Virginia Coastal Program: 1999 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY1999 Task 7
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Project Title:
Parson's Tract Acquistion, Northampton County - Part 3
Project Description as Proposed:
This project will involve the permanent protection of lands in natural vegetation dominated by forested or scrub/shrub communities on the lower portion of Virginia's Eastern Shore. Several conservation areas have been identified by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, but a specific project area has not been selected. Candidate areas all support high quality stop-over habitat for migratory songbirds as described by Mabey, et al., 1993. Land costs are variable and waterfront property is very expensive on the lower bayside. This project will use project dollars to maximize amount and quality of stop-over habitat and natural heritage resources protected. Lands will be protected from conservation to other uses through fee-simple acquisition or purchase of conservation easements.
Federal Funding:
$200,000
Project Contact:
Larry Smith, 804.371.6205; Laura McKay, 804.698.4323
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
In
November 1999, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR) purchased the 161.25 acre Parsons tract on the Chesapeake
Bay in Northampton County. This acquisition represented a great
accomplishment for the conservation partners on the Eastern Shore
who targeted this property as a key tract for natural resource protection
on the lower bayside. Project partners included the funding agencies
- the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ)/Coastal Program, the Accomack-Northampton
Planning District Commission and other critical partners including
the Trust For Public Land, Northampton County staff and the Board
of Supervisors, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and concerned
citizens of the shore. The Parson tract is located a t a critical
position for migratory songbird use during the annual migratory
periods and is at an attractive location for residential development.
If not purchased for conservation, this property very likely would
have been developed for home sites soon.
DCR has incorporated the Parson tract as part of Kiptopeke State
Park. The future use and management of the natural habitats and
agricultural acreage on the Parson tract will be guided by the master
plan for Kiptopeke which is being developed through citizen input
and a DCR direct planning team which includes DEQ's Coastal Program.
This tract is about 60% forested with the remaining acres under
cultivation. The property has about 3400 feet of frontage on the
Chesapeake Bay. Undeveloped beach frontage, natural dunes and upland
and wetland forests like those found here are becoming increasingly
rare. Data from the Virginia natural Heritage Program indicate that
the tract supports two rare animals, the federally listed Northeastern
beach tiger beetle and the bald eagle, and one significant natural
community. The beach here is narrow and does not represent exemplary
tiger beetle habitat. A 1999 survey for the Northeastern beach tiger
beetle revealed only 18 adults.
The forest acres of this property consist of a mixed maritime forest
dominated by loblolly pine with black oak, red maple and other hardwoods
in lower canopy levels. The shrub and herbaceous layers are sparse.
Some of the pines are estimated to be 60 to 80 years of age. This
forest represents important stopover habitat for migratory landbirds
during the annual fall songbird migration. This habitat is used
for resting and feeding during the southward migration. The forested
acreage is located at a critical position near the southern tip
of the Eastern Shore. The Coastal Program initiated and funded a
study of neotropical migratory songbirds on the Cape May and Delmarva
peninsulas in the early 1990. It showed that the Parsons Tract is
in a strategic position because it is located along the bayside
of the peninsula and is at the southern tip. The protection and
enhancement of migratory songbird habitat, bald eagles, and Northeastern
beach tiger beetles are very important conservation needs in Virginia.
Form C end
Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
