Rappahannock River National Wildlife Refuge

Four hundred years ago, Native Americans built their homes on the banks of the Rappahannock River, relying on its waters for nourishment and transportation. In 2008, as part of the Army Compatible Use Buffer program, we helped secure nearly 700 acres of conservation easements that will protect this area’s natural and archaeological resources, while forming a buffer zone that limits development around one of the East Coast’s largest military training installations. Our success stems from a public-private partnership with the U.S. Army, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others.

Prior to 2008, we joined forces with Bass Pro Shops, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a generous landowner to protect and restore 460 acres as an addition to the Rappahannock River National Wildlife Refuge. Located along Farnham Creek, a tributary of the Rappahannock, the land features wetlands and forests that are ideal habitat for migrating waterfowl and songbirds.