2024 was an exceptional year for the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust thanks to so many wonderful landowners!. We protected 19 properties across our region, the most conserved within a calendar year in NVCT’s 31 year history! Each unique property has a story to tell, and each landowner has a special connection to the land. Whether it be childhood stories of frolicking through the woods or a deep passion for doing one’s part to conserve valuable defenses against development and climate change, we are honored to work with individuals who are just as passionate about Northern Virginia land, water, and people as we are!
Expanding Crow’s Nest
NVCT has remained heavily involved in expanding Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve. Located at the northwest end of the preserve are 346 residential lots, totaling 880 acres of land. The lots were sold to individuals and developers many years ago, but public utilities were never installed, so the lots became undevelopable. Over the years, NVCT and Stafford County have been acquiring these parcels to one day add to Crow’s Nest Preserve, and in 2024, NVCT acquired 12 of these parcels! This leaves 20 remaining lots before the entirety of Crow’s Nest Harbor can be forever protected and added to Crow’s Nest Preserve.
Piney Run
Conservation, collaboration, and community best describe this land protection story. Piney Run is a 20-acre property comprised of wetlands, meadows, and forests nestled in the Crest of Alexandria community. Almost a mile of trails loop through the property, with HOA-managed recreational equipment dispersed throughout. Community residents were no strangers to the ecological value of this land, with many “weed warriors” already taking part in invasive pulls to steward the property. This easement has been in the making for decades and signifies the balance between recreation, conservation, and development.
Seymour Property
Northern Virginia is a heavily developed area, and landscapes change quickly here. Our role is often to find a healthy balance between development and nature, ensuring that the wild features that make NoVa special are protected for years to come. Our Seymour property was a charitable donation in a suburban Fairfax community. For the neighborhood, it has an important hardwood forest filled with black tupelos and tulip trees. The property was large enough to build more housing units than it already contains, but NVCT’s ownership now safeguards the valuable greenery forever! This conservation success reminds us that land conservation doesn’t just happen in large open spaces; it sometimes happens in our backyards and is just as important!
Doves Landing
Each property we protect and the people who utilize it have unique needs. Doves Landing is a 308-acre park with access to the Occoquan River that NVCT worked with Prince William County to protect back in November. As a popular recreation spot, local residents wanted Dove’s Landing protected from future development with nature put first. While outdoor recreation is a great way to connect with nearby nature, there is a need for more spaces that leave the land as is. Passive recreation, like hiking, is an excellent outdoor activity that creates minimal disturbance. The local community envisioned Doves Landing as a passive recreation spot and voiced their desires to the Prince William Department of Parks and Recreation. Our partners at the Prince William Conservation Alliance elevated residents' concerns, and NVCT was given the job because of our previous work protecting parks in the county. Prince William County was a wonderful collaborator as well, and moving forward, NVCT will monitor and steward the park to ensure that it remains a nature park for all.
Clifton Couple for Conservation
Margaret Fisher and Jon Rosenthal first conserved land with NVCT back in 2021. When their neighbor’s home went up for sale, they quickly purchased it and placed it under conservation easement. Margaret and Jon have been longtime supporters of NVCT and conservation easements in general. They consistently promote the concept of conservation easements to neighbors and recently held an open house for their newly conserved property. NVCT was there to spread the word about our conservation work in Clifton. It seems that Margaret and Jon aren’t the only conservation-minded individuals in the area. They received 11 offers for the newly protected property and we’re happy to share that the home sold to a couple who are ready to start their own conservation legacy!
Tank Creek
Joyce Arndt and her family have enjoyed the natural wonders of their own nature preserve for years, frequently cleaning the stream, running through it, going on nature walks, and birdwatching. As time passed, Joyce found she had no one left to care for her beloved Tank Creek, so she contacted NVCT to devise a plan to preserve it. What stands out most to us about the story of Tank Creek is that it was saved because of the generosity of our supporters, people who did not personally know Joyce Arndt and have never set foot on her property. Those who donated to its purchase recognized the value of this land and began to share Joyce's dream for others to enjoy Tank Creek as much as she does. The White House Farm Foundation and Virginia Outdoors Foundation also came together to forever protect this ecological gem. Our next steps are to collaborate with the local community and prepare a unique management plan for the preserve so that it can eventually be open to the public several times a year for guided naturalist hikes in partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
McCormick Easement
Little Hunting Creek is an important tributary of the Potomac River located in the Alexandria section Fairfax County that NVCT has focused on conserving for many years. This vital watershed is important to Potomac River water quality and is home to many residents who love and care for it. NVCT preserves and stewards five parcels of land along Little Hunting Creek and has added a new one in the area! The south branch of Little Hunting Creek runs through our newly conserved McCormick property, and this land also serves as a buffer between the nearby road and Fort Hunt Park. NVCT continues to work closely with Friends of Little Hunting Creek and many local residents to make this community a model for neighborhood conservation.
“Rentz (Land Conservation Specialist) answered immediately and was incredibly helpful; he was instrumental in making this all happen before the end of the year,” said Mary.
Crane Easement
Connections to conservation can sprout from a passion for the outdoors, concern for the planet's ecological health, and even personal sentiment. Mary Crane inherited a 72-acre farmland property in Spotsylvania from her aunt and knew that her wish would be for it to be forever protected. Her aunt lived and loved the property for all of her 96 years! Even in times of struggle, the family refused to sell the property because of how much it meant to them. Mary’s aunt lived off the land, setting up a management plan with the Virginia Department of Forestry to harvest timber. Mary recalls visiting her aunt and exploring the property; she would swim in nearby ponds and even had a treehouse in the woods. Over the years, Mary and her aunt noticed encroaching development, and when Mary inherited the property, she knew conserving it was the right thing to do. The Department of Forestry informed Mary about different land trusts in the area that could place the property under easement, and after reaching out to all of them, NVCT was the first to respond. When asked how she feels knowing that the property is now officially protected forever, Mary said, “It feels good knowing that I've done what my aunt wanted and knowing that it’s contributing to the environment and never seeing all the trees cut down.”
Conservation is never accomplished alone, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part in making these easements happen. We hope 2025 will bring even more success, and that we can keep breaking our own land preservation records!
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