Record for the first 27 years
Our Mission: “…to promote the wise stewardship of natural resources and cultural heritage through education, advocacy, and action in order to protect and enhance the quality of life for present and future inhabitants of Rockbridge.
Throughout these 27 years RACC provided a way for groups of citizens who are interested in protecting and enhancing our environment to express their views to the local governments, to promote, and to take actions that are compatible with RACC’s mission statement. For many years, RACC has cooperated and worked with the planning departments of local governments.
RACC has operated on a very tight budget and depends mainly on contributions of time and effort from its members. Only one position, the executive director, who also contributes a large amount of time, is paid and that position was created about a decade ago. RACC has provided small amounts of seed money to help other conservation groups become organized and achieve their goals. In some cases such as the Boxerwood Education Association and the Valley Conservation Council these groups have grown and become separate on-going organizations. Some had limited goals; others have become closely associated with RACC and operate essentially as committees within RACC. In this way RACC has functioned as a council of groups that share the common goals spelled out in our mission statement.
1975-76: RACC’s Origin. In 1975 the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy funded a program designed to introduce people in Rockbridge County to land use planning. Ian McHarg from the University of Pennsylvania, John Rhenkamp, consultant, Peirce Lewis, and Walter Lewis from the University of Illinois were among the prominent planners who spoke during this Public Forum. A number of committees were formed to study aspects of local planning. In the following year a group of local citizens formed and incorporated the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council as a 501-3C corporation.
1976: Land Use Planning. Regional planning has continued to be a central focus of many RACC programs. Members were active in the development of the first Comprehensive Plan, in its later revisions, and in current work on zoning ordinances.
1977: RACC’S Newsletters. Since 1977 RACC has distributed newsletters to members and to local government officials. The length and timing of these have varied, but generally are issued quarterly.
Wilderness Advocacy. RACC committees have worked with the Virginia Wilderness Committee in identifying local areas in the National Forest suitable for wilderness designation. Areas protected by acts of Congress at this time include the James River Face and Thunder Ridge in Rockbridge County, and nearby Rich Hole, Saint Mary’s, Rough Mountain, Barbours Creek, Ramsay”s Draft, Shawver’s Run and the Mount Pl000easants National Scenic Area. In addition numerous areas in this region have been declared Roadless Areas in the National Forest, and work is underway to secure additional wilderness area designations in this region. These areas have become important attractions for tourists and refuges for those who want the wilderness experience. .
1978: Plantings north of Lexington. Most of the pine trees located around the College Square Shopping Center and behind Motel 8 were planted by RACC at this time. Seedlings were later planted around the Wal-Mart Shopping Center.
Virginia Byways. RACC proposed that the county support the designation of Routes 39 and 56 as By Ways. These were the first By-Ways in Rockbridge County.
1979: Chessie Trail. RACC approached the C & O Railroad about contributing its right of way to public use and the Nature Conservancy to receiving the right of way. The Nature Conservancy agreed to hold title for a short period of time during which RACC sought and obtained an agreement with the VMI Foundation to hold title, maintain and keep the trail open for public use.
1980: Goshen Quarry Reclamation. RACC worked with the Virginia Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to insure that an abandoned quarry located on the west side of Goshen Pass was reclaimed. Tree planting on this site has helped reduce erosion and cover the scar left after mining ceased.
Sign Ordinance. A RACC committee worked to advocate that the county adopt a sign ordinance that would limit the size and height of signs. That ordinance was adopted.
1981: Corridor Study. RACC obtained the help of William Reily, a landscape architect from Charlottesville, in making the first study of routes 11 and 60 leading into Lexington. Committees consisting of more than one hundred local citizens were formed to study geology, slopes, view sheds, location of historic sites and commercial areas along these routes. The results of this study were given to the County government and left in the Rockbridge Regional Library.
1983: Ag/Forestal Districts. RACC urged the county planning commission and Board of Supervisors to adopt an AG/Forestal District plan.
1984: Green Crossroads. The trees and shrubs that grace the median and land in the cloverleaf intersection of I64 and Route 11 north of Lexington are products of a RACC fund drive called “Green Crossroads”. Some of these funds have been used to plant pine seedling at a number of sites along Route 11 North and some of these funds are currently being used to improve the appearance of the entrance to Halls Drive-in Theatre.
Conservation Slide Show. Copies of a set of slides about the geology and environment of Rockbridge County designed to accompany an article in a Rockbridge Historical Society publication were given to all secondary schools in the County to make students more aware of the special characteristics of this region.
Virginia Wildlife Federation recognized RACC’s contribution to conservation by giving RACC its annual award.
1987: Chessie Trial Field Guide. Members of RACC who are familiar with the history and natural features in this area wrote a guidebook for the Chessie Trail. This book is on sale at The Bookery on Nelson Street in Lexington and may be obtained from the RACC office 463-2330.
1988: County Recycling System A joint effort of RACC and the League of Women Voters initiated the recycling system now in operation in Rockbridge County. These organizations obtained funding from the state litter fund. John Gunner, a local contractor donated materials and constructed a recycling center. Volunteers from RACC and the League operated the system for three years before the County took over operation of the center.
