'One place to tell so many different stories'
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Over the centuries, the land that lies at the confluence of the James River and Four Mile Creek has been home to indigenous people as far back as 2000 BCE, as well as to Arrohattoc tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy and to some of the first Europeans to settle the New World.
The area known as Deep Bottom also played a central role in significant Civil War battles, including the landmark Battle of New Market Heights, for which 14 members of the U.S. Colored Troops received the Medal of Honor.
On June 3, more than 350 acres of that land officially opened to the public, and the site took on its newest designation: the Varina LandLab at Deep Bottom.
Fittingly, the LandLab ribbon-cutting ceremony coincided with National Trails Day, and visitors celebrated by exploring some of the site's four miles of trail. Parker Agelasto, executive director of the Capital Region Land Conservancy, led a history tour, while CRLC Land Stewardship Manager Ashley Moulton led a walk exploring native wildflowers.
Help for habitats
In his remarks at the ribbon-cutting, Agelasto cited a multitude of opportunities the LandLab will provide to the community, serving not only as a nature site for the public to enjoy, but also as an outdoor classroom for local K-12 and university students to learn about biodiversity and land stewardship.
But the recreational and educational benefits are only part of what the LandLab offers, Agelasto said, noting that the Deep Bottom site will serve as a model of sustainability, ecological restoration, and the principle of "Think globally, act locally."
Gifted to CRLC in 2021, the acreage has been protected since 2017 by conservation easements co-held by CRLC and Henricopolis Soil & Water Conservation District. With help from partners, CRLC has restored an eroding drainage area, removed invasive species, and planted more than 1,000 trees to expand the riparian buffer.
Among long-term goals for the LandLab are maintaining nearly 100 acres of native grassland and establishing another 100 acres of pine savannah – vital wildlife habitats that have been shrinking not only in Virginia, but worldwide.
Several hundred different species – including 100 species of birds – have been identified on the property, and Virginia Commonwealth University biology students have been studying the area's importance as a way station and temporary habitat for migratory birds in particular.
"This is a local initiative," Agelasto said, "on a global scale – hosting migrating birds who need places to stop and replenish."
Planting the seed
Another way the site will help to promote sustainability – while helping Virginia economically – is through CRLC's partnership with the Clifton Institute and Virginia State University.
Moulton explained that CRLC is harvesting seeds from native plants at the LandLab, and plants grown from those seeds – which are not commercially available – are being cultivated at VSU for distribution to farmers. The new cash crop can be used to collect seed for wildlife restoration efforts and pollinator initiatives. In addition, the expanded availability of native plants could represent a future source of seed for the Virginia Department of Transportation, which currently buys its seed from Pennsylvania.
Agelasto pointed out that the LandLab will in one way or another support all of Virginia's top three industries (led by agriculture, and followed by tourism and forestry). In addition to the site's agricultural and forestry projects, he said, the Virginia Capital Trail adjacent to the LandLab also draws tourists to the area – and another trail has been proposed that would follow a route from Dorey Park to Deep Bottom.
The proposed trail from Dorey, Agelasto added, would have a history component in addition to the recreational amenities, since it would roughly align with the path of Civil War troops – and will surely appeal to tourists as well. Among other historic resources in the area are Civil War earthworks, a cemetery, and archeological sites, which CRLC is working to preserve and protect.
Agelasto and Moulton wrapped up remarks by thanking numerous supporters, from the Ruritans who built informational kiosks and the VCU students who researched landscape management to Luck Stone, suppliers of parking lot gravel – and, of course, landowner and easement donor Randy Welch.
"We are very fortunate to have one place to tell so many different stories," Agelasto said, "and where the community can come learn about them."
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For details about the LandLab, visit https://capitalregionland.org/projects/varina-landlab/.
