Fall 2011 edition of Saving Land by Blue Ridge Land Conservancy

Saving Land I N W E S T E R N V I R G I N I A

fall 2 0 11

WVLT celebrates 15 years at Conservation Celebration 2011 Kegleys to receive Vic Thomas Award Community comes together for Read Mountain Dunkenbergers all agree to conserve Montgomery County land Land+Link Photo Competition Opening Sept. 7

westernvirginialandtrust.org

Louise and George Kegley survey their farm from the porch of Monterey

Conservation Celebration is September 18 th Photos by Jonathan Roberts

Conservation Celebration is September 18 George and Louise Kegley to be honored by Laura Lemon Drop all your plans and come join us in kicking off this year’s Conservation Celebration on Sunday, September 18 from 4 - 7 pm at Braeloch in Vinton, VA. Shake off all of your worries and enjoy good food, good music, and good company while surrounded by the famously beautiful Virginia mountains. This year Blue Ridge Catering will continue its reign in providing a delicious dinner for everyone. In addition, local beer from Big Daddy’s Brewing Company and Valhalla wine will be served, along with hard cider from Foggy Ridge Cider in Floyd and Carroll counties. Other events of the evening will include live bluegrass music by the Ephraim Vause Memorial String Band as well as a silent auction that will feature vacation getaways, sailboat cruises, framed photographs from the winners of the Land+Link photo competition and much more!

The view from Braeloch

This year we will be honoring George and Louise Kegley with the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award. George and Louise Kegley live on the only farm inside Roanoke City limits that is under a conservation easement. Their 116-acre farm sits between the Ole Monterey and Blue Hills golf courses and features a beautiful 1845 Southern Greek Revival home, which is listed on the Virginia Land Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Their farm continues to be a working farm with many beef cattle. Tickets for this fabulous event are $55 a person by September 9 and $60 thereafter. (Current WVLT supporters received invitations in mid-August; don’t forget to RSVP!) All of the food and beverages are included in the price, so feel free to drink and eat as much as you wish! Children under the age of 12 are free. Come and enjoy Mother Nature’s wonderful work and appreciate everything good and traditional about Southwest Virginia at this year’s Conservation Celebration! For more information, visit westernvirginialandtrust.org/celebration.

Silent Auction

Bring your checkbooks and get ready to bid! Items include vacation getaways to the Homestead, sail cruises on Smith Mountain Lake, glider rides from the New Castle International Gliderport, guided canoe fishing trips, quail hunts, and much more!

From the President

Since the onset of our new fiscal year, I’ve enjoyed reflecting upon the outstanding contributions the WVLT brings to the quality of life in our region. I’ve also been thinking about how very fortunate I am to be a part of this wonderful organization.

3 Alliance—an honor bestowed upon only 7.5 percent of land trusts in United States! This is a certain indicator of our strength, performance, and permanence.

While we are so proud of WVLT’s many accomplishments, there is more work to be done. Soon we will initiate programs to increase community awareness of our efforts. Enhancement of community support is essential to the advancement of one of the Land Trust’s most vital components—that of land Our Land Trust has aided stewardship. Sandy Light in the conservation of over 80,000 acres and 33 miles of streams, including 11,500 And speaking of community awareness and acres in the Carvins Cove Natural Reserve (the largest participation, please join us for our annual Conservation city park east of the Rocky Mountains!) since our Celebration (truly one of the area’s BEST celebrations!) founding in 1996. We have received the Governor’s on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 4-7 pm. A link with all info can Environmental Excellence Award (2008) and have been be found on our website. In addition to an exceptional honored multiple times for our preservation of Carvins catered dinner, live music, and our ever-evolving silent Cove, Tinker Mountain, Mill Mountain, and the land auction, we will honor George and Louise Kegley for adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 2000 the Land their commitment to open space in Virginia as well as Trust received the Virginia Viewshed Award for helping for their outstanding and ongoing contributions to the to preserve the 8500 acre “Big Survey” tract in Wythe Land Trust. Purchase your (extraordinarily-reasonablyCounty which contains the water supply for the town of priced) tickets now and bring 10-20 of your best friends. Wytheville. Additionally, this year the Western Virginia I’ll be looking forward to seeing you on the 18th! Land Trust achieved accreditation from the Land Trust

