Our Land
To date, Coastal Virginia Conservancy, formerly known as the Living River Trust, has conserved over 1,100 acres of forests, wetlands, and shorelines along the Elizabeth River that provide open spaces to recreate, reduce flooding and enhance resiliency, protect critical habitat, and ensure clean air and water. As the stewards of these conserved properties, the Trust ensures the conservation values are protected to provide the greatest public benefit.
Listed below are some of the properties the Living River Trust has protected through fee simple acquisition or conservation easement.
Locust Lane
Tucked away in a corner of Portsmouth along the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River, the Locust Lane property is just over 5 acres of urban oasis and was the first conservation easement to be recorded in the City of Portsmouth. As the holder of the conservation easement, the Conservancy will ensure the conservation values, including tidal wetlands, riparian buffers, a small tidal tributary and even a protected oyster bed, are protected forever. The property has been owned by the same family for generations.
Ferry Point Park
Located in the Avalon Woods neighborhood of Virginia Beach, Ferry Point Park is a new public park providing recreational opportunities to the public, including mulched walking trails, shoreline fishing, and a canoe/kayak launch (coming soon). The Conservancy purchased this 9-acre tract of wetlands and forest from a willing seller who was facing more frequent flooding and subsequently transferred the property to the City for development of the park. Project partners included the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the City of Virginia Beach, and local civic league. The Conservancy remains engaged in the build-out and stewardship of the park.
New Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank
The New Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank is located in Chesapeake and consists of tidal and non-tidal wetlands, and forested areas along New Mill Creek, a tributary to the Elizabeth River. The Conservancy holds a conservation easement over the property, ensuring that the property will remain undeveloped and in a natural state for perpetuity.
Chesapeake Wetland Mitigation Bank
The Chesapeake Wetland Mitigation Bank is located in the historic Sunray community in Chesapeake and consists of over 500 acres of forested non-tidal wetlands and upland areas adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The Conservancy holds a conservation easement over the property, ensuring that it will remain undeveloped and protecting its conservation values in perpetuity.