Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection

The Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection is dedicated to conserving the natural resources and rural character of Rappahannock County, Virginia.

In all our programs and activities, RLEP’s values – rooted in conserving Rappahannock County’s priceless natural resources, farmland, scenic beauty and rural character – guide the organization. RLEP supports policies and actions that protect and enhance these values and opposes those that threaten or degrade them.

RLEP’s programs include:

Zoning: In 2025 and beyond, RLEP is making a major investment in monitoring the update and revision of the County’s zoning ordinance. To help us with this effort, RLEP has secured expert legal counsel to assist in the review and comment of proposed zoning and subdivision ordinance changes. 

Support for Landowners: RLEP is launching a new initiative this year inspired by a very successful workshop with Dr. Doug Tallamy on conservation land management. The initiative includes: 

• Rapp CE Classes on how to manage forests, meadows and gardens for biodiversity. 
• Support groups (neighbor-to-neighbor) to help landowners learn from each other about what works and doesn't work in managing their land. (We’re exploring both in-person and virtual modes.)
• How to access experienced hunters to help reduce deer pressure on native trees and plants.
• Increasing notification to our members of partner-provided land management training events.

The Saving Dark Skies program encourages the use of dark-sky compliant outdoor lighting including the application of responsible outdoor lighting principles to reduce light pollution within the county. RLEP also encourages the application of these principles in the design and installation of outdoor lighting for the StoneHaven development at Clevenger’s Corner. Our program continues to offer FREE replacement of existing outdoor pole lights with energy-efficient, LED dark-sky compliant light fixtures. 

Nature Camp Scholarships for Rappahannock County youth.

An annual RLEP Scholarship, administered by the Headwaters Foundation, to support one or more Rappahannock County students who demonstrate an interest in a career or advanced study related to environmental protection, natural resource conservation, environmental technology, earth science or environmental studies.

Monthly water quality monitoring at various points along the Thornton and Rush Rivers. The collected data is shared with the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program.

School-based and community education programs provide more opportunities to conserve and protect our natural resources.

Under the auspices of VDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program, RLEP conducts twice yearly litter pickups along Route 211.