November 18, 2008
Contacts:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809
Terri Edwards, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 413.253.8324
Virginia Beach, VA – The evolving story of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) recently completed another chapter. With the support of Virginia’s bipartisan congressional delegation and Friends of Back Bay, The Conservation Fund finalized today a transaction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that will add 31 acres at the refuge along Ashville Bridge Creek, which feeds into the North Bay portion of Back Bay. USFWS had identified this property as the highest priority for acquisition at the refuge.
In southeastern Virginia, conservationists, local landowners and members of Congress are working to gradually protect the scattered interior pieces – or inholdings – within the boundaries of the popular refuge. By protecting and reforesting this addition, the USFWS will help restore wildlife habitat and improve water quality along an important tributary to Back Bay.
“This tract, which is bordered on three sides by refuge lands, and on the fourth by Ashville Bridge Creek, was a critical acquisition for Back Bay NWR,” said Refuge Manager Jared Brandwein. “This property will allow us to meet refuge purposes for both wildlife resources and priority public uses.”
A birder’s paradise, the refuge covers roughly 9,000 acres of barrier island beaches and dunes, shrub-scrub, woodlands, farmlands and fresh and brackish marsh along the Atlantic Ocean and provides habitat for 10,000 migrating and wintering snow geese. The refuge also houses threatened and endangered species, such as the loggerhead sea turtle, piping plover, peregrine falcon and bald eagle.
“Every acre helps protect this special area of our country.” said Friends of Back Bay’s president, Molly Brown. “We are very grateful for The Conservation Fund and their help with this project.”
Over the years, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has received continuous support from the Virginia congressional delegation, which provided key funding for this and other acquisitions at the refuge. Last year Sen. John Warner, Sen. Jim Webb and Rep. Thelma Drake secured $505,000 in additional funds to support the refuge’s land acquisition programs in 2008.
“Over the course of my Senate career, I have always sought ways to improve and enhance national wildlife refuges across the state,” said Sen. Warner, “as I believe they are some of the Commonwealth’s true natural treasures.”
“Last year, I worked with appropriators to secure more than $500,000 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve additional land in the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge,” remarked Sen. Webb. “I applaud The Conservation Fund, the Friends of Back Bay and their partners for working with local communities and landowners to enhance Virginia’s diverse wildlife habitat.”
The Conservation Fund purchased the property earlier this year and held it until funding was secured for USFWS to acquire the land. The Fund has been involved in expanding Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge since 2006, adding more than 114 acres. “Our goal is to help the refuge meet its full potential, and acre by acre we’re getting there,” said Reggie Hall, real estate associate for The Conservation Fund. “This ongoing conservation success story represents the kind of teamwork that makes wildlife habitat protection possible, in Virginia and across the nation.”
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Arlington, Virginia 22209-2156
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