Loudoun Soil & Water Conservation District

The spring rain barrel workshops are over, but it is not too late to get a rain barrel.  We have make-your-own and pre-made rain barrels available at the District office.  The make-your-own rain barrels are $52.50 and the pre-made barrels are $68.25 each.  Call the District office at 703/777-2075 to arrange a time to pick-up your barrel.

The Town of Purcellville is still offering $25 rebates to Town of Purcellville residents, one per household.  Form and receipt must be submitted to the Town of Purcellville for reimbursement.

If you are looking to build a barn, enter into open space or agricultural land use taxation, or just want to get some ideas managing your farm, LSWCD has a new revised Conservation Farm Plan which is now more tailored to specific different types of farming operations in Loudoun.  Farm plans are required by Loudoun County for the building of barns, entering the Land-Use Tax Program,  as well as for grazing livestock on parcels under five acres.  Small acreage grazing plans are developed by the District and Loudoun Cooperative Extension to help landowners manage livestock on small properties.  Contact LSWCD at 703-777-2075 to schedule an appointment to create a farm plan for your operation.

The new fiscal year for the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practices Cost Share Program begins in July, and while funding is significantly reduced over previous years due to state budget cuts, money is still available for landowners wishing to put conservation in action on their farms.  A new cost share score sheet will aid LSWCD in prioritizing practices based on their positive impact on nutrient and bacteria reduction on Loudoun’s waters.  Ranking will establish top candidates for both cover crop and grassland conversion practices as well as stream fencing and water system cost share practices.  For more information about the Agricultural Best Management Practices Program or to schedule a site visit for your farm contact the District at 703-777-2075 or e-mail LSWCD staff.

The Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District was mentioned in the summer 2009 issue of Outdoor America magazine.  The magazine is a quarterly publication produced by the Izaak Walton League of America.  Below is the article in its entirety. 

 When the Loudoun County Chapter was looking for a local conservation project this spring, it didn’t have to look far.  With an 85-acre chapter property containing streams and a pond, the chapter decided to plant riparian buffers on their land.  The Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District sponsored the project, providing 180 seedlings – a mix of American hazelnut, persimmon, and black walnut.  The chapter rounded up 10 members and 10 local Girl Scouts for two days of planting in April.

 According to the chapter’s conservation committee chair, Tim Bigler, members will need to check the seedlings every month to ensure they have water and aren’t being destroyed by deer and beavers.  He hopes to build on the project with more conservation activities on the chapter property in the future, such as planting winter forage for wildlife and having bird house building workshops for kids.  “We are more famous for our recreation resources, like the rifle range,” he admits, “but conservation is our purpose.”

Jay Frankenfield is the Conservation Technician for the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District.