Smith Creek Unveiled as Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Showcase Watershed

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills unveiled Smith Creek as Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Showcase Watershed during a June 18 public event at Valley Pike Farm in Rockingham County.

Smith Creek joins the Upper Chester River in Maryland and Pennsylvania’s Conewago Creek as one of three showcases designed to demonstrate what can be achieved by combining strong partnerships, sound science and funding to solve natural resource problems in targeted areas.

USDA has committed additional funding and staff in each watershed to help demonstrate water quality improvements through expanded producer outreach efforts, use of innovative conservation practices and intensive conservation planning, implementation and monitoring. 

Learn more about the Showcase Watershed Program. View a map of the Smith Creek Watershed.

USDA Announces Initiative to Improve Longleaf Pine Forest Ecosystems

Virginia will receive $140,845 in financial assistance to help improve the health of longleaf pine forests. Using an integrated landscape approach, this initiative seeks to restore longleaf pines on private lands and improve plant and animal habitat in nine southeastern states.

Longleaf pine forests are located in the following Virginia counties:  Accomack, Brunswick, Chesapeake City, Dinwiddie, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wright, James City, Matthews, Northampton, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and York.

The initiative is funded through NRCS’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Read the full the Longleaf Pine Restoration Initiative release.