15,000 acres and counting: Explore the protected lands of the Potomac River
/ Willis KliefothDive into our interactive story map to learn how and why we protect land
photo courtesy of William MacFarland, MacfarlandPhoto.net
You may know that Potomac Conservancy has been protecting the lands of our region for over 20 years - but do you know how? And why? Better yet, have you seen all the ecological riches contained within our protected lands - some of which will be safeguarded from development and pollution forever?
To learn all about the lands that help keep our drinking water clean, and see their bounty (from untouched forests to black bears), dive into our interactive story map.
You May Also Like:
Our community power protected this 1700-acre property a decade ago. Now our Potomac River region is healthier and more resilient because of this easement. This land is forever preserved for future generations to enjoy and recreate on.
843 acres of pristine forests and freshwater streams are now linked as permanently protected easements in Virginia’s Back Creek Corridor, one of the most biologically significant stretches of the Potomac River region. A central force in this grassroots conservation success story is John Gavitt, the Back Creek landowner who got his neighbors talking about the remarkable legacy they could leave together.
Protecting the land around the Potomac River is critical for its health. We talked with local residents to hear why they think safeguarding the Back Creek region is essential to their community and everyone in the Potomac River watershed.
Good news: the Potomac River region’s tree population just got bigger! We’re tree-ting our river with this major sapling planting in the headwaters. Not only will these trees provide shade when they grow tall, they will also help clean our water!
Our Potomac River region is home for many plants that serve a dual purpose! They aren’t just pretty to look at, they have other important benefits, too!
The key is, we need to protect the land and water they rely on. Without a healthy environment, these plants can’t thrive!
As lifelong West Virginia residents, the Hogbins are growing increasingly concerned about urban sprawl in their community.
Learn how they’ve been working with Potomac Conservancy to take a stand against development.
As a nationally accredited land trust, Potomac Conservancy works closely with the community to protect streamside forests.
As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we’re excited to announce a new initiative to form a special conservation corridor in the Shenandoah Valley. Learn more!
Protecting streamside forests and lands is a critical component of protecting the quality of the water we drink. As a nationally accredited land trust, Potomac Conservancy holds close to 80 conservation easements in the Potomac River headwaters region in Virginia and West Virginia.
Our Stewardship Manager Jeff Feaga spills the beans on what it takes to manage all of these easements, how they benefit communities all along the river, and how he first fell in love with protecting clean water.
The Shenandoah Valley is home to the pristine headwaters of the Potomac River. But for its tight-knit communities, poorly planned encroaching development is an increasing worry to both the region’s ecological health and its long tradition of agricultural and forest economy.
Learn more about the importance of conserving land in the Shenandoah Valley and how Potomac Conservancy and local partners work to protect the Potomac’s upstream lands forever.
The Potomac River is only as healthy as its surrounding land. Sometimes we need to get our hands dirty for clean water and conservation easement landowners know that song best. But what are they actually worried about and working on? Here are their top 3 concerns.