Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are defined as practices or methods that are the most effective in preventing or reducing the amount of pollution generated by nonpoint sources. Examples of nonpoint source pollution can include excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands or residences, sediment from erosion, bacteria or nutrients from livestock, pet waste and faulty septic systems. Life in the Country, a publication by local conservationist Missy Janes, is an amazing resource for further information about the importance of BMPs and resources to help you install them. Copies of it can be requested from Piedmont Environmental Council’s headquarters in Warrenton.
Cost-Share Programs
There are many conservation programs through federal, state and local agencies that provide cost-share programs or tax credits for landowners who would like assistance in designing and installing BMPs, including fencing for livestock exclusion, tree planting, and more. Your local Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) acts as a clearing house for these programs and they will assist in the creation of your property’s overall conservation plan.
John Marshall Soil & Water Conservation District (Fauquier)
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 33 Warrenton, VA 20186
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Loudoun Soil & Water Conservation District
http://www.loudounsoilandwater.com/
30 Catoctin Circle, SE, Suite 218 Leesburg, VA 20175
Riparian Buffers
Riparian Buffers are the areas of grass, shrubs, and trees along the banks of rivers and streams. In addition to creating wildlife habitat, they are critical to filter nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants to protect our water quality. Riparian buffers also prevent erosion by slowing the speed of water running off the land, allowing it to seep into the groundwater supply and controlling storm surges.
Virginia Department of Forestry’s Riparian Buffer Implementation Plan is an in-depth resource to understand the best practices for conserving these small, but critical elements of your property’s waterways. Your county SWCD can provide seedling trees and shrubs free of charge for riparian buffer plantings.
Piedmont Environmental Council’s Potomac Planting Program provides free technical assistance, project design, materials, and labor for the planting of native trees and shrubs in riparian zones on properties in the Potomac River watershed in Clarke, Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
Goose Creek Association’s “Goose Creek Challenge” program with SWCD staff works with you and your land to design and plant riparian buffers along the Goose Creek and its tributaries free of cost. This program is unique as it involves local volunteers and school groups and involves educational components for all ages.
Grasslands Mowing
Virginia Working Landscapes, a program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va, has conducted research surrounding Virginia’s grasslands and the native wildlife that depend on this ecosystem for survival. Their research has concluded that to allow nesting ground birds time to reproduce, it is critical that field mowing or haying be delayed until July of each year, among other practices. VWL recruits landowners each year to be a part of their surveys to track population numbers of native plants and animals.
VWL has partnered with the Piedmont Environmental Council and collectively coordinate the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative. This initiative offers financial incentives for farmers willing to adopt these practices. Contact VWL or PEC to participate in their multitude of educational opportunities to learn more about how to manage your property to best serve our native wildlife.
Piedmont Environmental Council
45 Horner Street Warrenton, VA 20186
Virginia Working Landscapes
https://www.vaworkinglandscapes.org
1500 Remount Road, MRC 5537 Front Royal, Virginia 22630
Wildlife Corridors
Habitat needs for Virginia’s wildlife go beyond our property boundaries and it is critical that they have interconnected corridors to hunt, forage, avoid predators, and find mates. For example, while a covey of bobwhite quail may only require 15-20 acres of quality habitat, a permanent, sustainable quail population (multiple coveys) typically requires at least 2000 acres. Creating areas of heavy, native vegetation along roadways, riparian areas, and property boundaries, while limiting fencing, will ensure wildlife populations can navigate the divisions humans create across the landscape. Virginia was one of the first states to enact a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan, that you can explore with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Attracting Pollinators
Pollinator populations have been in decline due to habitat and forage loss. Roughly 80 percent of the world’s plant species depend on wildlife assisted pollination and it is important landowners plant native species that are beneficial to pollinators. An easy way to do this is to install a meadow area where you currently mow. The Virginia Native Plant Society has reference lists for regional natives including their wildlife value to ensure you are incorporating a variety that will best serve our pollinators.
Virginia Native Plant Society
400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2 Boyce, Virginia 22620
Forestry Management
Maintaining healthy forest is critical for wildlife habitat and provides numerous environmental benefits including cleaner air and cooler temperatures. The Virginia Department of Forestry helps landowners protect their forest lands against pests, nonnative species, and pathogens. A forester is available to visit your property and make recommendations based on scientific data. VDOF also operates two seedling nurseries where you can order seedlings to reforest areas of your land, suited perfectly to our Virginia climate, to be shipped to your home at a very reasonable cost. Explore their offerings at:
Virginia Department of Forestry – Warrenton Office
675 Frost Avenue Warrenton, VA. 20186
Virginia Department of Forestry – Fairfax Office (serves Loudoun County)
12055 Government Center Pkwy #904 Fairfax, VA 22035
Pasture Management
For your pastures to remain healthy, nutritious, and able to sustain animal grazing, you will need regular maintenance. A general rule is two acres of pasture per horse and one acre per cow to allow for enough forage and exercise. Pastures need regular rest and so organizing a rotational grazing schedule will ensure you don’t allow overgrazing which creates weeds and erosion. Regularly dragging your fields to break up manure reduces the parasite load and will help fertilize the soil. The Virginia Forage and Grasslands Council provides educational resources regarding forage production, grazing management, and grassland resource conservation.
Virginia Forage and Grassland Council
Livestock Exclusion from Water
While it may seem to be a quick and free solution to allow livestock to access water on your property’s ponds or streams, the reality is that the costs on your herd health, water quality, and animal safety far outweigh the benefits. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s publication Streamside Livestock Exclusion: A Tool for Increasing Farm Income and Improving Water Quality outlines benefits to keeping livestock out of our waterways and how to best limit their access.
Soil Health
Sustainable, productive agriculture is only possible with proper maintenance of your soil. Practices that reduce erosion, maximize water infiltration, and improve on the nutrient cycle include cover crops, crop rotation, and no-till methods. The Virginia Soil Health Coalition offers mentoring, training, a podcast and other education resources to maximize the resiliency of your soil.
Deer Management
White-tailed Deer are prevalent in the Piedmont countryside and can be a severe nuisance. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Deer Management Plan outlines ways to reduce deer-vehicle collisions and deer damage to agricultural and residential properties. Explore ways you can manage their population on your land.