From the Director

The fall of 2011 brings two significant milestones to the land trust. The land trust will be 15 years old and I will have been its director for 10 years. It does seem like just the other day that I was asked by Barbara Lemon (our founding board president) to come in as the interim director. I was the only full time staff member back then and we were the Roger Holnback only private land trust in the southwestern third of Virginia-- 23 counties from Lynchburg to the Cumberland Gap in Tennessee. Before Christmas that year we moved to a better office space (that we still occupy--thank you, Jim Woltz). We were proud to have helped preserve over 15,000 acres in our first five years. Within the first year we committed to the hiring of a second full-time staff person, David Hurt, who is now back with WVLT as a board member.

by Roger Holnback

While still a staff of two we always leveraged our board and staff ’s talents, commitment and energy through partnerships with local groups, local governments and state and federal agencies. We now have a park on Read Mountain, and easements on Carvins Cove, Mill Mountain and parts of Tinker Mountain. We have helped preserve over 81,000 acres now through partnerships with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the National Park Service, the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, five Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Roanoke Valley Greenways Commission, and a number of the cities and counties we serve. We work regularly with NGOs like the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund, the Virginia Conservation Network, Scenic Virginia, Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, the New River Land Trust, the Valley Conservation Council and our statewide land

continued page 13

News

Western Virginia Land Trust Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources – farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes. 722 First St., SW, Suite L Roanoke, VA 24016-4120 Phone/fax (540) 985-0000 www.westernvirginialandtrust.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Sandy Light, President Stephen M. Claytor, Vice President F. Fulton Galer, Treasurer Whitney H. Feldmann, Secretary Lynn M. Davis Walter M. Dixon, III Lucy R. Ellett Peter M. Fellers William M. Hackworth Robert H. Hunt David A. Hurt George A. Kegley James L. Kermes Kenneth L. Lanford J.W. “Bill” Mason John H. Parrott, Jr. Janet Scheid Daniel C. Summerlin James M. Turner, Jr. Steve Waterman Advisory Council Liza T. Field Talfourd H. Kemper Robert B. Lambeth, Jr. Barbara B. Lemon Stephen W. Lemon Jeanne M. Martin John B. Williamson, III Staff Roger B. Holnback Executive Director David C. Perry Assistant Director Cover photo: George and Louise Kegley on the porch of their home, Monterey, in Roanoke. Credit: David Perry.

Race for Open Space another success More than 100 runners and walkers took to the trails of Green Hill Park in Roanoke County in June at the third annual Race for Open Space, a fundraiser for the land trust. Andrew Parkins of Salem was first overall on the 3k course in a time of 10:15, while Lynn Howard of Roanoke was the top overall female in a time of 14:33. Lynn was also the top overall individual fundraiser for the race, which earned her a pair of tickets to the Appalachian State-Virginia Tech game on Sept. 3! More than 40 cash and inTwo runners head for the finish. kind sponsors supported the event, which raised nearly $4,700 for the land trust. For full results and more information about the race, please visit the race website at westernvirginialandtrust.org/race. David Perry

WVLT receives grant from Community Foundation of the New River Valley WVLT has received a $630 grant from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley to host a conservation workshop in Montgomery County this fall. Funding was provided by the Hawk’s Ridge Fund, one of the Community Foundation’s several donor-advised funds. WVLT is appreciative of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley’s and the Hawk’s Ridge Fund’s support. Be sure to watch the WVLT website and WVLT e-news for specifics on the workshop later this fall.

