Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia’s working farms and forests, battlefields and other historic sites, natural areas, parks and rivers are critical to its economy, culture and quality of life. In 1999, the assembly and governor established the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF) to fund protection of these resources. The interactive map below depicts VLCF-grant projects funded since 2000.
| Name: | Caroline Diamonds - The Oak Barrens at Barrel Springs II (FY23) |
|---|---|
| Category: | Forestland Preservation |
| Grant Round: | FY23 |
| Acres: | 96 |
| Locality: | Caroline County |
| Management Agency: | Meadowview Biological Research Station |
| Owner: | Private |
| ConserveVirginia: | Natural Habitat & Ecosystem Diversity, Floodplains & Flooding Resilience |
| Amount Awarded: | $131,935.00 |
| Applicant: | Meadowview Biological Research Station |
| Latitude: | 38.144805 |
| Longitude: | -77.392787 |
| Description: | This application is the second to VLCF to support conservation of the Meadowview Oak Barrens at Barrel Springs in Caroline County. The first application was awarded $161,000 of a requested $400,200 in FY22. This project will protect 96 acres of a globally rare gravel bog and oak barren uplands and add it to the existing adjacent 17-acre preserve in the Meadow Creek watershed. The property contains the northern-most native purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea L.) population in Virginia and one state threatened plant (Juncus caesariensis Coville). A cool water gravel spring emerges from an old white-cedar lined barrel casing at the head of the watershed and the uplands contain an oak-barrens on the impoverished soil. To enhance indigenous rare plant habitat, the preserve is managed and restored through mechanical clearing and prescribed fire. The preserve provides guided tours, and research, education and recreation opportunities. A conservation easement held by Caroline County will protect the rare plants and allow for continued ecological restoration and reintroduction. |
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