A while back, the Friends of Dragon Run established a goal of protecting 5% of the watershed. You’ll be pleased to know that the 5% goal has been surpassed, if only by a few acres and percentage points. By my calculations, 4,590 acres are protected in Dragon Run. With a watershed size of 89,771 acres, the 4,590 acres is 5.11%. This represents great work and dedication by a number of partners, and could not have been accomplished without groups like the Friends of Dragon Run.

Since I last reported to you, a new state forest addition has been conveyed to the Virginia Department of Forestry. A public announcement about that will be forthcoming. The Nature Conservancy acquired the 209-acre Clay tract along Route 610 and just below the FODR property at Route 602. This tract put us over the 5% mark and will be transferred to the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (PAA) in mid-April. The PAA will manage this property subject to conservation restrictions along with the Dragon Bridge tract to the north. The partners have also protected 808 acres of Bald cypress swamp, one of our top conservation targets. This represents about 16% of the Bald cypress conservation area in the Dragon. Additional lands will be protected by the Friends of Dragon Run by the time this newsletter is printed. So, our work proceeds.

The question before us now: “Is 5% enough?” I hope you’ll join me in saying, “No.”

The goal, of course, is to effectively conserve the Dragon while preserving its traditional uses, culture and economies.

That doesn’t mean the Conservancy, FODR or other conservation groups have to buy or own it all. We are working on conservation easements and conservation buyer projects that keep land in private hands. Given the right opportunity, the Conservancy looks to acquire and manage some forest land for a mature mixed pine and hardwood. We feel confident that we’ll be able to do that and that many more opportunities to build on the 5% exist.

The watershed is still threatened and much work needs to be done. I look forward to providing you with an update about some additional protected lands in a future newsletter.

In the meantime, you can admire the 5% … from the rearview mirror. -