Capital Region Land Conservancy Inc

TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT THE NATURAL AND HISTORIC LAND AND WATER RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA'S CAPITAL REGION FOR THE BENEFIT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IN 2021 CAPITAL REGION LAND CONSERVANCY, INC. ("THE CONSERVANCY") RECORDED ONE CONSERVATION EASEMENT SOLELY HELD BY THE CONSERVANCY AND ACQUIRED ONE PROPERTY UNDER OWNERSHIP OF CRLC LAND HOLDINGS LLC, A DISREGARDED ENTITY OF THE CONSERVANCY. THE EASEMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1) 1.33-ACRE EASEMENT IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND WITH A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY BEING DESIGNATED AS A HIGHEST PRIORITY LAND IN THE FLOODPLAINS AND FLOODING RESILIENCE CATEGORY OF CONSERVEVIRGINIA 3.0; APPROXIMATELY 744 FEET OF FOREST/VEGATATED RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG WETLANDS AND RATTLESNAKE CREEK.THE LAND ACQUISITIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1) THE CONSERVANCY'S DISREGARDED ENTITY CRLC LAND HOLDINGS LLC ACQUIRED 353.27 ACRES PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS BY THE CONSERVANCY FOR ITS HISTORIC RESOURCE AND WATER QUALITY BENEFITS IN EASTERN HENRICO COUNTY, THE ACQUISITION OF WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES. THE CONSERVANCY FACILITATED ONE ADDITIONAL EASEMENT FOR THE VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION THE 315.3-ACRE PROPERTY IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY DOMINATED BY PRIME AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND EXTENSIVE FRONTAGE ON TUCKAHOE CREEK AND THE JAMES RIVER WITH WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS ON BOTH THE CREEK AND RIVER. (OVER HALF OF WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR FLOODPLAIN AND FLOODING RESILIENCE AND FOR THE SCENIC PRESERVATION IT AFFORDS ON THE JAMES RIVER, A STATE SCENIC RIVER IN THAT LOCATION.)THE CONSERVANCY NEGOTIATED AND FACILITATED A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR 5.2 ACRES AT DOCK STREET IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND FOR $5.1 MILLION. THE CONSERVANCY WAS AWARDED BUT HAS NOT YET FULFILLED OBLIGATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.1 MILLION FROM THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND AND $500,000 FROM THE VIRGINIA LAND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION TOWARDS THE ACQUISITION AND PROTECTION OF THIS PROPERTY AS A FUTURE PUBLIC PARK. THE CONSERVATION FUND CLOSED ON THE ACQUISITION IN AUGUST 2021. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO NEGOTIATED A SALE OF 0.85 ACRES TO THE JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION FOR A FUTURE EDUCATION CENTER. THE CONSERVANCY IS HELPING TO RAISE THE REMAINING $1.5 MILLION BEFORE RECORDING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE DOCK STREET PROPERTY AND TRANSFERRING IT TO THE CITY OF RICHMOND.THE CONSERVANCY MAINTAINED FULL ACCREDITATION BY THE LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAM OF THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE. THE CONSERVANCY ALSO MAINTAINED ACCREDITATION BY THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND EARNED THE GUIDESTAR PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY FOR 2021. THE CONSERVANCY SPONSORED THE RVA ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL AND REAL LOCAL RVA FARM TOUR. THE CONSERVANCY COORDINATED GUIDED NATURE HIKES OF FOUR OF THEIR CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES WITH A TOTAL OF 65 ATTENDEES; COORDINATED A VOLUNTEER CLEAN-UP AT ONE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CONSERVANCY FOR A FUTURE PUBLIC PARK; PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS MEETINGS OF THE RVAGREEN 2050 ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP AND VIRGINIA CONSERVATION NETWORK WORKGROUPS; STAFF ATTENDED THE