Land Trust of Virginia Protects 541-Acre Gasch Property

Caroline County and King William County, Virginia — December 31, 2025 — Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) is pleased to announce the permanent protection of the Gasch Property, a 541-acre landscape spanning Caroline County and King William County, through a donated conservation easement. With the recordation of this easement, LTV expands its conservation footprint into its 38th county in Virginia.

Owned by Manning Gasch, Jr. and Jeffra Gasch, the property—also known as Woodmont Farm—will remain protected from future development, preserving its agricultural, forestal, scenic, and natural values for future generations. The easement ensures the land continues to function as working farmland and forestland while safeguarding significant water resources and wildlife habitat.

The Gasch Property lies within the Pamunkey River watershed. It contains more than 1.3 miles of frontage along the river, as well as frontage along Mill Creek, a perennial tributary, and the property contains significant intermittent streams as well. The property also includes extensive wetlands and floodplains that support water quality, natural flood mitigation, and ecological integrity, benefiting the broader Chesapeake Bay watershed.

More than three-quarters of the property is forested, with a mix of hardwood and pine, and the balance consists of open fields with prime farmland soils well suited to continued agricultural use. The conservation easement protects these productive soils and supports the long-term viability of farming and open space use in a region where rural land continues to play such a large role in the economic health of the region.

“This easement reflects a deep commitment to Virginia’s working lands and waterways,” said Ashton Cole, Executive Director of Land Trust of Virginia. “By protecting the Gasch Property, we are safeguarding a beautiful stretch of the Pamunkey River, preserving incredible forest habitat, and strengthening conservation connectivity in this region.”

The property is located approximately two miles northeast of Hanover and is zoned for rural preservation and agricultural conservation. The easement aligns with both the Caroline County Comprehensive Plan and King William County’s Blueprint 2041 Comprehensive Plan, reinforcing local land-use goals that prioritize open space, agriculture, and environmental protection.

With this addition, Land Trust of Virginia now protects more than 37,000 acres across Virginia, advancing its mission to conserve the landscapes that define the Commonwealth’s natural heritage, rural economy, and sense of place.