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Lord Fairfax Soil and Water District tells Shenandoah supervisors county farmers received $2.66 million in conservation funds last year
Summary
Representatives from the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District told the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors that districtwide conservation investments were $6.1 million last year, with $2,660,000 directed to Shenandoah County across 114 projects; presenters described growing demand for state and local cost-share programs.
Representatives of the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District briefed the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors on the district's annual report and local accomplishments, saying farmers in Shenandoah County received $2,660,000 across 114 projects last fiscal year.
Joan Comener, introduced as the district chairwoman and an elected representative for Shenandoah County, thanked the county for payroll and financial support and highlighted the district's staffing and program work. "We have $8,600,000 in cost share funds alone," Comener said, noting that funding and expectations have grown year to year.
Mary Gessner, identified as chair of the district's conservation technical committee, provided the county-specific figures: "We had $6,100,000 invested in conservation throughout the district last year. And of that farmers in Shenandoah County received 2,660,000.00 for 114 projects," she said, adding that those projects improved more than 8,000 acres and protected roughly eight miles of stream through riparian fencing and buffers.
Dana Gochenauer, the district's conservation programs manager, outlined current-year activity and demand. "So far on the ag side of things, this fiscal year, we've already approved more than $1,300,000 worth of projects," she said, and reported that approximately $1,200,000 more is up for consideration at the next district board meeting. Gochenauer said stream-exclusion projects and animal-waste structures (winter feeding barns and poultry-litter sheds) remain the most requested practices.
Presenters emphasized these programs are voluntary and rely on producer participation and partnerships with federal and nonprofit groups. The district said it continues to coordinate with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on potential total maximum daily load (TMDL) projects for several impaired streams that could provide additional funding opportunities.
Supervisors praised the district's outreach and staff support during a brief Q&A and thanked the presenters. No board action was requested; presenters left the board with copies of the annual report and the board moved on to other agenda items.
