Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, thanks to a generous gift from the Sacharuna Foundation. This gift, recorded in the Fauquier County Circuit Court Clerk’s land records on June 3, marks a pivotal moment in the six-decade effort to protect this irreplaceable natural and cultural landscape.
These four newly acquired parcels will be integrated into the existing preserve, a 2,350-acre sanctuary owned and managed by VOF in accordance with deed restrictions and a management plan developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage. Recognized for its exceptional resources, the landholding was dedicated in 2002 and incorporated into the state preserve system established to protect rare natural communities and habitats.
Straddling the border of Fauquier and Prince William counties, the preserve serves as a living laboratory and open-air museum in close proximity to the nation’s capital. The preserve is home to the headwaters of both Broad Run and Little River, crucial tributaries of the Occoquan and Potomac rivers, and supports 10 distinct plant community types alongside a rich array of regionally uncommon and threatened flora and fauna. Beyond its ecological value, the land safeguards numerous culturally significant historical sites, offering a window into the mountains’ diverse past.
Continue reading this article on the VOF blog.
Categories
Conservation | Land Conservation | Natural Heritage | Nature
