Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region
 

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Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex.  The Refuge is a 1329-acre island in the James River, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, Virginia.  Established to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds, Presquile is an important component in the network of refuges on and around the Chesapeake Bay, our Nation's largest estuary.  Presquile has historically provided important habitat for wintering Canada geese that breed along James Bay in eastern Canada.   The Refuge is also home to nesting and roosting bald eagles.


Photo of the James River

History

The land within Presquile NWR was originally occupied by Native Americans.  By the early 1600's English colonists had established the first settlement north of Jamestown nearby at Bermuda Hundred.  William Randolph, ancestor to prominent Virginians such as Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and Robert E. Lee, moved to "Presque Isle" in 1660 and lived there for many years.  Union troops occupied the area during the Battle of Petersburg.  In 1952, the island was bequeathed to the U.S. Government by Dr. A.D. Williams, and became a Refuge in 1953.

Since its establishment, access to the Refuge was by a ferry, operated on a cable secured at both sides of the James River shipping channel.  Increased shipping and recreational boat traffic, significant maintenance costs, and concern for the safety of passengers resulted in discontinuation of the ferry for public use in 2001.  A 28-foot pontoon boat now ferries visitors to the Refuge for scheduled events.  See the Upcoming Events page for a list of events.

National priorities such as funding military operations overseas, homeland security, and hurricane relief have resulted in declining federal discretionary funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other Department of the Interior agencies. This decline is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, and the Service must make financial and human resource changes to manage effectively in this situation. Due to declining budgets and increased operating costs, the Service has designated numerous refuges as unstaffed satellite refuges. Three units of the Eastern Virginia Rivers NWR Complex, James River, Plum Tree Island, and Presquile national wildlife refuges, have been designated as unstaffed satellites and are being managed from the Complex headquarters in Warsaw, Virginia.

Compatibility Determination(s)

Compatibility determinations are documents written, signed and dated by the refuge manager and the regional chief of refuges that signify whether proposed or existing uses of national wildlife refuges are compatible with their establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. All recreational activities and other uses of a refuge by the public or other non-Service entity require compatibility determinations. Wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation at Presquile NWR have been found to be compatible with the refuge's establishing purpose when conducted in accordance with stipulations detailed in the final compatibility determination for these uses.

Comprehensive Conservation Planning

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is starting the comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) process for Presquile NWR. Provisions of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 require the development of CCPs for all national wildlife refuges. The planning process involves public input, and will consider many elements of refuge management, including habitat and wildlife management, endangered and threatened species management, public use, refuge infrastructure, and proposals for special area designations. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the refuge, and how the Service will implement management strategies.

Please visit the Presquile NWR Planning website if you would like more information about the CCP process and current status of the Presquile NWR CCP.

Last updated: February 23, 2012