New Kent County, VA – Rockahock is an Algonquian word meaning “sand bar.” It also refers to an important site along the Pamunkey River situated across from the Pamunkey Indian Reservation established in 1646. In the 18th century, a property known as Rockahock in New Kent County was part of more than 6,200 acres of land owned by John Custis (1678-1749) and passed to his son Daniel Parke Custis (1711-1757). Upon the death of the latter, the land became the dower of his widow Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802) who was married in 1759 to George Washington (1732-1799). The Washingtons referred to the notable property as “White House,” where Union soldiers burned the house when they retreated after the Seven Days Battles during the American Civil War. Today, 568 acres of the historic Rockahock property are permanently protected by a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC).
Capital Region Land Conservancy began its work to conserve this important place in 2017 with the prior owner Roberta Runion, who passed away in 2021. The present owners Rockahock LLC continued the discussions of permanently protecting the land. Through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS), CRLC was able to purchase 50% of the value of the development rights being extinguished through an Agricultural Land Easement (ALE). The easement ensures farming will forever be part of the landscape at Rockahock as it has been for the past 350 years.
“I’m glad to see Rockahock receive federal funding to preserve essential and historically significant farmland. Agriculture remains the top private industry in Virginia, so it’s important to me to champion the needs of farmers and producers across the Commonwealth. Moving forward, I’m focused on ensuring that we pass another strong, bipartisan Farm Bill to advance and fund more projects like this conservation easement,” said Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA).
Dr. Edwin Martinez Martinez, NRCS’ State Conservationist for Virginia, added “The Farm Bill financial assistance provided toward the purchase of the agricultural land easement at Rockahock marks the largest amount ($2.6 million) awarded to a single project in Virginia and demonstrates the demand for additional funding for farmland preservation in rapidly developing areas where conversion of prime agricultural lands is at risk.”
The Rockahock property contains approximately 362 acres of USDA designated Prime Soils, including 228 acres of Pamunkey Soil, which is the State Soil of Virginia. While remarkable for its agricultural farmland, conversion of the property was highly probable due to growth in New Kent County. According to the Census Bureau, New Kent was the 10th Fastest-growing locality in the nation in 2023 with an annual population growth of 4.7%. Over the past 40 years, the County’s population has risen 208% from 8,900 to 26,134 residents. Meanwhile, farmland acres decreased 28% in the same period. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (“DCR”) Virginia ConservationVision Development Vulnerability Model rates the property between 11 and 50 for its relative likelihood (on a scale of 100) to be developed by 2029.
Preserving this high-quality farmland, supports Virginia’s largest private industry – Agriculture. An Economic Impact Study of Agriculture and Forestry by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Policy at the University of Virginia reports $42.7 billion in annual direct impact from agriculture employing more than 143,000 Virginians. The combined agriculture and forestry industry had total economic impact of nearly $106 billion, or 9.3% of the annual gross domestic product. Virginia’s annual agricultural exports totaled $1.5 billion.
“As a longtime resident of rural Virginia, I know how critical it is that we support conservation of farmland, which powers our rural economies,” said Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01). “The Farm Bill includes essential funding for conservation easements on prime farmland, strengthening rural job markets and enhancing food security. I was proud to support this critical piece of legislation, which will make a lasting impact in New Kent County for generations to come.”
In addition to its significant history and contribution to Virginia’s agricultural economy, the Rockahock property has significant natural resources that will also be protected. It contains more than 2.5 miles of frontage along the tidal Pamunkey River and its confluence with Saint Peter’s Creek and White House Creek. The river is classified as federal and state endangered waters for six anadromous fish species including the alewife, American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, blueback herring, and white perch. Along with 54-acres of wetlands, a dam creates a 37-acre pond, that provides irrigation to the agricultural fields.
ConserveVirginia 3.0 ranks Rockahock within the Top 10 Percent of land across Virginia to be conserved and specifically cites its priority in the Floodplains & Flooding Resilience Category, as well as Protected Landscapes Resilience, Scenic Preservation, and Natural Habitat and Ecosystem Diversity. Rockahock is located in the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers Important Bird Area, and a significant portion of the property is within the Cumberland Marsh – Chamberlayne Point Conservation Site with its Tidal Freshwater Marsh (Wild Rice – Mixed Forbs Type) natural community. With nearby Pamunkey Indian Reservation and Cumberland Marsh Natural area Preserve, the property contributes to an outstanding ecological core and the Natural Land Network of connected wildlife corridors.
Also notable to the property is the identification of a critically imperiled plant species, Spongy Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis ssp. Spongiosa) with a G5/S1 ranking meaning it has a low risk of extinction but a high risk of extirpation from Virginia. It was identified by CRLC staff during a site visit and confirmed by staff at DCR’s Natural Heritage Division. Fewer than 5 populations of this plant species are documented in Virginia.
Managing member for Rockahock LLC, Henry Shield, said “Rockahock is an incredible, one-of-a-kind place that rarely becomes available to purchase. When we had the opportunity to acquire it from Roberta then work to conserve it, we were compelled by how important a site it really is. We look forward to protecting even more acreage in the next phase and completing Roberta’s vision. CRLC staff couldn’t have been better to work through this process and to illuminate aspects of the property that will make us better stewards of the property into the future.”
The Pamunkey River is included in the National Park Service’s Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail while Old River Road (Route 608) is designated as a State Scenic Byway and attributed to being part of the route where Captain John Smith was marched after his capture by Opechancanough in December 1607. The route was also used by George Washington and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau during their 14-week journey over 680 miles from Rhode Island to Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War.
Thomas W. Evelyn, Chair of New Kent County Board of Supervisors, added, “New Kent County is grateful to the owners of Rockahock for their commitment to land conservation. Preserving the rural character of the county, preserving farm and forest land for generations to come is a core value of the Board and an endeavor we encourage others to pursue.”
“Once again, CRLC’s work to protect places that contribute significantly to our agricultural economy, cultural heritage, and natural biodiversity culminate in a substantial federal grant leading to the largest conservation easement our organization will steward. Rockahock is one of our region’s most important sites and we are forever grateful to the landowner for sharing our vision to preserve it in perpetuity” said L. Preston Bryant Jr., President of the Board of Directors for Capital Region Land Conservancy.
About Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC): Capital Region Land Conservancy is dedicated to conserving the natural and historic resources of Virginia’s Richmond region for the benefit of people and nature. The nonprofit land trust serves the City of Richmond and 19 surrounding counties. Since 2005, CRLC has helped protect more than 15,000 acres, including easements on more than 5,000 acres.
Contact: Parker Agelasto, Executive Director parker@capitalregionland.org
Read the article Rockahock in New Kent Now Protected Forever in the Richmond Times-Dispatch; Tuesday, November 26, 2024
