Route 15 Improvement Projects: The Lucketts Bypass
The proposed Lucketts Bypass project on Route 15 North is of major concern to Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, and we are firmly opposed to all options that have been proposed by the county. Our opposition to this project encompasses not only our concerns for how it will adversely affect JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary, but how the Lucketts community will be negatively impacted as well. Our vision is a Loudoun where people and wildlife thrive together, and this project will accomplish neither. Read more to learn why the currently proposed alignment options don’t work, and what you can do to help.
2026 General Assembly
The 2026 General Assembly convened on January 14th! Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has identified key bills to follow affecting our wildlife in Loudoun, based on the policy topics of environmental focus in Virginia Conservation Network’s Our Common Agenda. It’s time to get engaged with your legislators! See the bills and get involved…
Lovettsville Wetlands
A new subdivision is coming to the Lovettsville area, and a new road being constructed as part of the project will needlessly destroy wetlands and stream buffers. The developer has been given a viable alternative location for the road that is less dangerous and avoids the severe stream and wetland impact. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a stop work order so that they can further assess the project, but your voice is needed to demand a public hearing to protect the wetlands! Read more about the project…
Paeonian Springs-Waterford Water/Wastewater Systems
This upcoming campaign concerns the interconnected water and wastewater system proposed by Loudoun County to serve the towns of Waterford and Paeonian Springs. Keeping in mind the needs of the communities being served and impacted, Loudoun Wildlife will be closely monitoring this county project due to potential impacts to groundwater and stream health. For more information, see the county’s project web page, and check back here for updates.
Franklin Park Master Plan
Franklin Park is expanding after Loudoun County acquired an additional 103 acres adjacent to the park grounds. The Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure has submitted a development application for the project that will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The park will be undergoing substantial changes, many of which have the potential to significantly impact wildlife and habitat. More information about the master plan…
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments
The Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (ZOR) process concluded with the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance in December 2023. Upon completion, there were several outstanding issues which were to be addressed in separate Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments (CPAM/ZOAM). Many of these outstanding issues followed by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy throughout the ZOR are being addressed in two CPAM/ ZOAM processes: Western Loudoun Rural Uses & Standards and Data Center Standards & Locations. More information about the amendments…
Westpark Property
In August 2022 Loudoun County acquired 134 acres of what was previously the Westpark Golf Course in Leesburg. The land was placed under conservation easement, and the property is now slated to be a park for passive recreation uses. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will be staying involved throughout the process to ensure that this new park stays conservation-focused and implements wildlife-friendly practices that enhance nature as it is cultivated for recreational use. More information about Westpark…
Spring Valley Technology Park
LWC is opposing the application for Spring Valley Technology Park: a proposed 362-acre data center campus to be located off of Evergreen Mills Road. This project would destroy swaths of mature forests and create excessive impervious surfaces close to Goose Creek. If approved, it could add up to 3.5 million more square feet of data center servers that would further stress our power grid and exacerbate Loudoun’s energy crisis by an order of magnitude. Read more about the data center campus.
Dominion Energy Infrastructure Development Projects
To meet heightened energy demand coming from the increase of data centers in the county, Dominion Energy has started the process of building new major transmission lines, substations, and infrastructure linkages. This mult-year, multi-project expansion currently includes a new high voltage transmission line along Broad Run between Northstar Blvd. and Loudoun County Parkway; a series of substations adjacent to Goose Creek and Belmont Ridge Road; and new transmission lines along Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has grave concerns about these applications. The proposed locations of these infrastructure improvements would further fragment habitat within the Goose Creek and Broad Run riparian buffer and floodplain creating more challenges to wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. Learn more about these projects and our recommendations:
- Twin Creeks to Apollo and Aspen to Golden projects (Updated August 23, 2024)
- Wishing Star to Mars project
- Mars to Golden Project
See also policy recommendations regarding data centers and energy from the Sierra Club.
Leesburg W&OD Trail Lighting
A proposal is being discussed with the Leesburg Town Council to add lighting to a portion of the W&OD trail south of Leesburg. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has been working with our partners Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and Dark Sky NOVA to advocate for minimizing the impacts of the proposed lights on dark skies and wildlife as part of the collaborative Bird-Safe NOVA campaign. While specific designs are still being developed, we are pleased to see that the Town of Leesburg is demonstrating notable efforts to implement sustainable and minimally disruptive lighting for this project.
Our Work
Advocacy News
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2026 General Assembly The senators and delegates of the 2026 General Assembly and...
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Spring Valley Technology Park A new data center campus could be on its way...
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2026 General Assembly: LWC Policy Topic Areas As the senators and delegates of the 2026 General Assembly...
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