Military, Conservationists Protect 3,000 Acres in Virginia

June 9, 2009

Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809

Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia – Military and state officials joined a coalition of conservation and historic preservation agencies and groups to announce and celebrate nearly 3,000 acres protected last year by the Fort A.P. Hill Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Partnership, including 682 acres at Camden Farm, a National Historic Landmark.

Urban and suburban development has become a challenge for military installations nationwide. Incompatible land uses – primarily residential developments – close to an installation’s boundary can limit training and other military operations.

At nearly 76,000 acres, Fort A.P. Hill is one of the largest military installations on the East Coast, partially located in Caroline County, the third fastest growing county in Virginia. The ACUB program allows Fort A.P. Hill to partner with agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to share the cost of acquiring conservation easements and fee simple purchases from willing landowners whose properties are located within designated ACUB priority areas. Under a conservation easement, the landowner retains legal title to the land and the ability to maintain its current use, while limiting future land use and development options.

In addition to creating a buffer of open space around Fort A.P. Hill, and thereby safeguarding the installation’s training mission, the ACUB program preserves valuable wildlife habitat and sensitive natural, historic and cultural resources. Many of the partnership’s priority areas for protection complement the goals and objectives of the nearby Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, established primarily to preserve habitat for bald eagles and other migratory birds.

The Fort A.P. Hill ACUB proposal was approved by the Army in 2005. It is implemented through cooperative agreements with three partners and functions as part of a larger conservation coalition that was formalized in 2006. This coalition includes Fort A.P. Hill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land and Northern Neck Land Conservancy.

In 2008, the partnership completed four conservation easements that protect nearly 3,000 acres. The Conservation Fund facilitated two easements at the Camden National Historic Landmark. Protection of the Camden Farm is the highest priority for the partnership. One easement – granted to both Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources – preserves 500 acres that contain the site of a 17th century American Indian community. Members of the Virginia Indian community, including Deanna Beacham of the Virginia Council on Indians and Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Tribe, participated in the consultation for the easement.

“It’s important to me to be a part of the natural, historical and cultural legacy we leave for future generations, and this partnership gives me the opportunity to do that,” said John Pratt, owner of Camden Farm. “It’s our responsibility to preserve the unique character of the Rappahannock River Valley.”

This easement also serves as a ground-breaking and creative element of a comprehensive mitigation package agreed upon by the Army, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in order to offset cultural impacts at Fort A. P. Hill. The easement represents the country’s first example of the Department of Defense and a state historic preservation office working together to mitigate cultural impacts on a military installation through off-post resource conservation. Adjacent to the 500-acre archaeological area is another 182 acres that will be protected through a second easement held Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

“This partnership is a great example of modern conservation,” said Reggie Hall, real estate associate for The Conservation Fund. “It brings together diverse partners with common goals to achieve uncommon results. With the innovate use of cultural mitigation at Camden Farm, we’re not only protecting history, we’re making history. The Conservation Fund is proud to work with such well-respected partners and passionate landowners.”

“The innovative approach to archaeological preservation created at Fort A.P. Hill is an example of how bringing all interested parties together through Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act yields the best possible results,” said John L. Nau, III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). “The Army and consulting parties are to be commended for creating a model that the ACHP highlighted in this year’s report to the President on federal historic properties stewardship.”

Earlier in the year, The Nature Conservancy protected 1,805 acres along the Rappahannock River and The Trust for Public Land protected 432 acres along Baylors Creek and Portage Run. Both easements are held by Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

“I am very pleased with the model partnership between Fort A.P. Hill, state agencies and conservation groups to preserve the important habitat around the base,” said Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1), whose district includes the project area. “The ACUB program protects a valuable part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, while ensuring our military forces at Fort A.P. Hill have adequate space to train. I will continue to support the ACUB program and look forward to more land conservation success stories.”

About The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We're a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient.