? Mark your calendar for the commemoration of the 150th Anniver-sary of The Battle of Jack Shop on September 21st. PEC is co-hosting this exciting event, and more details are available at www.pecva.org/jacks-shop

PEC believes that school and community gardens are great ways to strengthen local communities, teach children (and adults!) where food comes from, help

people get outside to connect with nature, and improve individual health. For all of these reasons, we want to award school and community gardens throughout our region with prizes ranging from $300-$500! Does your school have a garden? Do you know of a successful community garden? Nominate gardens in your area by November 10th, and the winners will be announced on December 10th.

For more information about eligibility and how to nominate a garden, visit www.pecva.org/gardens.

Charlottesville’s Buford Middle School (left) and Culpeper’s Community Garden at CFC Farm & Homestore (above) were among last year’s winners

PEC’s School & Community Garden AwardsGetting our hands dirty, together

Meet Maggi MacQuilliam PEC’s New Conservation Officer

PEC is excited to welcome Maggi MacQuilliam back to our staff! Maggi joined PEC in 2008 as our Land Conservation & Stewardship Coordinator, and worked in this position until 2011 when she left to pursue a Master’s degree in Community Development and Planning. Upon graduating this spring, Maggi rejoined us as PEC’s new Land Conservation Officer for Southern Fauquier and Culpeper County—where she works with landowners, counties, and conservation organizations to protect critical land and resources in the region.

Maggi grew up on Wildcat Mountain in Fauquier County—surrounded by hundreds of acres of land protected by conservation easements. “I grew up fishing at Carter’s Run and listening to farmers catch up over breakfast at the Livestock Exchange,” Maggi remembers. “Times like these solidified my love for the land and for my community, and I learned that we had something worth saving. I’m excited to give back to this area that has given me so much, and I’m looking forward to working with landowners to conserve our working farms, forestland, clean air and fishing streams—for my nephew’s generation and beyond.”

Do you live in Culpeper or Southern Fauquier and are interested in conserving your land? Contact Maggi: mmacquilliam@pecva.org or (540) 347.2334

O R A N G E

PEC Gifts Land to Grymes Memorial SchoolPEC was thrilled this March to announce the transfer of nine acres of land, just outside the Town of Orange, from PEC’s ownership to that of the neighboring Grymes Memo-rial School.

“This beautiful land, with scenic views of the Blue Ridge, rounds out our campus nicely,” says Penny Work, Head of Grymes Memorial School. “We will use the land as an outdoor classroom and as playing fields for our students. We can’t thank PEC enough for their vision and generosity. This gift will benefit generations of children in Orange County.”

“What would it be like to grow up without wild places

to run around in and explore?” remarks Peter Hujik, PEC’s Land Conservation staff in Orange. “Kids need nature. Sta-tistics show that children are spending more time inside, but a growing body of research confirms what many have long known—spending time outdoors is beneficial and important in a child’s development.”

The nine acres were a part of a 268-acre farm property known as Andrewsia, which PEC received as a donation from the Artery Group in 2009. PEC subsequently conserved the property with a conservation easement in 2012—ensuring that the land will remain rural for generations to come.

Members of the Meadows family returned to the historic cabin for our event—the cabin where Alvin Meadows (center right) grew up. Photo by Katherine Vance

Grymes students will use the new land as an outdoor classroom and playing field. Photo courtesy of Penny Work

Dear Friends,

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The Piedmont View

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The outcome is only guaranteed if you don’t try. This may seem a simple and obvious statement, but

it’s profound in that way that simple and obvious statements often are.

We all have stories of when we have tried to accomplish something despite all odds. I’ve been a volunteer basketball coach for my daughters’ teams over the years, and I spend a lot time and energy pushing the players to try things that they don’t think they’re capable of. It’s amazing watching them overcome their apprehension and decide to give it a try, and the most satisfying moments are when they make a play during a game that they have struggled with in practices.

All of us at PEC work on the premise that you have to at least try, even when faced with daunting odds. With respect to land conservation, PEC has been warned that the goal of protecting one million acres of the Piedmont region is impossible. When I became PEC’s President in 1996, I was told that the only way additional land could be conserved—beyond the existing 80,000 acres of donated conservation easements—was through direct purchase of the land or development rights. Yet, here we are in 2013—on the way to surpassing 370,000 acres of land under conservation easement. That’s nearly double the amount of land in the Shenandoah National Park.

PEC and our partners have fought a lot of battles over the decades, including numerous battles that we were told we couldn’t, or shouldn’t, fight—like when Disney wanted to build a theme park near the Manassas Battlefield. When foreign companies came to the Piedmont in the ‘70s and 80‘s hoping to mine uranium, and when they came back in 2007. When VDOT has pursued transportation projects that will do more harm than good to the surrounding communities —such as the Western Bypass in Charlottesville, the Outer Beltway in Loudoun and Prince William, and the proposal to make Rt. 50 a four-lane highway all the way to Paris. When we began working to help bolster the local and regional food economy—while the country was at the peak of the growth of super-sized meals, and mega supermarkets.

“This is a done deal,” I’ve been told time and time again. “Why would you invest your time, energy and resources into this? There are bigger forces at work here, and PEC is too small to have an impact.”

The answer? As our board member Marie Ridder put it: “Because someone has to fight. Someone has to try.” It’s why groups like PEC exist; why residents turn to us when their communities are faced by challenging issues. Because when something threatens the cultural and natural resources that makes Virginia’s

Piedmont the only place we want to call home—the things that PEC was founded to protect—we will be there.

We haven’t always won these battles, and we won’t win all of the battles that lay ahead. But, with the help of our partner organizations and an active citizenry, we will continue to work and fight—even when it may seem hopeless. In every individual and community there is enormous potential, and PEC’s role is to help articulate the vision and direct action. Today, Virginia’s Piedmont is a better place than it would have been without all of the hard work and collaboration.

On behalf of PEC’s board and staff, I want to thank you for all of the times you have worked with us; for the times you have devoted your time, energy and

money to an issue that many said was a lost cause. Only through a continued collaborative effort can we protect our air, our water, our rural and agricultural lands, our native plant and wildlife habitat, our historical resources, and our beautiful communities. I look forward to continuing to work and fight with you for the Virginians of today and tomorrow.

I’d love to hear your stories of times when you or your organization took on daunting fights against all odds. You can share these stories with us by emailing pec@pecva.org.

Sincerely,

Chris Miller, President

All of us at PEC work on the premise that you have to at least try, even when faced with daunting odds.

Photo by Deborah Platt