Conservation Protections

Summer Overlook Trail

Valley View acquired its property in part with two grants from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund totaling $1,462,032 and a $151,900 grant from the Ohio EPA Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP).   Both of these state funding sources required Valley View to complete a competitive grant application process.  In the case of the second Clean Ohio grant application, our project scored highest out of all project applications received from Butler, Clermont, Clinton and Warren Counties.  In the WRRSP process, our project scored 4th highest statewide due to the impact the land conservation would have on water quality in the East Fork, a State Resource Water designated an Exceptional Warmwater Habitat by Ohio EPA.  

As you can see from the pictures and information on our website, this land was certainly worth protecting.  The state funding sources agreed and provided funding for Valley View to purchase the property to protect it.  While purchasing the land certainly goes a long way towards that objective, there is always some risk that one day the land could be sold or transferred involuntarily to a third party who would not be so interested in protecting the land.   

To eliminate that potential risk, the Ohio Public Works Commission and Ohio EPA also required Valley View to record "deed restrictions" in the county land records that expressly restrict how the land may and may not be used no matter who owns it.  These deed restrictions were required before the State funded the land acquisition.  The deed restrictions apply different restrictions for certain portions of the land. 

In the streamside forest along the East Fork which was purchased with WRRSP funding, the restrictions are extremely prohibitive because we and Ohio EPA do not want any activities to occur that might result in pollution or harm to the East Fork ecosystem.  Thus, farming and building structures in this area that would disturb the soil and plants is prohibited .  By contrast, the restrictions on the open fields that were acquired with the Clean Ohio Funds are less restrictive and allow limited farming and raising of livestock for educational and recreational purposes. 

The additional benefit of our deed restrictions is that they can be enforced by the State of Ohio and other third parties. Thus, even if Valley View was unable to protect the land, the State of Ohio and others could step in and do so.  Our deed restrictions "run with the land," meaning they will protect this land for generations to come no matter who owns the property.   Thus, you can be assured that Valley View will remain open space for you and future generations to enjoy.

Below are copies of the deed restrictions that have been recorded to protect the Valley View property in perpetuity.