5 WVLT appoints new trustees and officers WVLT named new officers and appointed new trustees for the 2011-12 fiscal year at its July meeting. Sandy Light, a community volunteer from Roanoke, was named president. Steve Claytor of Roanoke County, vice president of development with Fralin & Waldron, was named vice president. F. Fulton Galer of Roanoke, a partner with Cherry, Bekaert & Holland in Roanoke, was reappointed treasurer, and Whitney Feldmann, a conservation easement donor and community volunteer from Roanoke, was renamed secretary. New trustees appointed to the board were Bill Mason of Roanoke, a manager with N.B. Handy Co., David Hurt of Hardy, a conservation easement donor and Roanoke Valley Sales Manager with Wordsprint, Inc., John Parrott of Roanoke, executive vice president with Rutherfoord, Pete Fellers of Goode, a conservation easement donor and farmer, and Dan Summerlin of Roanoke, an attorney with Woods Rogers, PLC. Welcome and thanks to everyone!

Interns help WVLT over the summer David Perry

University of Virginia student Jessica Church and North Cross School student Laura Lemon interned at the Western Virginia Land Trust over the summer, helping staff complete vital (L-R) Jessica Church & Laura Lemon. monitoring visits to properties that WVLT protects and other important tasks. Jessica, age 20 and a Hidden Valley High School graduate, is double-majoring in Environmental Thought and Practice and Religious Studies at UVa. Jessica worked 3540 hours a week for most of the summer. “Jessica was a tremendous help. She’s very intelligent and a real selfstarter. Just point her at a project and turn her loose,” says WVLT’s assistant director, David Perry.

Sandy Light

Steve Claytor

Fulton Galer

Whitney Feldmann

Bill Mason

David Hurt

John Parrott

Pete Fellers

Dan Summerlin

Laura, a 17-year-old from south Roanoke, put in two, two-week stints at the land trust and made a tremendous impact by contacting landowners who were once considering conservation easements that WVLT staff hadn’t heard from in a while. “Laura really helped us determine which landowners still have an interest and which have decided that an easement isn’t for them,” said Roger. “Hopefully she gained some exposure that will help her in her college and career decisions.” Thank you, Jessica and Laura!

Looking for our annual list of donors? Watch for it as part of the 2010-11 Annual Report, coming out in the Winter 2011-12 issue of Saving Land in November

The best way The best way to make our to make our mark in the mark in the community community is by not is by not leaving one. leaving one.

At Cox, every one of our 77,000 employees nationwide At Cox, one ofthe ourbest 77,000 employees nationwide worksevery to provide communication services works to provide the best communication services available for both you and our planet. Green thinking. available forthan bothgood you and our planet. Green It’s more business. It’s just plainthinking. good. It’s more than good business. It’s just plain good.

www.cox.com www.cox.com

We’re all connected. We’re all connected. www.coxconserves.com www.coxconserves.com

7 Miller, Long & Associates, Inc Real Estate Appraisal Company

Specializing in Farms, Estates and Conservation Easement Appraisals www.millerlongandassociates.com Office: 540.345.3233 EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS CONFIDENTLY Congratulations to the Western Virginia Land Trust on 15 years of success!

“Working with EEC, Inc., a client experiences a new

Assisting landowners with the legal aspects of conservation easements

Stephen W. Lemon Martin, Hopkins and Lemon, P.C. 1000 Wells Fargo Tower, Roanoke, VA (540) 982-1000 martinhopkinsandlemon.com

Engineers ● Geologists ● Scientists ● Planners Earth Environmental and Civil 235 Claiborne Ave. Rocky Mount, VA 24151 www.earthenv.com ● (888) 663-9719

We deliver quality products for every project. Serving Central and Southwest Virginia, and West Virginia, for more than 100 years.

Aggregate • Asphalt • Block • Concrete For more information, call (800) 442-8878 or visit boxley.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel The Roanoke Star-Sentinel salutes the hardworking staff, and board members of the

Western Virginia Land Trust who persevere every day to protect our vital natural resources in Southwest Virginia.

