The headwaters of Otterdam Swamp and Three Creek are closer to long-term protection via a working forest conservation easement on forestlands in the region. The easement is made possible through a partnership between the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund. Permanent protection of the property—totaling 1,079 acres—includes mature cypress/tupelo forest and will contribute to the habitat of 29 species of plants and animals and protect a major tributary of the Nottoway River and the Three Creek Stream Conservation Unit.
The property is currently held by Family Tree Properties, LLC. Steve Wagner, managing member of Family Tree Properties, stated “This is a unique tract rich in lowland timber and diverse aquatic species. Learning there is a colony of a rare plant that exists nowhere else in Virginia made this an easy decision. We are thrilled to protect all of it for future generations.” His partner, Adrian Holler, shared “It has been great to work with the Virginia Department of Forestry and we want to thank Enviva for their generous financial assistance without which this conservation easement would not have been possible.”
“Finding opportunities that can support working forests and protect highly valued conservation land is dependent on the willingness of private landowners to recognize the connection between good stewardship practices and sound asset management,” said Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the U. S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, which administers the Enviva Forest Conservation Fund. “We find that most landowners are good stewards of their properties and then in cases like this one, they fall into the ‘great stewards’ category.”
The property totals 1,079 acres including areas identified by the National Wetlands Inventory and more than 500 acres of lowland forested wetland. Also embedded within this property is a unique, 21-acre site that supports the only known Virginia occurrence of the Savannah panic-grass (Phanopyrum gymnicarpon). This area also has documented occurrences of the Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) and Dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon). Both aquatic species are listed as endangered on state and federal lists. Water quality is essential to functioning ecosystems and surrounding communities. This easement will ensure maintenance of the property’s flood storage capacity contributing to the maintenance of clean water on-site and downstream.
Read more on this from the U.S. Endowment at https://www.forestbusinessnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Threecreekfinal.pdf.