| On March 31st, 2003 the Trust purchased the
development rights on the Jack Rudolph 265-acre farm located along the
Cacapon River in Hardy County, West Virginia. With that agreement, the
Trust became the first entity in West Virginia to purchase a Farm and
Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) agricultural conservation easement.
Using federal dollars, the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) provides funds to purchase the development rights on qualifying
land. To qualify, the land must contain at least 50% prime, unique, or
other productive soil and/or the land must have historical or
archaeological resources. The purpose of the purchase is to prevent the
conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. Because the
USDA funds cover 50% of the appraised purchase value, the Trust must
raise the remaining purchase dollars. In this case, the Trust secured
matching dollars from the West Virginia Department of Highways Stream
Bank Mitigation Funds (Corridor H) and from the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation. As a wish set forth by Mr. Rudolph, a failing
riverbank will be restored and permanently protected from disturbance.
Riverbank stabilization funds will be provided by the West Virginia
Department of Highways in partnership with WV Division of Natural
Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In any agricultural conservation easement agreement purchased with
FRPP dollars, federal law requires that the easement agreement contain
language that permanently protects the land from development in
perpetuity; prevents the land from being converted to nonagricultural
uses; provides for the administration, management, and enforcement of
the easement; and requires management of the property in accordance with
a nutrient management plan developed by USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS), utilizes the standards and specifications
of the NRCS field office technical guide, and is approved by the
Conservation District.
The Trust has been granted funds from the federal government to
purchase the development rights on three contiguous farms in Hampshire
County along the Cacapon River close to the Rudolph farm. The Trust is
working to secure matching funds for this project.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, or want to
know if your land qualifies for funding, please contact Nancy Ailes at
the Trust (304) 856-1010.
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