PO Box 8338, Roanoke, VA 24014 540-400-0990 0811 WVLT ad b-w.pdf

8/5/11

8:44 AM

Proud sponsors of the 2011 Conservation Celebration

Fulton Galer, Partner

Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, L.L.P. 540.342.6911 | fgaler@cbh.com www.cbh.com Hampton Roads | Richmond | Roanoke | Tysonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

9 THE OLD JOKE ABOUT BANKERS’ HOURS DOESN’T SEEM SO FUNNY AT 5PM ON PAYDAY. Branches open 7 – 7 weekdays and 9 – 2 on Saturday. Our services are made to fit the way you live. Extended hours, no branch cut off time for same day deposits and customer service you can count on.

Isn’t it time you turned over a new leaf? www.hometownbankva.com | 345-6000

Compliments of Charlotte and Bittle Porterfield Compliments of Jim and Pat Kermes

Member FDIC

YOUR DRIVEWAY HAS SEEN MORE ACTION THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. (But don’t worry, that’s ancient history.) As part of our commitment to the values of being green and being sustainable, Lanford Brothers Co., Inc. reuses as much site waste as possible, including recycling milled asphalt into residential driveways like yours.

Phone (540) 992-2140 | www.lanfordbros.com

The Board of Trustees and Staff of the Western Virginia Land Trust would like to thank all of our sponsors of the 2011 Conservation Celebration.

O, what a great cause. Rutherfoord is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2011 Conservation Celebration, and proudly supports Western Virginia Land Trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to conserve and protect natural resources.

www.rutherfoord.com

Conservation is at the heart of everything we do.

Committed to the Environment. Our products contribute directly to the environmental movement, as they are produced from 100 percent recycled materials.

Preserving our precious natural resources for future generations has been at the core of the Orvis Company since we got our start in 1856. today, we donate 5% of our annual pre-tax profits to organizations that protect fish and wildlife habitat. visit www.orvis.com/conservation to learn more. Orvis rOANOKE 19 Campbell Ave. roanoke, vA 24011 www.orvis.com/roanoke

Orvis sErviCE CENtEr 1711 Blue Hills Dr. NE roanoke, vA 24012 Steel Dynamics Roanoke Bar Division P.O. Box 13948 Roanoke, VA 24038-3948

We keep the WVLT rolling. Meet “Little Brother,” a fuel-efficient hybrid that is the latest addition to our fleet.

We’re serious about our responsibility for our planet’s precious natural resources and it shows. Through its donation of a fuel-efficient Toyota Prius to the Western Virginia Land Trust, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated continues to demonstrate leadership as an environmental steward. We support those who live positively. Coca Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated 4100 Coca-Cola Plaza Charlotte, NC 28211

www.cokeconsolidated.com (800) 777-COKE (2653)

P R O U D TO B E A PA R T N E R I N CO N S E R VAT I O N

BERGLUND FARRELL A

www.berglundcars.com | www.farrellauto.com

Think Green.

We use vegetable-based inks and alcohol substitutes in our presses; we buy from environmentally responsible vendors such as Mohawk papers, which uses 100% windpower to produce carbon neutral paper stocks. We have our air quality and emissions tested by OSHA on a regular basis, and

We have systems in place to prevent waste time is a huge step toward our environment. We’d love to print your next job on 100% PCW recycled paper — but more importantly, we’d like to show you how the entire design, print, and mail process works when we Think Green. Call or email us for an appointment.

(276) 228-6608 • info@wordsprint.net www.wordsprint.com

Capture this code with your Smartphone camera and immediately browse our website!

