Modeling Urban Growth in Rockbridge County: The Risk to Rural Conservation Areas. Charles Dietzel, Duke University, March 18, 2002. This is a PowerPoint presentation reviewing the growth characteristics of Rockbridge County, with data and suggestions for future growth options. Clicking on this item will download the file (2.8 megabytes) to your computer. You need Microsoft PowerPoint to be able to read the file.
I-81 and Rail Alternatives
RAIL Solution. The web site of Virginia's RAIL Solution organization. This group advocates for the development of high speed intermodal rail as an alternative to widening the I-81 Interstate highway to accomodate increasing truck freight demands.
Virginians for High Speed Rail. Virginians for High Speed Rail (VHSR) is a private, not-for-profit, statewide education and advocacy group. It supports modern passenger rail and transit solutions to relieve worsening highway congestion, to augment limited and costly air travel, and to overcome other inhibitors of regional competitiveness, convenience, and quality of life.
Virginia Department of Transportation I-81 Corridor Improvement Project. VDOT's web site for information and updates on activities related to I-81 projects.
Local Government
Rockbridge Area Information
Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge Area Visitors Center
Rockbridge Area Information Line. An information & referral service providing information to the citizens of the Rockbridge County, Virginia area via telephone, the Internet and a periodic resource guide.
Woods Creek Restoration Project. Woods Creek Restoration Project is an action plan for protecting the character and quality of this highly valued natural and recreational resource.
Rockbridge Partnership. The Rockbridge Partnership provides comprehensive economic development services for Rockbridge County and the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. Its role is to manage the economic environment of the area helping existing businesses to grow and creating quality jobs for the region when new jobs are needed.
Environment Virginia Conference at VMI. Environment Virginia 2005 will take place April 11-13, 2005. This year's theme is: Environmental Strategies for One Virginia.
Boxerwood Educational Association and Gardens. Boxerwood Gardens is an Arboretum and Nature Center located just outside Lexington, VA. The Arboretum is a 15-acre mature garden of naturalistically planted trees and shrubs, featuring both native and unusual plant specimens. The Nature Center, which includes the Arboretum, consists of 31 acres of rolling Shenandoah Valley with at least 6 distinct habitats. It is the site of Boxerwood's many environmental educational programs.
Rockbridge Area Conservation and Environmental Businesses
Conservation Partners (Conservation Easement Tax Credit Brokers). The Commonwealth offers income tax credits as an incentive to encourage Virginia landowners to permanently protect their land with conservation easements. In 2002, the Virginia General Assembly enhanced the tax credit provision to allow landowners to sell their unused tax credits to other Virginia taxpayers. Tax credits can be used to offset a taxpayer's Virginia income tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Conservation Partners, LLC™ brings together landowners who hold unused tax credits and taxpayers who can purchase and use those credits.
Regional Information:
Central Shenandoah Planning District. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, which was chartered on September 30, 1969, is composed of five counties, five cities, and eleven towns. Each member government is entitled to planning and technical services assistance provided by the Commission. Selection of Commission Members is based on population, with each governmental subdivision represented. A majority of the Commission Board is comprised of local government elected officials.
Shenandoah Valley Regional Data Base. A variety of demographic and other reports.
Shenandoah Valley Partnership. The Shenandoah Valley Partnership invites you to explore the many business opportunities in the Shenandoah Valley.
Virginia State Agencies
Department of Environmental Quality
Department of Transportation (highways)
Department of Rail and Public Transit
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Department of Forestry
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia State Legislature:
Elected Officials
Virginia State Senators
Virginia House of Delegates
Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors
Other Regional and State Conservation Organizations
Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF). The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) was created by the General Assembly in 1966. VOF's purpose under law is to "promote the preservation of open space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, open-space and recreational areas of the Commonwealth." The primary mechanism for accomplishing VOF's mission is through open space easements.
Piedmont Environmental Council. The Piedmont Environmental Council is a 30-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Piedmont's rural economy, natural resources, history and beauty.
Valley Conservation Council. Valley Conservation Council promotes land use that sustains the farms, forests, open spaces, and cultural heritage of the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.
Sheandoah Valley Network. The Shenandoah Valley Network links organizations in the Valley working on specific transportation and development issues. The Network also connects Valley residents with state and national organizations and resources.
Federal Agencies
Local Media
Rockbridge Forum. Electronic Discussion for Rockbridge Folk
Rockbridge Advocate. Monthly news magazine.
News-Gazette. Weekly newspaper.
Rockbridge Weekly. Weekly newspaper
WLUR FM. Washington & Lee's FM radio station.
Trident Online. Independent student newspaper at Washington & Lee University.
WREL/WWZW Radio stations
Updated 2007 October