Virginia Natural Area Preserve System


The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System is a system of protected areas in the state of Virginia. It is managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
there were sixty-three dedicated preserves in Virginia, containing examples of some of the rarest natural communities in the state; in addition, many serve as a home for locally, nationally, and globally rare species.

History

In 1986, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program was formed through a cooperative agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and The Nature Conservancy. In 1988 the program was placed under the control of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. To further the Natural Heritage Program's mission to conserve and manage sites identified as significant natural areas within the state, The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System was established in 1989.
The system's first preserve, North Landing River Natural Area Preserve, was established in 1990. By 2007, the preserve system included 50 protected areas., 63 Natural Area Preserves were established in Virginia.

Description

The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System is managed as part of the Natural Heritage Program of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, with the purpose of protecting threatened or rare plants, animals, and natural communities.
To become a part of the system, a Natural Area Preserve must be accepted by the director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, although they may be initially dedicated by other departments and agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Natural Area Preserves may be acquired by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or may continue to be owned by independent conservation organizations or other private landowners. Dedication itself is similar to a conservation easement, as it places certain legal strictures on future development of a given portion of land.

Access

Most properties are owned by the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation. However, some are owned by local governments, universities, private citizens, and independent conservation organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy.
Many state-owned properties are freely open to the public for low-impact uses, such as hiking and birdwatching. However, some state-owned properties with rare and/or species and habitats require that arrangements be made with a state-employed land steward prior to visitation.
Privately held properties may restrict public access, although sometimes it can be arranged in coordination with a preserve's owner.
Access to any individual Virginia Natural Area Preserve may be temporarily restricted or closed when it is determined as necessary to protect sensitive plant and animal populations within the preserve, for seasonal migration habitat, or for habitat management and ecological restoration activities, such as prescribed burns. Visitor impactful activities, such as camping, hunting, fishing, timber cutting, campfires, vegetation harvesting, and motorized trail vehicles are typically forbidden at all preserves.

List of Virginia Natural Area Preserves

The following table lists Virginia's Natural Area Preserves as of 2016. Those listed as being accessible "by arrangement" require prospective visitors to contact either state-employed land stewards, private property owners, or both.
Preserve nameCounty or
counties		AreaOwnerPublic
access?		Notes
Antioch PinesIsle of WightDCRBy arrangement
Bald KnobFranklinDCRNo
Bethel BeachMathewsDCRYes
Big Spring BogGraysonDCRBy arrangement
Blackwater Ecological PreserveIsle of WightOld Dominion UniversityBy arrangement
Blackwater SandhillsIsle of WightIsle of Wight CountyNo
Buffalo MountainFloydDCRYes
Bull Run MountainsFaquier,
Prince William		Virginia Outdoors FoundationYes
Bush Mill StreamNorthumberlandDCRYes
Camp Branch WetlandsFloydPrivateNo
Cape Charles Coastal HabitatNorthamptonDCRYes
The CedarsLeeDCRBy arrangement
The ChannelsWashington,
Russell		Virginia Department of ForestryYes
Cherry Orchard BogSussex,
Prince George		DCRBy arrangement
Chestnut Creek WetlandsFloydDCRBy arrangement
Chestnut RidgeGilesPrivateBy arrangement
Chotank CreekKing GeorgePrivateNo
Chub SandhillSussexDCRYes
Cleveland BarrensRussellDCR/The Nature ConservancyBy arrangement
Clover HollowGilesDCRBy permissionAccess permitted only for the purpose of data collection and monitoring.
Cowbane PrairieAugustaDCRBy arrangement
Crawford's KnobNelsonPrivateBy arrangement
Crow's NestStaffordStafford CountyYes
Cypress BridgeSouthamptonDCRBy arrangement
Dameron MarshNorthumberlandDCRYes
Deep Run PondsRockinghamDCRBy arrangement
Dendron SwampSussexDCRBy arrangementContains the Charles C. Steirly Natural Area, an essentially virgin bald cypress swamp that was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.
Difficult CreekHalifaxDCRYes
Dundas Granite FlatrockBrunswickPrivateBy arrangement
Elklick WoodlandsFairfaxFairfax County Park AuthorityBy arrangement
False CapeVirginia BeachDCRYes
Fletcher FordLeeThe Nature ConservancyBy arrangement
Folly Mills Creek FenAugustaPrivateBy arrangement
Goshen PassRockbridgeDCRYes
Grafton PondsYorkNewport NewsYes
Grassy HillFranklinDCRYes
Grayson GladesGraysonDCRBy arrangement
Hickory HollowLancasterNorthern Neck Audubon SocietyYes
Hughlett PointNorthumberlandDCRYes
Johnsons CreekAlleghanyDCRBy arrangement
Magothy BayNorthamptonDCRYes
Mark's and Jack's IslandAccomackThe Nature ConservancyBy arrangement
Mill Creek SpringsMontgomeryThe Nature ConservancyBy arrangement
Mount Joy PondAugustaDCRBy arrangement
Mutton Hunk FenAccomackDCRYes
Naked MountainNelsonPrivateBy arrangement
New Point ComfortMathewsThe Nature ConservancyYes
North Landing RiverVirginia BeachDCRNoAfter a decade of closure due to illegal activities, this preserve was scheduled to re-open for public use in 2016 or 2017.
Northwest RiverChesapeakeDCRBy arrangement
Ogdens CaveFrederickDCRBy arrangement
Parkers MarshAccomackDCRYes
Parramore IslandAccomackThe Nature ConservancyBy arrangementAccess permitted for research or educational purposes only.
Pedlar Hills GladesMontgomeryDCRBy arrangement
Pickett's HarborNorthamptonDCRBy arrangement
PinnacleRussellDCRYes
Poor MountainRoanokeDCRYes
Redrock MountainSmythDCRBy arrangement
Savage Neck DunesNorthamptonDCRYes
Sweet SpringsMontgomeryPrivateBy arrangement
South Quay SandhillsSouthampton,
City of Suffolk		DCR/The Nature ConservancyBy arrangement
Unthanks CaveLeeDCRBy permissionAccess permitted only for the purpose of data collection and monitoring.
Wreck IslandNorthamptonDCRYes