13 Director: continued from page 3 trust association VaULT (Virginia’s United Land Trusts). Trail Land Trust, and that is: if a landowner cares enough about their land to take the time to learn about During the past ten years I have had the pleasure to conservation easements, they have the right personal work with and hopefully educate and assist hundreds ethics in regards to their land and families. They care. of landowners who care about their land and legacy. They are responsible. They understand that we all must Many have gone on to do conservation easements and be stewards of the land we own. They want to do right many have not, and that is okay. Because in regards to by their families. They are the salt of the earth and I am landowners, I learned an important lesson even before blessed to have had a chance to know so many of them. joining WVLT while working for the Appalachian What a great ten years! The property began as the family homestead, then was passed to Tom’s grandfather who ran it as a dairy farm. Eventually, it transitioned to a beef cattle operation, which is still run today by Tom’s Uncle Bill. And all the while, through the dairy and the beef, it has been used as a family recreation center for all to take pleasure in. There are several springs on the property, one of which fed the original Shawsville water system and now feeds two manmade ponds. Both of the ponds are stocked with fish, and a zip-line runs over the upper pond where the kids (or adults)

Tom on his family’s Montgomery County farm.

Jessica Church

Dunkenberger: continued from 15 can glide over and drop into the water. The property also boasts a sandy beach and large pavilion near the pond with tables, fans, and lights. It’s everything you need for a great afternoon outdoors. “We hold church picnics, weddings, grad parties, and business retreats there. The local sheriff ’s department has even used it,” says Tom.

Along with ponds, picnic tables, and ziplines, the property is also full of wildlife. Every Thanksgiving, the men in the family would go bird hunting. “The only turkey I’ve ever shot was on that land,” said Tom. There are also grouse, deer, coyotes, foxes, and bear, all of which keep company with the 200 head of beef cattle, of course. Several years ago, the Dunkenbergers learned of a more subtle illustration of wildlife that resides on their land: a rare species of flowers called Echinacea laevigata or smooth purple coneflowers. They’re a member of the Asteraceae family, which also encompasses sunflowers and daisies, and are on the endangered species list. They occur in just a few counties in four states. On the day I visited the property, it was especially warm outside. Not even the cows could be spotted in the grassy hollows; they had fled to the wooded ridges for shade. The land was beautiful though, and clearly well-managed. The Dunkenbergers have achieved the best of both worlds with their property: a conservation easement to protect it and a family recreation area to enjoy it.

14 In late 2001, the Read Mountain Alliance went to Al Durham, a landowner on Read Mountain, to ask if he would be interested in putting his property into a conservation easement. They explained how conservation easements work, their ultimate goal, and of course the tax benefits. It wasn’t long before Dr. Durham was on board. In 2002, the 90-acre easement was donated to the Western Virginia Land Trust.

Jessica Church

Community: continued from 15

Several years later, in September of 2005, Fralin & Waldron Inc. acquired 203 acres on the base of Read Mountain, but only kept The Wednesday Crew on Read Mountain this summer. (L-R) Hugh Scruggs, Bud LaRoche, 51 of them for development; the Bill Gordge, John VanLuik, Blanche Brower and Jim Roberson (with Lumps the dog) rest they put into a conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Once Preserve was even an idea, a group of around 14 men and the easement was completed, Fralin & Waldron knew that women started donating their time and hard work to build and they wanted to donate the land to Roanoke County because maintain natural surface trails. Each and every Wednesday, Bill it would allow the maximum number of people the chance Gordge and his crew would take a hike, alternating pleasure to enjoy it. In December of 2006, they generously did so. hikes with work hikes. Their first project was the Star Trail on This not only added to the land that would eventually become Mill Mountain, a trail that is still popular today. the Read Mountain Preserve; it also took care of the legal problems that come with allowing the public to hike on a After roughly a decade of projects around the valley, the piece of property. Wednesday Crew started working on the Read Mountain Preserve. The Crew spent over 1,000 person-hours working The last piece of the land parcel puzzle to fall into place on the original trail. “It’s slow work,” explained Bill, who has involves private landowners John and Matilda Bradshaw, taken classes and participated in workshops to educate himself who don’t currently have an easement on their property. on safe and sustainable trail building. The park opened in the And yet, they made the decision to allow Roanoke County fall of 2008, but the Wednesday Crew is still working; their to lease their land for just $1 per year, and that is the type of current project is to cut a trail that will travel along the ridge cooperation that comes from long-term relationships and a and eventually form a several mile loop. common vision. “Everybody was committed to the ultimate outcome of preserving the mountain,” said Steve Claytor, The result of all this cooperation is a beautiful wilderness oasis. Vice President of Development for Fralin & Waldron. Steve The Read Mountain Preserve is especially unique because also became a member of the WVLT’s board of trustees in it’s within 2 miles of 12,000 people. And yet, while hiking 2008. through the woods, one would never know it. “It’s finally become a reality,” remarked Ron Crawford. The businesses, But what’s a forested park with no trails? Enter the Wednesday non-profits, citizens, and governments of the Roanoke Valley Crew. Twelve years ago, before the Read Mountain Alliance, have accomplished their goal: to protect and preserve Read before the conservation easements, before the Read Mountain Mountain.

