The Bacon’s Castle Nutrient Bank encompasses approximately 70 acres in Surry County, Virginia. The property is bordered by undeveloped forested land to the north and east and by agricultural land to the south and west. Of the total acreage, 45.75 acres were previously used for row crop production, 12.2 acres are forested, and 12.18 acres consist of mixed open land.

In late 2020, RES initiated restoration activities focused on converting active agricultural land to forest. This land-use change reduces nutrient and sediment runoff, improves downstream water quality, and generates nutrient credits in accordance with state and federal water quality programs.

Project objectives include:

• Reducing nutrient and sediment loads (nitrogen and phosphorus) entering the James River watershed through the conversion of agricultural fields to forested land.

• Generating nonpoint nutrient credits under current and future regulatory frameworks, including Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) guidance, through sustainable land-use practices that permanently reduce nutrient export from the property.

By transforming agricultural land into forested habitat, the Bacon’s Castle Nutrient Bank supports long-term improvements in watershed health and contributes to water quality goals for the James River and the Chesapeake Bay.