One Mile of James River and 181 Acres Protected at River’s Bend

Originally published March 2018 · p. 3

RICHMOND, Va.—The path of the James River takes many twists and turns along its 348mile journey from the Allegheny Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay yet only one place has come to be named “River’s Bend.” Several hundred homes in eastern Chesterfield County occupy a neighborhood that shares the same name and River’s Bend Golf Course operated there from 1991 until 2015 when the failing business declared bankruptcy. The 180-acre property, formerly the 18-hole golf course, could have been developed into a dense residential subdivision with an additional 100-homes built along the James River. Instead, the property’s owner, Riversbend Land LLC, protected the wetlands, views, and one mile of shoreline with a conservation easement held by the Capital Region Land Conservancy (CRLC) that also provides for public access. Owner and easement donor Neil Amin remarked, “Finalizing this easement was a great way to end the year. Having grown up in River’s Bend, I care about the future of this area and am proud to be able to help protect it and share it with the community.” CRLC has been evaluating options for a conservation easement at River’s Bend since 2010. The property sits at the nexus of a wealth of natural, historic, and scenic resources. It adjoins 144 acres of wetlands owned by Virginia Commonwealth University’s River Rice Center and only two parcels separate it from another 25-acre privately owned property under conservation easement for its bald eagle habitat with CRLC since 2005. It lies across the river from Chesterfield County’s Dutch Gap Conservation Area, comprised of 810 acres of woods and wetlands. Presquile National Wildlife Refuge and the Brown and Williamson Conservation Area are also nearby. River’s Bend is within the direct viewshed of Henricus Historical Park, a 10-acre public park interpreting the site of the English colony’s second settlement in 1611. The property is adjacent to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, designated by the National Park Service as a water trail that follows Smith’s 1607– 1609 voyages charting the land and waterways along the James River and Chesapeake Bay. Kirkland Turner, Director of Planning for Chesterfield County, pointed to the easement’s compatibility with other nearby conservation areas when confirming that the conservation easement is consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan’s direction to prioritize, “the county’s unique natural resources specifically along the James River to support tourism, enhance recreational opportunities, and protect water quality through public and private cooperation.” Under Virginia’s Conservation Easement Act, a conservation easement is a voluntary act by the property owner and must be compatible with the locality’s comprehensive plan. The newly protected land includes 85 acres of emergent wetlands and forested or shrub wetlands. The easement’s terms include 100-foot buffer protections for the property’s mile of James River shoreline and 35-foot buffer protections for the wetland areas as well as the 11,000 feet of stream bank and 2,600 feet of pond border. The existing infrastructure includes over two miles of paths that will be available for public access open year round. Chesterfield County Bermuda District Board of Supervisors, Dorothy A. Jaeckle noted, “River’s Bend is a great example of balancing growth and change with respect for our natural resources and our history. Private land conservation plays an important part in fulfilling our long term strategic goals for Chesterfield County along the James River for the benefit of all our citizens.” In 2012, the Capital Region Collaborative identified the James River as one of seven priority areas and charged the community to celebrate the region’s most important natural resource as “a centerpiece for entertainment, recreation and commerce.” Specifically, the Collaborative made recommendations to improve public access to the river through a strategic plan. Published in 2017, the Regional Rivers Plan outlines goals which include “a public access network throughout the region that allows people to connect to the James River in a variety of ways and that enhances and expands existing network elements.” CRLC Board of Directors President, Brian Watson concluded, “We at CRLC are so proud to be a partner in conserving River’s Bend. Like many conservation easements, this was neither a simple nor speedy process. Our dedicated staff and Board members recognized the remarkable opportunity for public benefit and connecting with other protected areas as part of a large scale scenic landscape.”