Dunkenbergers turn family farm into recreational paradise

by Jessica Church

Jessica Church

VirginiA DCR

At age 5, Tom Dunkenberger can remember taking rides through the family’s Shawsville property in his grandfather’s Pontiac sedan, a sedan whose engine once ended up sitting on the ground after it hit a tree Cone Flower stump. Tom remembers his grandfather just laughing it off and his father having to walk into town for help. It has been decades since then, but Tom Dunkenberger still drives through the property, only now in a modern day SUV. The land has been in the family since the 1700’s, and they expect it to remain in its natural state forever, thanks to a conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

A view of the farm’s recreational area.

them, families whose land actually adjoins the Dunkenberger property. (WVLT has been active in land conservation along the “straightaway” in eastern Montgomery County for years, helping with several conservation easements and holding its 2006 Conservation Celebration at Madison Marye’s conserved farm.) But this is a special piece of property for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the main parcel was When asked how he learned about conservation easements, acquired through a land grant from King George III. Tom explained that it was all through word of mouth. continued page 13 Several other families in the Shawsville area had completed

Community rallies to protect land, build trails on Read Mountain

by Jessica Church A little teamwork can go a long way, both on the field and in the world of land conservation. This is especially the case with the Read Mountain Preserve, located on the southeastern side of Read Mountain. Encompassing

243 acres, it is Roanoke County’s largest park, but you won’t find soccer fields here; the Preserve will remain in its natural state, with intact forest and natural surface trails. The Read Mountain Preserve wouldn’t be here without the cooperation of business, government, non-profits, and civilian volunteers, all of whom deserve thanks and acknowledgement. Ron Crawford, a retired architect and landowner on Read Mountain, was one of the first to envision this mountain wholly protected. Growing up in Roanoke, he always admired the property and hoped to someday protect the entire mountain, but short of buying the whole thing, he wasn’t sure how to go about it. The first step was to form a citizens’ alliance, which he did in 2001. The next step was to acquire some land.

continued page 14

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Wytheville, VA PERMIT NO. 172

722 First Street, SW, Suite L Roanoke, Virginia 24016-4120 Phone/Fax 540.985.0000

You’re invited: Land+Link Photo Competition Reception Please join us for a special exhibition opening for the first Land+Link Photo Competition, a joint project of the Western Virginia Land Trust and the O. Winston Link Museum. The opening will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 6-8 pm at the Link Museum in downtown Roanoke, and will feature the finalists and top three over winners as judged by our panel jury: Roanoke Outside’s Pete Eshelman, Hollins University President Nancy Gray, and Roanoke Times outdoors editor Mark Taylor. Attendees will also be able to vote with their pocketbooks on the “People’s Choice” award, so bring your wallet or checkbook and get ready to stuff the ballot boxes for your favorite photos. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres by Blue Ridge Catering and a cash bar.

the land trust’s Conservation Celebration on Sept. 18 at Braeloch in Roanoke County. Jordan’s Custom Framing is providing framing for the top three photos before they enter the auction, and PhotoUSA is providing high-quality prints of all the finalists. As a courtesy, please call the Land Trust at (540) 985-0000 or e-mail dperry@westernvirginialandtrust. org to let us know you’re coming. For more information, visit the competition website at westernvirginialandtrust. org/photo.