VIRGINIA'S UNITED LAND TRUSTS CONFERENCE HELD IN APRIL; STAFF ATTENDED THE NATIONAL LAND TRUST ALLIANCE CONFERENCE VIRTUALLY IN OCTOBER; INCREASED TO 1,445 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK, 423 FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM, AND 225 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER; SHARED ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS WITH 2,308 SUBSCRIBERS VIA 35 EMAIL NEWSLETTERS; LAUNCHED A MODERN, USER-FRIENDLY CRLC WEBSITE; SPOKE AT NUMBEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS; ASSISTED NUMEROUS LANDOWNERS IN PRESERVING THEIR PROPERTY; RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM 559 DONORS INCLUDING 240 NEW MEMBERS; 64% GROWTH IN TOTAL NUMBER OF DONORS SINCE 2020; RENEWAL RATE IN EXCESS OF 79%; AND GARNERED MORE THAN FOURTY PRESS MENTIONS DISCUSSING CRLC'S CONSERVATION WORK AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAND CONSERVATION AND WATER QUALITY IN SUCH PUBLICATIONS AS THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, RICHMOND FREE PRESS, RICHMOND MAGAZINE, HENRICO CITIZEN, VIRGINIA BUSINESS, STYLE WEEKLY, AUGUSTA FREE PRESS, RICHMOND BIZSENSE, CHESTERFIELD OBSERVER, VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL NEWSLETTERS, AS WELL AS WCVE/NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, NBC12, AND OTHER LOCAL TELEVISION BROADCASTS. THE CONSERVANCY FACILITATED EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON THE URGENCY OF ENSURING THAT ALL VIRGINIANS HAVE DAILY ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS. THIS INCLUDED PARTICIPATION IN THE RVAGREEN 2050 MASTER PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL WORKGROUP, WORKING WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND TO DEVELOP A 10-MINUTE WALK MODEL, AND PARTICIPATING IN OTHER GREENSPACE MAPPING PROJECTS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SECURING LAND FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IN RICHMOND CITY CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AND HENRICO COUNTY. THIS INCLUDED CO-AUTHORING WITH THREE OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS A WHITE-PAPER PUBLISHED IN THE VIRGINIA CONSERVATION NETWORK'S "OUR COMMON AGENDA: 2022 ENVIRONMENTAL BRIEFING BOOK".THE CONSERVANCY HOSTED THE 2021 CONSERVATION GAMES AS A MULTI-WEEK CELEBRATION OF CONSERVATION CONSISTING OF 8 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS. THROUGHOUT THE GAMES, 259 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS TEAM FIELDS, TEAM FORESTS, AND TEAM STREAMS COMPETED TO EARN POINTS BY PARTICIPATING IN VOLUTEER ACTIVITIES WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING RICHMOND TOOLBANK, FRIENDS OF BRYANT PARK, ENRICHMOND TREELAB, AND SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA. PARTICIANTS LEARNED FOR A COMBINED 128 HOURS AND SERVED A COMBINED 366 VOLUNTEER HOURS ACROSS CRLC EVENTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE GAMES ALSO RAISED APPROXIMATELY $20,000 TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVANCY'S OPERATIONS.THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUED PARTICIPATING IN HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES BY EDUCATING LANDOWNERS AND WORKING AS PART OF THE BLACK FAMILY LAND TRUST'S LEGAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE CONSERVANCY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVED ON PANEL DISCUSSES REGARDING HEIRS PROPERTY, WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND CONSULTED A COALITION IN MARYLAND ON SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION OF THE UNIFORM PARTITION OF HEIRS PROPERTY.THE CONSERVANCY WAS AWARDED A $2 MILLION REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICES. SUBSEQUENT TO A SIGNED PROGRAMMATIC PARTNER AGREEMENT, THE CONSERVANCY WILL DRAW DOWN FUNDING FROM THIS GRANT THROUGH 2026 AS IT SUPPORTS THE PRESERVATION OF FARMLAND AND SUPPORTS URBAN AGRICULTURE.

