Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
| Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
   Map of the United States | |
| Location | Rappahannock River, Virginia, United States |
| Nearest city | Warsaw, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°00′00″N 76°53′00″W / 38.00000°N 76.88333°WCoordinates: 38°00′00″N 76°53′00″W / 38.00000°N 76.88333°W |
| Area | 8,191 acres (33.15 km2) |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge |
The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located along the Rappahannock River near Warsaw, Virginia; one of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex, it was established under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1996. As of 2008, the Refuge consisted of 8,191 acres (33.15 km2) of property total. It consists of numerous non-contiguous units along the Rappahannock River in King George, Caroline, Essex, Westmoreland, and Richmond counties. The majority and largest of the units are in Richmond County. The refuge has generated some controversy by removing lands from agricultural production and converting them to native habitats on some tracts purchased in fee. Many argue that these grain fields provided food for migratory waterfowl, and eliminating them results in a net loss to both farmers and wildlife.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.