Success Stories

 

Restoring the James River at The State Farm

Spring 2021 Buffer Planting at the State Farm, Goochland

Spring 2021 Buffer Planting at the State Farm, Goochland

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Problem:

A comprehensive conservation plan was needed to keep cattle from steams and restore streamside forests and wetlands.

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Solution:

The State Farm Task Force was formed in 2020 to integrate exclusion fencing, forest buffers, training opportunities, and wetland restoration.

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Outcome:

Final outcome will result in over 100 acres of riparian forest buffer,19 miles of cattle exclusion fencing, and 20 acres of wetland.

Partners with a plan

State Farm has been in need of a Conservation Plan for years, but due to size and complexity, a strong collaborative approach had been missing. That’s where the Consortium comes in. The State Farm conservation plan was designed by the State Farm Task Force, a team of local, state, and federal agencies and private-nonprofit organizations that bring considerable expertise and financial support to the project. The plan calls for:

  • Over 100,000 linear feet (19 miles) of fencing to exclude cattle from streams
  • Restoration of over 100 acres of streamside forests and 20 acres of wetlands
  • Incorporating conservation training opportunities for offenders and DOC staff following the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals (CBLP) Buffers Certificate developed through the Consortium.

A strong start

The first phase started in Spring 2021. Thus far 5,551 linear feet of exclusion fencing and 12.6 acres of riparian forest buffer have been installed on the Goochland side of the State Farm. Over 2 rounds of CBLP-Buffers Certificate training series, 18 individuals have attended trainings with 13 receiving their Certificate. Six inmates and four DOC staff participated in a Fixed-Knot Fencing Workshop in fall 2020. The Department of Environmental Quality has started collecting water quality data on unimproved streams on the Powhatan side of the property and plan to continue taking samples before and after installation of exclusion fencing and buffers.

Planning and implementation are expected to continue into 2023 or beyond due to the size of the project. The breaking of ground at the State Farm and the success of strengthening collaboration across agencies and organizations is an inspiration for what we can do together.

Before

Before

After installations

After installations

September 2021 Consortium Tour at State Farm

Covering approximately 4,000 acres along both sides of the James River in Powhatan and Goochland lies the Virginia Department of Corrections State Farm facility. This working farm includes a 200-head dairy operation, 1100-head beef cattle operation, 1200 acres of grain, and a variety of other cropland and processing plants.

About the Project

Location: Powhatan and Goochland Counties, Virginia

Year Installed: 2021 and ongoing

Acres of Riparian Forest Buffer: Over 100

Improvements: Cattle exclusion fencing, riparian forest buffer restoration through planting and natural regeneration, wetland restoration, and training opportunities.

Key Partners: James River Association, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Corrections, Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District, The Nature Conservancy, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Installed by: Buffer installed by Conservation Services, Inc. and Task Force partners