THE CONSERVANCY OWNS FOUR FEE-SIMPLE PROPERTIES ON 12/31/21. THESE PROPERTIES CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:1. APPROXIMATELY 9.5 FORESTED ACRES IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMPRISED OF 3 ISLANDS IN THE SCENIC APPOMATTOX RIVER THAT ARE VISIBLE FROM NEARBY PARKS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AND DINWIDDIE COUNTY AND INTEGRAL TO THE APPOMATTOX RIVER TRAIL MASTER PLAN.2. 39 ACRES IN HENRICO COUNTY ON LONG BRIDGE ROAD UPON WHICH THE CONSERVANCY GRANTED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES. THE PROPERTY CONTAINS ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL TO UNDERSTAND SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC THEMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RISE OF A REGIONAL STONEWARE POTTERY INDUSTRY AND CHANGES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION FROM THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR, RECONSTRUCTION AND INTO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.3. 13.1 ACRES IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND THAT IS PLANNED AS A FUTURE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AND PROPERTY PLANNED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY OF RICHMOND WITH CRLC HOLDING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT UPON ITS TRANSFER. THE PROPERTY CONTAINS 2.2 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND 2,367 FEET ALONG GRINDALL CREEK. AS A FUTURE PARK< THE PROPERTY WILL SERVE MORE THAN 2,000 RESIDENTS WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK OF THEIR HOME.4. 353.27 ACRES IN HENRICO COUNTY PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE CONSERVANCY WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CONSERVANCY'S DISREGARD ENTITY CRC LAND HOLDINGS LLC FOR ITS HISTORIC RESOURCE AND WATER QUALITY BENEFITS IN EASTERN HENRICO COUNTY, THE ACQUISITION OF WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES. THE CONSERVANCY HOLDS NINE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 12/31/21. THESE EASEMENTS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:1. 0.7099 ACRE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE JAMES RIVER PARK PRESERVING THE ICONIC VIEW OF DOWNTOWN RICHMOND FROM RICHMOND'S SOUTH SIDE.2. 0.7099 ACRE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND ADJACENT TO THE ABOVE PROPERTY PRESERVING THE ICONIC VIEW OF DOWNTOWN RICHMOND FROM RICHMOND'S SOUTHSIDE.3. 145.22 ACRE PROPERTY IN POWHATAN COUNTY KNOWN AS "NORWOOD" THAT IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND ADJACENT TO THE JAMES RIVER.4. 180.84 ACRE PROPERTY IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WITH ONE MILE OF FRONTAGE ON THE JAMES RIVER CONTAINING 80 ACRES OF IMMERGINT WETLANDS AND ADJACENT TO WETLANDS OWNED BY THE VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY'S RICE RIVERS CENTER AND ACROSS THE RIVER FROM 810-ACRE DUTCH GAP CONSERVATION AREA AND WITHIN THE VIEWSHED OF HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK.5. 96.31 ACRE PROPERTY IN HANOVER COUNTY WITH 42 ACRES PRIME FARMLAND SOILS AND 0.5 MILES OF ROAD FRONTAGE ALONG TAYLORS CREEK ROAD TO AFFORD TRAVELING PUBLIC VIEW ACROSS OPEN FIELDS AND OF HISTORIC WESTERHAM HOUSE.6. 49 ACRE PROPERTY IN HENRICO COUNTY WITH 32 ACRES PRIME FARMLAND SOILS AND SOILS OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE AND 970 FEET OF FRONTAGE ON THE JAMES RIVER AND 0.3 MILES OF ROAD FRONTAGE ALONG OSBORNE TURNPIKE TO AFFORD TRAVELING PUBLIC VIEW ACROSS OPEN FIELDS OF HISTORIC LANDSCAPE.7. 0.765 ACRE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND THE LIMITATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS OF WHICH WILL HELP PRESERVE THE VIEWSHED OF THE JAMES RIVER FROM LIBBY HILL, CONSISTENT WITH THE VA GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 658 IN 2007. 