UPCOMING: - Tuesday, November 8th - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - 2:00/7:30pm Courthouse - Wednesday, November 9th - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WORK SESSION - VDOT 6-year plan and Zoning - 6:00pm at the Courthouse ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rural Nelson Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 2, 2005 Rural Nelson Office - 622 Front Street, Lovingston Welcome and Introduction of Guest Speaker: Conny Roussos opened the meeting and everyone present introduced themselves. Conny noted that there would not be a meeting in December due to the difficulty of scheduling a meeting during the holidays. Conny then introduced Peter Agelasto and Chris Gensic who were invited to talk about the ongoing plans for the Rockfish Valley Loop trail, Spruce Creek Park and the Rockfish Valley Model Farm. A new foundation has been created by Peter to encourage agri-tourism, outdoor recreation, and education in horticulture and nature studies. Background: Peter owns Elk Hill, a farm on SR 151, south of Nellysford and Beech Grove Road. The original owners of Elk Hill were the Reid family for which Reid's Gap is named, and titles for the land go back to the period when Nelson was part of Albemarle County. Peter is seeking Virginia Historical Landmark designation for Elk Hill, similar to his Wintergreen Country Store, and he has already put his land under conservation easements with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. He is on the boards of the Nelson County Historical Society and the Friends of the Rockfish River. Peter noted that designation of Beech Grove Road as a Scenic Byway completes a Scenic Byway corridor from Richmond to Wintergreen via US 6 and SR 151. However, he believes that more needs to be done to provide public access to the south fork of the Rockfish River. Therefore, he took advantage of a unique opportunity to allow his land to be used by VDOT for a river restoration project. Remedial work was required of VDOT as compensation for wetland loss and the detrimental impact on several streams during construction of the Madison Heights bypass. Chris Gensic, who previously worked for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, was hired to implement the trail system that gives visitors access to the River. Further information and maps related to the projects described below can be found at www.rockfishvalley.org -- the web site of the Rockfish Valley Foundation, which was established to carry out this private/public partnership. Rockfish River Restoration Project: VDOT has recently completed the restoration of two miles of the River to control water flow, to provide floodplain capacity for storm events, to improve aquatic habitat, to restore a riparian buffer, and to minimize livestock access to the river. The river restoration project aims to restore a section of the river that was altered by the Corps of Engineers after Hurricane Camille in 1969. The river now flows slower, with well-designed falls and self-scouring swimming holes. It also has more stable banks and a floodplain designed to properly handle large flows. VDOT is required to maintain and monitor the riparian buffer (to prevent soil erosion) for seven years. VDOT has planted the buffer with 18 species of native trees and shrubs. The river restoration project received a Scenic Virginia award for Most Creative Scenic Improvement in 2005. Rockfish Valley Loop Trail: The trail provides public access to the restored stretch of the River and its surrounding ecosystem, between the Rockfish River and Reid's Creek. It includes a spring and wetland bog. Currently, only the Spruce Creek Park and Reid's Creek loops are open, but trail loops of various lengths can be woven together into four miles of trail. The natural surface trails will be accessible to hikers, birdwatchers, and possibly equestrians and bicyclists. The trails are recognized as part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail, and may be designated as a bird sanctuary. The 25 newly installed bluebird houses may also be accepted by the Virginia Bluebird Society. Peter hopes that by opening up his property to the public other landowners will follow his example, leading to an expanded trail system and additional restoration projects along the Rockfish River. Parking is available at Spruce Creek Park, east of 151 on Route 627 (Glenthorne Loop). A crossing under highway 151 to a new parking lot and trailhead at the Rockfish River Bridge is also in place. Chris said that the trails can be used now, but info signs and markers will not be in place until December. The trails will be handicap accessible once the two bridges over Reid's Creek have decking installed. Rockfish Valley Model Farm: On a parcel of land that used to be part of the original Elk Hill farm, a 45-acre demonstration farm showcasing sustainable methods of cropping and raising livestock and other horticultural and agricultural products will be created. The farm will be managed to maintain the integrity of the Rockfish ecosystem and watershed. Riparian buffers, appropriate fencing, livestock rotation, off-river water sources, no-till cropping, wind-powered wells and other practices will be on display. Primitive campsites will provide accommodations for overnight guests. The farm will be used for environmental and conservation education, with both structured programs and self guided tours. Rockfish Valley Foundation: The Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization to seek funding to support a wide range of activities related to Spruce Creek Park, the Rockfish Valley Loop Trail system, and the Rockfish Valley Farm. Its goals are 1) supporting agri-tourism and education; 2) preserving the natural, historical, ecological and agricultural resources of the Rockfish Valley; and 3) inspiring a healthy lifestyle by offering hiking trails, campsites, programs and events. Activities may include interns to study a forested wetland and the farm's geology, and volunteers to do trail maintenance. The loop trails have already attracted landscape painters. Peter hopes to attract participants in the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries new Master Naturalist program (similar to the Master Gardener program). As soon as the Foundation's 501-C3 non-profit status is approved, there will be more opportunities for public and private grant funds. Peter highlighted the lack of adequate parks in Nelson County for outdoor recreation. He expressed the hope that the County Government will support public/private partnerships like the Foundation to meet the need for parks. Copyright 2005 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Reports may be reprinted or excerpted with attribution. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONGRATULATIONS to The Friends of the Rockfish Watershed and the Lynchburg VDOT District for the two-mile restoration of the South Fork of the Rockfish River in Nelson County, which was just named Most Creative Scenic Improvement for 2005 by Scenic Virginia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- OF INTEREST: - Second Tuesday of each month - Business consulting at no charge to entrepreneurs at the Library in Lovingston. Contact Nora Gillespie at 434.295.81998 or email sbdc@cstone.net for an appointment. - Tuesday, November 8th - Election Day - VOTE! - VA Dept of Environmental Quality Community Meeting - Thursday, November 17th at 6:30pm at the DEQ office at 4411 Early Road in Harrisonburg. Meet and discuss environmental issues with the Nelson DEQ representatives. RSVP by 11/10 at 800.592.5482 or rbchewning@deq.virginia.gov - Second public meeting for the Nellysford Community Planning Project - Tuesday, November 22nd at 7:00 pm at Rockfish Elementary School, 200 Chapel Hollow Road, Afton ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This report, sent to over 600 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 (622 Front Street) Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 Email: info@ruralnelson.org www.ruralnelson.org