Scenic Virginia on Wednesday gave its top viewshed award for 2006 to the preservation of about 235 acres on Tinker Mountain.

A public-private partnership bought the land in September and plans to put much of it into a conservation easement that will restrict development.

The remaining part of the parcel will be protected as part of the Carvins Cove watershed, which supplies most of Roanoke's drinking water.

The partnership's members are Hollins University, the Western Virginia Water Authority, two private landowners and the Western Virginia Land Trust.

Most of the land is steeply graded and not a prime site for residential development or logging, but the mountain is a major landmark in the Roanoke Valley and should be preserved, said Roger Holnback, executive director of the Western Virginia Land Trust.

Scenic Virginia's awards, which recognize excellence in scenic conservation, also gave awards for preservation of land along the James, Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, and other areas.

Anti-littering, tree-trimming and conservation efforts also were recognized across the state.

Scenic Virginia's 2006 Scenic Awards program will take place Nov. 2 in Richmond.

Scenic Virginia is a private, nonprofit group whose mission is to preserve the state's scenic beauty and community character.