8. 3.036 ACRE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND WITH 307 FEET OF FRONTAGE AND FORESTED VEGETATED RIPARIAN BUFFER ON THE JAMES RIVER PARK NORTH BANK AND THE KANAWHA CANAL OF THE JAMES RIVER ALSO BEING IN A WATERSHED PRESERVATION AREA OF HIGH VALUE. 9. 1.33-ACRE EASEMENT IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND WITH A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY BEING DESIGNATED AS A HIGHEST PRIORITY LAND IN THE FLOODPLAINS AND FLOODING RESILIENCE CATEGORY OF CONSERVEVIRGINIA 3.0; APPROXIMATELY 744 FEET OF FOREST/VEGATATED RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG WETLANDS AND RATTLESNAKE CREEK.THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS FIFTEEN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 12/31/21. THESE EASEMENTS CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:1. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 1 EASEMENT WITH ENRICHMOND FOUNDATION, A TAX- EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION, ON 12/31/21. THIS EASEMENT CONSISTS OF 384.6 ACRES IN CITY OF RICHMOND.2. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 2 EASEMENTS WITH VIRGINIA OUTDOORS FOUNDATION, A VIRGINIA STATE AGENCY, ON 12/31/21. THESE EASEMENTS CONSIST OF 337.4 ACRES IN POWHATAN COUNTY AND 262 ACRES IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.3. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 7 EASEMENTS WITH THE HENRICOPOLIS SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ON 12/31/21. THESE EASEMENTS CONSIST OF 734 ACRES IN HENRICO COUNTY.4. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 3 EASEMENTS WITH JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION, A TAX- EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, ON 12/31/21. THESE EASEMENTS CONSIST OF 278.5 ACRES IN GOOCHLAND COUNTY.5. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 1 EASEMENT WITH CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ON 12/31/21. THIS EASEMENT CONSISTS OF 26.9 ACRES IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.6. THE CONSERVANCY CO-HOLDS 1 EASEMENT WITH THE LAND TRUST OF VIRGINIA, A TAX -EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, ON 12/31/21. THE EASEMENT CONSISTS OF 73.55 ACRES IN HANOVER COUNTY.THE CONSERVANCY HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL HABITAT, PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, AND PRESERVATION OF A HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT LAND AREA. IT DID NOT RELEASE, EXTINGUISH OR TERMINATE ANY EASEMENTS IN 2021. THE CONSERVANCY SOLD 379.4 ACRES AT MALVERN HILL FARM IN HENRICO COUNTY TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AS WELL AS 64.2 ACRES IN CHARLES CITY COUNTY PROTECTED BY A CONSERVATION EASEMENT HELD BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION TO RANDALL WELCH.IRC SECTIONS 170(H)(4)(B)(I) AND 170(H)(4)(B)(II) DO NOT APPLY, BECAUSE THE CONSERVANCY DOES NOT HOLD ANY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON A CERTIFIED HISTORIC STRUCTURE. THE CONSERVANCY SPENT 240 HOURS MONITORING, INSPECTING AND ENFORCING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN 2021. IT INCURRED $ 9,600.00 OF EXPENSES TO MONITOR, INSPECT AND ENFORCE EASEMENTS DURING 2021. ALL OF THE PROPERTIES, SUBJECT TO A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THE CONSERVANCY HOLDS OR CO-HOLDS ARE IN VIRGINIA.FORM 990-EZ, PART V, INFORMATION REGARDING PERSONAL BENEFIT CONTRACTS:THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT, DURING THE YEAR, RECEIVE ANY FUNDS, DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, TO PAY PREMIUMS ON A PERSONAL BENEFIT CONTRACT.THE ORGANIZATION, DID NOT, DURING THE YEAR, PAY ANY PREMIUMS, DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, ON A PERSONAL BENEFIT CONTRACT.