Lexington Bridge Abutment The southern abutment to the covered bridge that once crossed the Maury River at East Lexington was severely damaged during the flood of 1985. The abutment was topped during the flood and the downstream face was washed away. With grants from RACC and the City of Lexington, the abutment was protected from additional damage by placement of large rocks on the southern face. The abutment has not yet been restored.
House Mountain. The property near the top of House Mountain was put on sale several years earlier, but it was not sold at that time. When it was put up for sale again in 1987 RACC realized that a sale was likely. A committee was formed to explore the possibilities raising enough money to make the purchase and we embarked on a capital drive that succeeded in raising over $200,000 from nearly a thousand donors. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation provided the balance of the cost. The title is held by VOF and the property is managed by a group representing VOF, RACC, W & L, and VMI. The title will revert to RACC if VOF is discontinued.
1989: Annual Rockbridge Community Clean-up. These community efforts have been held annually since 1989. The County government has proved large containers to hold the huge quantities of debris picked up at many local dumps. Barger & Sons has provided heavy equipment used to recover large items such as sofas, refrigerators, etc that have been dumped along mountainside roads.
Cogeneration Controversy. Following the announcement by the Hanson Company that they planned to build a coal fired cogeneration plant in the county, RACC called for a public meeting to make people aware of these plans. RACC committees were formed to examine the possible adverse effects of the operation. These included air pollution, transportation of coal on local roads, impacts on the local water supply, and waste disposal. A separate organization named CLEAN AIR formed to oppose the cogeneration plant more aggressively. After numerous studies by RACC and CLEAN AIR, the County government opposed the plant. Eventually the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE and the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY intervened and the construction of the facility was not permitted.
1990: Valley Conservation Council. RACC provided seed money to help establish the VCC. These organizations have cooperated on numerous activities especially those related to conservation easements and purchase of development rights.
1992: Monitoring of Water Quality. In this year RACC formed a committee called the MWM (Maury River Monitoring committee). This group has monitored water quality in the Maury River and in a number of its tributaries, notably Woods Creek in Lexington. The committee has worked with a local group called the Maury River Alliance, which is closely related to VMI and W&L.
1996: Corridor Study. RACC assisted Rockbridge County in making comprehensive studies of the, highway routes leading into Lexington.
1997: Visioning. Rockbridge County and RACC co-sponsored a daylong seminar produced by the Alliance for Community Education from Annapolis Maryland. This program brought prominent speakers from the University of California at Berkley and other communities including Manteo, North Carolina that have successfully undergone major changes as a result their vision of the type of community they would like to build. The program introduced the County, chamber of commerce, and officials of Lexington and Buena Vista to the approaches used make communities socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable while recognizing the “sacred places” in the community and non-traditional economic development planning. This program led to the development of “Imagine Rockbridge” that followed in 1998.
Waste Watchers Programs & Roots and Shoots. These two programs were initiated at local schools through grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to RACC. Subsequently the educational program was moved to the former home of Dr. Bob Muger where the Boxerwood Education Association was established to preserve this exceptional horticultural center. The program at Boxerwood is still available local school children.
1998: “Imagine Rockbridge” This organization has played an important role in making the citizens of Rockbridge County aware of the changes that are taking place in this region and their opportunity to influence those changes. A number of public meetings and action committees involved over a thousand people of this region. Imagine Rockbridge identified a sequence of actions that should be taken in the following years including many activities that RACC should undertake. This program involved more citizens of the county in the processes of planning than any previous effort. Many RACC members were active in the development of Imagine Rockbridge.
Boxerwood Education Association. The Boxerwood Education Association was funded in the mid 1990s by a grant from EPA to RACC. Federal funding ended in 1998. RACC continued to assist Boxerwood financially. The association obtained 501 3C status and has succeeded in raising money as a separate organization.
Jordan’s Point Park. Representatives from RACC served on the on-going committee to develop the park at Jordan’s Point, a project supported by the City of Lexington and the Historic Lexington Foundation.
1999: Lexington Tree Committee. RACC provided seed money to the Lexington Tree Committee, a group instrumental in championing tree care and planting in Lexington. Under LTC leadership, the City enacted a tree ordinance and created a Tree Board.
Protection of the Moore’s Creek Reservoir. A committee interested in the Moore’s Creek Reservoir area, which is owned by Lexington, formed to work toward preservation of public access to this area located southwest of Lexington and formerly a water supply for Lexington. The basin of this creek drains 2500 acres of undeveloped land. This committee sponsored a field trip to the area in 2003, has actively sought buyers for the tract that would preserve it for public use, and monitors actions by the Lexington City Council and the Board of Supervisors related to this property. .
2000: Friends of Brushy Hill. RACC advised a group of local citizens interested in establishing a park or maintaining the area on Brushy Hill about how to become organized. Most of the members of this group are members of the conservation council and the group remains closely affiliated with RACC.
Rockbridge Homeowners Conservation Guide. RACC published this 100-page book that is designed to assist people who are building new homes or remodeling their home. Publication was financed by a grant from the Beirne Carter Foundation. The book contains sections devoted to site planning, natural hazards, suggestions for design and maintenance, landscaping, legal considerations, recreational opportunities, and conservation history in the county.
Recent RACC Accomplishments
Local Ground Water: