Non-Agriculture Conservation Programs Available
The Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) is Virginia’s conservation cost-share program for non-agricultural projects that provides financial incentives and technical/educational assistance to Loudoun County homeowners and businesses who install Best Management Practices (BMP’s) in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed to create more watershed-friendly landscapes.
This Program assists landowners with practices like Conservation Landscaping, Rain Gardens, Dry Wells, Permeable Pavers or Pavement, large scale rainwater harvesting and more. VCAP projects, much like the ag cost share program have 5–10-year contract agreements and having varying levels of cost share or flat rate payments.
The Pet Waste Station cost share program helps cover the costs for communities installing pet waste stations (bag dispensers and trash cans), as well as up to three years of maintenance. Picking up pet waste keeps excess nutrients and bacteria from washing into Loudoun’s streams which can harm habitat for stream life and pollute drinking water sources.
LSWCD also maintains the popular septic pump out program to incentivize regular pumping and inspection of septic systems. Residents are eligible for a $50.00 rebate for costs associated with pumping out septic tanks every five years.
Reach out to see if you are eligible.
Why do Loudoun County’s waters need improving?
Non-point source pollution (from roads, parking lots, sidewalks, homes, lawns and offices) is the leading cause of water quality problems. Rainfall or snowmelt from rooftops, suburban lawns, golf courses, and paved surfaces picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants depositing them into ponds, streams, wetlands, ground water, and eventually the Potomac River. Common pollutants found in our waterways from stormwater runoff include fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, oil and greases, litter, pet waste, soil/sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, bacteria and heavy metals. This can be harmful to aquatic life, cause detrimental algal blooms, and contaminate local waters used for drinking water, swimming, fishing and boating. Loudoun County is part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This means these pollutants in our local waterways eventually drain to the Chesapeake Bay.