Essex County Countryside Alliance Visit the ECCA Website The Essex County Countryside Alliance is a group of concerned landowners and citizens of Essex County and beyond, who are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the Natural, Scenic and Historical Resources of Essex County, Virginia and the entire Rappahannock River Valley. We believe the choices we make today will affect our land forever. We work to educate and encourage others to consider the long term options and substantial benefits of preserving their land. Farmland lost is farmland lost forever What is our Mission Statement? ECCA was incorporated in Virginia in February, 2007, to promote and protect the rural character of Essex County - preserving farms and forests, natural and historic resources - for the benefit of future generations. We do this work through education and outreach to Essex County landowners about voluntary conservation options to permanently protect the land. What are we? ECCA is not a land trust. Instead, ECCA promotes the array of conservation options offered by a host of conservation groups operating in Essex County. Options include the donation of a conservation easement to a qualified conservation organization in Virginia, such as the Middle Peninsula Land Trust; the full- or partial sale of a conservation easement to a state agency, like the Virginia Outdoors Foundation; a land management memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the local Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge office; or the outright donation of land to a public or private conservation agency, such as the Middle Peninsula Public Access Authority or The Nature Conservancy. Who are we? ECCA board members are themselves landowners who have or hope to donate conservation easements on their land. They have the experience to reach out to and educate landowners about the potential for conservation easements and other conservation options and to direct landowners to the agencies most suited to meet their long-term needs. What are our Goals? We work to preserve the unique qualities of Essex County on Virginia's Middle Peninsula by: Advising landowners of the economic benefits of conservation easements and other land protection tools. Educating the public about the high value to the community of protecting land in perpetuity. Maintaining productive farms, forests and fisheries. Retaining and enhancing wildlife habitat, wetlands and other productive natural resources. Protecting ample supplies of safe drinking water. Preserving historic resources. Providing recreational opportunities on land and water. Annual Photo Contest The ECCA photo contest awards will be given to Miss Cabell Edmunds and Ms. Logan Chambers who will both receive a check for $100.00 each for their winning entries.  ECCA board members Bob Baylor and Jay Hundley will be making the presentation.       Cabell Edmunds         Logan Chambers     Web page last updated: February 14, 2010 [Click here to report a correction or new information for this web page]