Chestnut Creek Wetlands Natural Area Preserve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chestnut Creek Wetlands Natural Area Preserve
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Chestnut Creek Wetlands Natural Area Preserve Location in Virginia
Location	Floyd County, Virginia
Nearest city	Willis, Virginia
Area	244 acres (99 ha)
Governing body	Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Chestnut Creek Wetlands Natural Area Preserve is a 244-acre (99 ha) Natural Area Preserve located in Floyd County, Virginia. Local wetlands support several rare species, while the upland slopes support northern hardwoods including beech, birch, and maple. The area has a long farming and grazing history, but the wetlands have survived, dominated by sedges and grasses with few trees and shrubs. The property was acquired using a voter-approved state government bond and a recovery grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

The preserve is owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and it hosts an agricultural lease as of 2016. It does not include improvements for public access, and visitors must make arrangements with a state-employed land steward prior to visiting.