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Starting January 13, 2020 a contractor will be replacing some of the old water control structures on the Refuge. This project requires heavy equipment and removal of small sections of Beach Road, the Wildlife Loop Trail and E-Dike. Please expect Beach Road access to be single-lane only through February. During this time the Wildlife Loop Trail will be closed to vehicles, however visitors can walk or bike the trail from the Left of the Entrance to the Swan Cove Trail junction. Black Duck Trail is closed at Beach Road. There may be temporary closures on the Service Road.
See Map for Affected Areas
Americorps Fencing Project
What’s with all the activity along the marsh Service Road near the North Wash Flats? Winter visitors may notice the team from AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Southern Region working on the fencing that surrounds the Chincoteague Ponies’ grazing areas. This improvement project follows studies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which assessed grazing pressure on the refuge and availability of food for the ponies on the refuge. The studies revealed that while the ponies have more than enough plants to eat, a more strategic approach to grazing can help keep those plants productive over the years, providing higher quality graze and improving habitat for other species. The fencing project will allow the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company to rotate pony grazing, allowing heavily grazed areas to recovery. Good news for the ponies, but what does this mean for visitors? Not much will change, you can still expect to visit your favorite viewing sites to look for ponies as they munch away on their favorite plants, although in a few places they may be a bit further in the distance.