NVCT Annual Report FY2014 | Page 4

Saving Nearby Nature ® Fairfax Land Preservation Trust Formed Sept. 14, 1994 By Rich Bliss, Pat Coady and Dave Karmol 1994 Renamed Northern Virginia Conservation Trust to reflect the mission First land acquisition: the 70-acre Potomac Creek Heronry 1997 First conservation easement: 4.2 acres in Fairfax County 1999 At the 10-year anniversary, NVCT held 1,100 acres in conservation easements and fee simple land 2004 NVCT adds seven new easements and 397 acres in FY2014 15-acre easement in McLean along Scotts Run The essential task of a land trust is to permanently protect the lands and waters that define our communities and enrich our quality of life. That’s why the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust willingly took on a 15.34acre easement at The Preserve at Scotts Run when the McLean Land Conservancy, the original holder of the conservation easement, decided to cease operations. The easement provides a riparian buffer along both Scotts Run and an unnamed tributary stream which flow into the Potomac River and are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Within about two miles are the Scotts Run Stream Valley Park, Timberly Park, and the Scotts Run Nature Preserve. The easement, overlooking I-495 and encircling the development, is almost entirely wooded and includes a trail. The easement protects the natural resources on the land, provides protection for the floodplain, and contributes to protection of the nearby public recreational and natural resources. Along Scotts Run Locust Shade Park A new partnership with Prince William County NVCT holds three stream mitigation projects Forest Greens Prince William County opened a new partnership with NVCT by transferring conservation easements on three county park properties that are part of a stream mitigation bank. As shown in the pictures to the left, the easement properties are Locust Shade Park and Forest Greens in Triangle, and James S. Long Regional Park in Haymarket. Angler Environmental is working with the county to restore the streams in each of the parks and to manage the mitigation bank. NVCT will hold the easements to protect the land in perpetuity and to conserve the important natural resources in these three parks. The three easements total more than 340 acres. Angler Environmental has completed the first of the projects, with a $2 million stream restoration at Locust Shade park. James S. Long Park 4 ▪ Northern Virginia Conservation Trust ▪ Annual Report 2014 The Trust protects each gift of conserved land with ongoing stewardship and monitoring. Our focus is to ensure permanent public benefit.