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| Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
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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. On the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, birds will raise their young in native habitats of field, forest, and marsh. They will find rest and nourishment during migration and a haven in winter. We will manage refuge lands and waters with an emphasis on those species whose numbers have declined, assisting them on the road to recovery. In partnership with others, we will contribute to the communities where we exist, helping renew the health and vitality of the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay. We will compliment the rich traditions of hunting, fishing, forestry and agriculture on Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. The refuge will serve as an outdoor classroom, where students of all ages will study nature’s complexity, contributing to our understanding and appreciation of the natural world. All those who visit will find enjoyment in the presence of healthy and abundant fish, wildlife, and plants, and will leave with a renewed personal commitment to land conservation and stewardship. The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established under the following authorities: The Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 3582-91) for: “...the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions...” (16 U.S.C. §3901(b); 100 Stat. 3583). The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. §1531-1543), as amended: “...to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species...or (B) plants...” (16 U.S.C. §1534). The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (P.L. 88-578; 16 U.S.C. §4601; 78 Stat. 897) for: “...the acquisition of areas needed for conserving endangered or threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants...” (P.L. 94-422; 90 Stat. 1313). The purposes for which the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established are: “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds … 16 U.S.C. § 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act),” and “... to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species .... or (B) plants ... 16 U.S.C. § 1534 (Endangered Species Act of 1973),” and “... the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions ... 16 U.S.C. § 3901(b), 100 Stat. 3583 (Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986),” and “for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources ... 16 U.S.C. § 742f(a)(4) (Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956).” The Refuge is currently working on its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 mandates a CCP for every refuge in the System. Our final plan will establish management goals and objectives for all refuge programs over the next 15 years, while providing opportunities for compatible, wildlife-dependent public uses. We will evaluate refuge wildlife, habitat, land protection and visitor service priorities during the planning process. To learn more about this process, please visit our CCP web site. To see the Department of the Interior (DOI) GPRA Strategic Plan, click here.
Wildlife Refuge Manager ― Joseph McCauley Deputy Wildlife Refuge Manager ― Merry Maxwell Wildlife Refuge Biologist ― Sandy Spencer Outdoor Recreation Planner ― Cyrus Brame Law Enforcement Officer ― Dustin Martin Maintenance Worker ― Gary Bareford Administrative Assistant ― Frances Murphey Biological Technician ― Michael MacKinnon SCEP Biological Trainee ― Rosalind Wu Rappahannock River Valley NWR is one of four refuges in the Eastern Virginia Rivers NWR Complex. The refuges in this complex are:
The complex is part of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Northeast Region (Region 5) includes 13 states:
The Northeast Region is one of seven regions (not including Headquarters) in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Click this link to see a map of the regions. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is one of eight bureaus in the Department of the Interior. These bureaus are:
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Last Updated: July 17, 2009