Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
You can make a difference for Virginia’s natural areas by contributing a portion of your state tax refund to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund.
The fund was established in 1988, and, each year since, DCR has received voluntary contributions from tax refunds. The fund is used to acquire natural areas for conservation and to develop recreational facilities for public outdoor recreation.
In 2020, the physical and emotional benefits of being outdoors were highlighted as an essential part of daily activity. DCR has continued to support these ideals and raise awareness of the benefits of outdoor recreation. With 50% of the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund designated to support local government properties, the need for funding is crucial.
“There is a greater emphasis now more than ever on people needing local places that they can walk or drive to in just a couple of minutes for outdoor recreation,” said DCR Deputy Director of Operations Tom Smith.
A playground in Accomack County and infrastructure upgrades at King-Lincoln Park in Newport News are a few projects that have benefited from the fund.
Photo courtesy of Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Renee Popernack.
The other half of the fund is used to aid DCR in ongoing projects to preserve additions to state natural areas. In 2020, donations to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund contributed over $35,000 in funding. Funds have been increasing every year since 2016.
Across the commonwealth, DCR’s Natural Heritage Program works to document remaining examples of natural communities, rare plants and animals.
“The Division of Natural Heritage targets the finest remaining examples of natural heritage resources for permanent conservation as part of the Virginia Natural Area Preserve System," said Natural Heritage Director Jason Bulluck. “Permanent protection of these irreplaceable areas from land-use change is the most effective way to prevent their eventual loss or degradation.”
Over a dozen natural area preserves were expanded in 2020 with critical resources made available through the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund.
Here are a few examples.
Gary P. Fleming
Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve, Stafford County
The protection of Crow's Nest is arguably one of Virginia's highest land conservation achievements, becoming a reality in 2008 with the first acquisition of 1,762 acres. In 2009, DCR and Stafford County added 1,110 acres. The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust dedicated its Potomac Creek Heronry parcel as an addition to the preserve in 2018 and its Potomac Hills parcel in 2020, bringing the total area of this natural area preserve to 3,055 acres.
Irvine T. Wilson
Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Roanoke County
Funds were allocated to the acquisition of four different parcels that collectively added over 393 acres to this preserve, including a parcel with an extremely high development threat in Virginia. Recently discovered old-growth within the forest, as well as other intact forested areas, have been protected thanks to contributions to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund.
Irvine T. Wilson
Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve, Giles County
Funds supported the single largest preserve addition in many years, exceeding 800 acres. As the preserve name implies, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a significant component of the forest here. Ample evidence of chestnut's former prevalence remains in the form of decaying fallen trees, sprouting stumps and scattered young chestnut trees. This area protects the heart of one of the region’s largest forested ecological cores, top-ranked as “outstanding” in the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment.
Contributions may be made on Schedule VAC, Section II, which accompanies the individual tax return Form 760 Line 31. To choose the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund, taxpayers must write Code Number 68 in the section for voluntary contributions.
For more information, go to https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/checkoff.
Categories
Conservation | Land Conservation | Natural Heritage | Recreation Planning
