Protecting the Potomac River’s lands goes way beyond preserving their health and beauty

Photo by bob gLENNAN VIA FLICKR (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

The Potomac River’s waters are only as healthy as the lands that surround them. Whether the river—or the many streams and creeks that flow into it—is hugged by lush forests, rolling hills, or family farms, the health of these lands directly impacts the quality of the water that sustains ecosystems and communities throughout the Potomac region.

Land protection is therefore one of the most powerful tools in the fight for clean water—and is not limited to just public lands. Conserving private lands, especially in the Potomac’s headwaters region where water is still pristine, plays a critical role in protecting clean water along the entire river.

But it’s not just the clean water we all depend on and the beautiful scenery we get to take in that healthy lands can provide. Responsible land stewardship has more benefits than meets the naked eye!

Read on and you may be surprised.

1. It brings people together

Land can represent a family’s legacy as well as a cultural identity. It often holds significance not only to their owners who want to protect their land for future generations but also to the communities surrounding it.

When a conservation easement is placed on a piece of land, it doesn’t just ensure it is safe from developers. It also provides many benefits that ripple out to neighbors and nearby towns, such as protecting local wildlife and improving important infrastructure.

Because of this, communities can feel compelled to come together with local landowners to help accelerate the conservation of these vital lands. Two examples from the Potomac region include the Safe Water Conservation Collaborative and the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative. As a member of both of these initiatives, Potomac Conservancy works closely with landowners, other regional nonprofits, land trusts, watershed groups, and state and federal conservation agencies to advance conservation action that benefits communities in the Potomac River watershed.

Seeing successful stories of land conservation might inspire others to get outside more, too! Recreating with your loved ones or volunteering in an outdoor setting can strengthen your relationships and build a sense of community. Many neighbors are proud to work together to keep their local lands healthy and safe for all to enjoy.

2. It contributes to food security

pHOTO BY F dELVENTHAL VIA FLICKR (CC BY 2.0)

Land conservation promotes food security by making sure agricultural lands aren’t lost to development.

In the past 20 years, the US has lost over 11 million acres of farmland to development. Conserving remaining agricultural land is crucial in supporting regional and national food supply.

A Capital Area Food Bank study found that 36% of DC residents experienced food insecurity in 2021. Surrounding areas had similar rates, with Prince George’s County having a rate of 48%.

While many factors contribute to food insecurity, particularly low income and unemployment, locally sourced healthy foods can help sustain our communities (and our planet!) without having to travel across the world. Local farms can reduce the need for food transportation and the costs and pollution that come along with it, making communities more self-sufficient.

Researchers estimate that on average, fresh produce travels 1,500 miles to get from the farm to your plate in the US. Compare that to the regional farms that supply their produce to farmer’s markets in Virginia and Maryland. You easily save well over 1,000 miles of transportation if you eat your favorite veggies locally!

Plus, the conservation of lands—even those not producing vegetables, grains, fruits, or livestock—still promotes good health of pollinators and ecosystems that are resilient to agricultural pests and diseases. What a public service!

3. It boosts public health

PHOTO BY DANCINGNOMAD3 VIA FLICKR (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Aside from protecting the lands where our foods grow, land conservation also ensures that people have the outdoor space needed for recreational activities and exercise. Parks and protected lands can serve as a backdrop for amazing outdoor experiences or even just a simple way to disconnect from the constant blue light of our screens.

The benefits of exercise—in whatever form you choose—can be boosted by the simple act of being outside amid nature, as both green spaces and physical movement have positive impacts on mental health. But these outdoor spaces need to be healthy!

An abundance of trees and foliage keeps the air clean and filters out pollution. Similar to how air pollution can stress local ecosystems, it also puts a strain on your lungs. Land conservation ensures that large forested areas can continue to improve local air quality for the benefit of all.

Trees also offer shade and keep local temperatures down, something both animals and people can appreciate. Protecting lands from getting paved over also prevents the creation of more urban heat islands that put residents of cities like DC at higher risk of heat stroke and other illnesses.

4. It can reduce current and future infrastructure costs

It can be hard to see the invisible impacts of land conservation, such as reduced flooding and improved quality of drinking water. We often take these vital infrastructures for granted until something goes wrong.

But forested lands play a key role in protecting cities and surrounding areas against flooding by absorbing and slowing down large amounts of rainwater. In contrast, developed land leads to excess runoff after rainfall, causing excessive sediment and pollutants to enter rivers and increasing the likelihood of flooding. This, in turn, degrades water quality and can significantly drive up the costs to treat drinking water.

Case in point: Alexandria, VA, which is no stranger to flooding, has incorporated stream restoration as a key part of its stormwater management plan and has noted that improving stream corridors can boost water quality for residents.

Bottom line: Conserved land = more trees = money saved.

5. It preserves and expands wildlife habitat

We’ve got plenty of reasons why conserving land is beneficial for people, but let’s not forget our non-human friends!

The Potomac River region is home to a diverse spread of wildlife that need healthy habitats to thrive. Potomac Conservancy works to protect lands that contain a myriad of animal species that each contribute to the river’s ecosystems in their own unique way.

Our local critters have enough to worry about with the climate crisis, but the added stress of habitat loss puts many species’ survival even more at risk. Land conservation protects our local flora and fauna by providing them with the nutrition and shelter they need.

🦎 Did you know? To make an even greater impact on the health of the Potomac River’s lands and waters, Potomac Conservancy now focuses on protecting connected parcels of land as opposed to individual parcels to prevent habitat fragmentation and amplify other conservation benefits. A conservation corridor is the best defense a river—and the wildlife that relies on it—can have against pollution and the changing climate.

Land conservation really is a win-win-win situation, where clean water, diverse ecosystems, local wildlife, and communities along the entire river all benefit!

Learn more about our land conservation work