WHERE TO LEARN ABOUT PRESERVING YOUR LAND

Blue Ridge PRISM: Regional nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about the impact of invasive species in the Blue Ridge, and to presenting programs on how to remove them and limit their spread. blueridgeprism.org

Culpeper Soil and Water

Conservation District: Agency serving Rappahannock, Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Greene Counties which, through numerous, cost- sharing programs, provides technical assistance and education to landowners in protecting and improving soil and water quality. culpeperswcd.org

Friends of the Rappahannock:

Regional organization based in Fredericksburg that defines itself as an “active force for a healthy and scenic Rappahannock River” through education and advocacy programs. Its mission is to monitor and preserve the quality of the river’s aquatic ecosystem, from its headwaters in Chester Gap to its confluence with Chesapeake Bay. riverfriends.org

Old Rag Master Naturalists:

Regional organization that, through education and citizen science, trains volunteers in beneficial management of natural resources in their own communities. oldragmasternaturalists.org

Piedmont Environmental Council:

Warrenton- based regional nonprofit that provides technical expertise and support to landowners, citizen groups and governmental o ces on conservation, land use, water quality and other environmental issues. Its Krebser Fund provides grants for conservation projects in Rappahannock and also to help landowners cover legal and other costs to create conservation easements. pecva.org

Rappahannock League for

Environmental Protection: e oldest environmental nonprofit in Rappahannock, RLEP was born in 1970 during a successful battle to block power lines from running through the county. e Dark Skies program is one of its key initiatives, but it also promotes public education on streams and water quality, climate change and invasive species. rlep.org

RappFLOW: A nonprofit that focuses on preserving, protecting and restoring water resources in the Rappahannock watershed. Volunteer activities include planting trees and vegetation along local streams. rappflow.org

Virginia Cooperative Extension:

Educational outreach program of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University which shares research and innovative technologies to enhance agricultural practices and protect natural resources. rappahannock.ext.vt.edu

Virginia Outdoors Foundation:

Quasi state agency that promotes the preservation of open- space land. It’s the partner for the bulk of conservation easements in the state, now protecting more than 850,000 acres in Virginia. vof.org