Complete article at
https://potomac.org/blog/2018/12/10/300-acre-land-deal
Discover why their newest land deal is good news for clean water.
For Carl Hovermale and his siblings, Bear Garden is more than a piece of land. It’s what the family calls, “the home place.”
Nestled on the outskirts of Cross Junction, Virginia, Bear Garden’s 270-acres of streams, fields, and sprawling forests have been home to Carl’s family for over one hundred years.
Bear Garden Run, a native brook trout stream, meanders through this land on its way to Sleepy Creek, a tributary to the Potomac River. As an accredited land trust, Potomac Conservancy has worked closely with the Hovermales to protect this waterway and the family’s land through a conservation easement.
This fall, that dream became a reality. Bear Garden and its namesake stream are now protected forever.
“[Bear Garden] is an integral part of our being,” Carl explains, “and we want it preserved hopefully for our descendants and future generations. We believe that this area with its pristine trout stream, picturesque rock cliffs, and wildlife habitat is worthy of preservation from any kind of development.”
At a time when rural areas are faced with encroaching development pressure, land conservation is one of the best tools we have to protect the health of the Potomac River. In our 25-year history, Potomac Conservancy has worked with families like the Hovermales to permanently protect over 15,000 acres of streamside lands and forests. We thank the generous support of the Virginia Environmental Endowment, private foundations, and members who empower us to protect healthy lands and clean streams.
