Potomac Conservancy protects 170-acre forest and announces plans for a new conservation corridor in the Shenandoah Valley
An upstream wonderland to become a part of a new conservation corridor
ALL imageS courtesy of bill macfarland, www.macfarlandphoto.net
In the late 1950s, a group of neighbors purchased over 200 acres of land in the Back Creek watershed, a Potomac River tributary that’s a stone’s skip away from Winchester, Virginia. They built quaint summer homes on the property for their families to enjoy its natural beauty and lakeside views and often welcomed visitors and friends.
Tupper Dorsey was one of them. A lifelong resident of the quiet, bucolic region of the Shenandoah Valley, he used to play in the wooded wonderland as a child and fell in love with its rolling forested hills, open spaces, and waters. Thirty years later, he became a member of the organization owning the land.
The setting was idyllic for raising a family. “We fished there and took our children for walks in the woods,” Tupper reminisced, adding, “It’s a wonderful place.” It’s easy to imagine why. The dense forests and calm waters are endless with activity. Towering tulip poplars, white pines, and every variety of oak surround a lake that attracts turkey, deer, fishers, woodpeckers, ruffed grouse, and of course – ever-curious kids.
“My children learned and carry with them to this day an appreciation for nature and animals,” remarked Tupper.
Observing rapid development in neighboring Frederick County, Virginia, several of the owners began to consider the future of the site they treasured dearly. Would it remain a natural splendor or would estates spring up around it, fragmenting habitat and polluting the lake that brought them so much joy?
Determined to save this place for future generations, the owners searched for an experienced land trust and were put in touch with Potomac Conservancy. Working closely with the landowners, we helped them realize their dream by placing a conservation easement on 170 acres of their property last fall. This powerful conservation tool legally protects the locality’s lush forests and freshwaters so they will never be destroyed.
What’s more, the environmental impact of this easement does not stop at its boundaries.
Potomac Conservancy to form a new
conservation corridor in the Shenandoah Valley
Through our Land Conservation program, Potomac Conservancy is working with the community and partners to conserve a Back Creek corridor, a network of neighboring lands that protect continuous miles of streams, forest, and wildlife habitat. This beautiful property will join dozens of others in what will become an impressive 2,000-acre hub of privately conserved lands within the next four years.
The Back Creek Conservation Corridor is part of a larger strategy by Potomac Conservancy to protect and restore 70 percent of streamside forests in the headwaters region, forever safeguarding them from deforestation and pollution. As a nationally accredited land trust, we have protected over 16,300 acres in the last thirty years.
The benefits of conservation outlive us. It’s truly special.
The generosity of our members empowers Potomac Conservancy to protect the natural places we love and leave a lasting legacy of clean water, thriving wildlife, and healthy communities. Learn more about our clean water successes in our 2023 Annual Impact Report.