Friends of the Rappahannock receives new grant

From Friends of the Rappahannock
Friends of the Rappahannock was awarded a $15,000.00 grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment (VEE) to support their work in the headwaters of the Rappahannock River watershed.
The grant will support trout restoration projects and a program known as the Headwater Stream Initiative that works with property owners in six headwater counties to restore riparian buffers along streams and rivers.
“We are very grateful to have VEE supporting our headwater programs in 2017”, said Bryan Hofmann, FOR programs manager. “This funding is an essential part of growing our programs, reaching more people, and installing more projects to protect and improve clean water in the Rappahannock River.”
FOR and partner Piedmont Environmental Council hope to offer 100% cost share for riparian buffers to qualifying property owners in fall 2017 and spring 2018 through their headwater stream initiative.
Eight projects were installed in Rappahannock, Fauquier, and Orange Counties in the pilot of the project so far this spring. The result is approximately 10 acres of restored riparian buffers thanks to assistance from the Virginia Department of Forestry, John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District, local students, and volunteers. The plan for fall is to build on this momentum and expand the program into all six headwater counties.