F2F Conservation Easement Program Land conservation protects water quality by preventing the conversion of forests to other land uses Forests to Faucets Landowner Workshop 8 June 2010 Charlottesville, VA Mike Santucci, Forest Conservation Specialist VA Department of Forestry - Central Region

F2F Easement Program Purpose: –Offer a financial incentive to landowners to donate a conservation easement that provides direct protection of water quality and/or quantity by permanently retaining forest cover.

F2F Easement Program Graduated scale of payments for easements –Based on select easement ‘enhancements’ –Minimum of $3,500 –Maximum of $15,000 Available for –Whole property easements –Riparian buffer easements

F2F Easement Program: Whole Property Easements Minimum Property Criteria: –At least 75% forested –Borders or includes a perennial or intermittent stream –Minimum 50’ no-cow, no-plow buffer on all perennial and intermittent streams –Permanent retention of at least 50% of existing forest cover –Easement must include typical division and structure limitations

F2F Easement Program: Whole Property Easements Base payment: –Ranges from $3,500 for properties less than 40 acres up to $10,000 for properties 300 acres and larger.

F2F Easement Program: Whole Property Easements Enhancement payment rates: –$500 per 1000’ of perennial stream buffered –$1000 if all riparian buffers are forested –$500 per additional 50’ of buffer width –$1000 to increase forest cover retention from 50% to greater than 80%. –$500 per forfeited eligible division right

F2F Easement Program: Riparian Buffer Easements Criteria –Minimum buffer width of 50’ –All perennial and intermittent streams on property –Minimum length of 250’ Base payment –$2.50 per linear foot of stream protected Eligible for enhancement payments as previously described

F2F Easement Program Easement Selection –Program is for 2011 easements –Initial enrollment period until Fall 2010 –Properties ranked according to F2F criteria Second enrollment period possible –Depending on demand and funding availability

F2F Easement Program Questions? Contact Information: Mike Santucci, Forest Conservation Specialist VA Department of Forestry - Central Region 900 Natural Resources Drive Suite 800 Charlottesville, VA Thank you!