LOCALITY |
OWNER |
ACRES |
ACCESS |
NEWS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin | DCR | 112 | No |
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Home to three globally rare natural heritage resources, Bald Knob has been a long-standing conservation priority for DCR in Virginia's southern Piedmont. The thin soils and sparsely vegetated rocks found on parts of the Preserve support vegetation assemblages different than any other documented site. Bald Knob Natural Area Preserve is the largest and best known occurrence of a "Piedmont mafic barren" where exposed rocks resist weathering and have unusual chemical properties, making them and their derived soils different from typical Piedmont sites. For more information, see: www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/nctd7
The Preserve was established in 2016 after decades of work by Natural Heritage Program scientists who first noticed something unusual about one of the plants on the site. After years of additional documentation and study, a College of William and Mary botanist confirmed that these plants were indeed a new species, not previously known to science. To-date, this species, Piedmont Fameflower (Phemeranthus piedmontanus) has only been documented at a handful of sites in the world.
The initial Preserve purchase was made possible by funding support from the Land & Water Conservation Fund and Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. Although more work is needed to fully protect the natural heritage resources of the site, this prominent and unique feature of the Rocky Mount and Franklin County landscape is well on its way to being fully protected for future generations.VISITATION:
This newly acquired Preserve does not yet have developed public access amenities. Periodic guided field trips will be offered. DCR has begun developing a long-term management plan, inclusive of plans for both resource protection and public access.
CONTACT:
Ryan Klopf, Mountain Region Steward
Department of Conservation & Recreation
Division of Natural Heritage
Roanoke, VA
540-265-5234