Photo Courtesy of Land Trust of Virginia
1,026 Acres of Timberland Will Remain in Timber Forever
Photo Courtesy of Land Trust of Virginia
Thanks to the foresight of Rich McDaniel 1,026 acres of Virginia forest, NE of Lake Anna State Park, is now permanently protected through two conservation easements (784 and 241 acres respectively). These easements were donated to the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) on July 23, 2020.
These properties, located about one mile from each other, are known as the “Knights Branch” properties, named for Knights Branch, a robust perennial stream running along the boundary of the 784 acre property. The Knights Branch parcels, which are in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, had the potential to be divided into more than 60 residential lots. The property provides a unique snapshot of Virginia forest types and includes loblolly pines, native mixed-pine stands, and significant mature hardwood. The protection of The Knights Branch parcels conserves history, culture and ecosystems for generations to come.
Photo Courtesy of Land Trust of Virginia
With the addition of these two conservation easements, McDaniel has protected nearly 4,000 acres in Virginia, working with several public and private land trusts.