ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Rappahannock County residents are keen on preserving the scenic beauty, environment and wildlife of their county. Nearly a quarter of the county’s land has been put into scenic easements. The following is a list of private, nonprofit environmental organizations that operate in Rappahannock County:
Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation
The Krebser Fund was created in honor of Dr. Werner Krebser, who served on the county planning commission for 22 years and provided a strong voice for preserving Rappahannock’s scenic beauty and open spaces. The fund is used to protect selected properties in the county through conservation easements and selected other programs, including those aimed at defraying the costs of providing stream buffers in agricultural areas. (In 2014, the Krebser Fund merged with the Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance, an organization that specialized in conservation easements and farmland preservation). The Krebser Fund is administered by the Piedmont Environmental Council (see PEC below). Email Nick Lapham, fund chair, at laphamn@gmail.com.
Native Wildlife Rescue
This organization rescues sick, injured or orphaned wildlife and rehabilitates and releases them. Contact Cal Dooley at 540-8781717; or Judie Graham at 540825-6407. Or Wildlife Center of Virginia or 540-942-9453, email: wildlife@wildlifecenter.org or visit wildlifecenter.org.
Piedmont Environmental Council
PEC is a regional environmental organization focused on land conservation and land use planning. Contact Claire Catlett, PEC’s Rappahannock land conservation officer, at 540-347-2334 or ccatlett@pecva.org or visit pecva.org.
Ragged Mountain Resource Center
The center helps coordinate local and regional educational and recreational activities, such as hikes, natural history programs, watershed and ecosystem awareness, bonfires, deep ecology discussions and programs and more. Contact director Hunt Harris at 540522-2880 or huntoldragon@earthlink.net.
Rappahannock Friends and Lovers of Our Watershed
RappFLOW’s aim is to preserve, protect, conserve and restore water resources and watersheds in Rappahannock County. Contact coordinator Beverly Hunter at 540937-4744 or beverly@bevhunter.com or visit rappflow.org.
Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection
RLEP’s mission is to protect the open spaces and rural character of Rappahannock County, as well preserve natural and historic places, wildlife, ecosystems and the farm economy. Contact president Rick Kohler at 540-675-1373, 540-675RLEP (7537) or visit rlep.org.