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| Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
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Visitor Information Wildlife and Habitats Management Activities Land
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Welcome! Learn about our BayScape Garden! Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the newest of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Established in 1996, the goal of the Refuge is to protect 20,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands along the River and its major tributaries. As of September 2008, a total of 8,191 acres have been purchased from willing sellers or donated by Refuge partners, including 1,660 acres of conservation easements. With help from our conservation partners, including Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Trust for Public Land, we are well on our way toward achieving our land protections goal.
History The Atlantic Flyway Council first proposed establishing a national wildlife refuge on the Rappahannock River in the early 1960s. However, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that individuals, conservation organizations, and government agencies united to develop a plan for conserving the natural resources of the river for future generations. Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was formally proposed in 1994, and the first tract was acquired in 1996. uUSFWS Photo Agriculture and forestry remain the predominant land uses and sources for the area’s economy, as they have for centuries. Some still make their living on the river, crabbing and fishing, while wildlife recreation and tourism are becoming increasingly important economic engines for the region. As the refuge grows, it will make increasing contributions to the local culture and economy as we work with partners to conserve natural resources, improve water quality, and provide compatible, wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
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Throughout its history, the Rappahannock River has nurtured native Americans, the earliest colonists, and Revolutionary War heroes. Today the river continues to sustain many of their direct descendants. Archeological and historic sites are abundant on both sides of the river. The 18th century Bristol Iron Works was located adjacent to the refuge’s Toby’s Point Tract, while the Leedstown Resolves, a 1766 protest against the Stamp Act, was signed near the refuge’s Mothershead Tract. Old pilings can still be seen from the days when steamboats made regular stops to pick up produce and passengers for transport to the Port of Baltimore. Last Updated: December 23, 2008
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rappahannock River Valley NWR P.O. Box 1030 Warsaw, VA 22572 Office: (804) 333-1470 Fax: (804) 333-3396 E-mail: Rappahannock River Valley NWR |