Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve

SITE DESCRIPTION:
The 316-acre Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve is one in a series of protected lands that line the western and eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. This preserve contains one of the most significant wetlands on the Chesapeake Bay for marsh-bird communities, and its pristine beach habitat is highly important for the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle. DCR's efforts to conserve sites like Dameron Marsh are an effective means to sustain these important coastal ecosystems and both rare and common species. Dameron Marsh supports impressive salt marsh communities, sand beach, and upland forest habitats. Most upland portions of the property have been used for agricultural purposes over the preceding 3 centuries.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will work with The Nature Conservancy and the Army Corps of Engineers to restore former fields to forested habitat that can support a diversity of wildlife and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. The Department's Chesapeake Bay Region Steward oversees the management and restoration activities at the preserve and will be monitoring marsh and beach habitats, birds, tiger beetles, and other natural elements.

VISITATION:
Public access facilities include a trail and boardwalk, a wildlife viewing platform, and a small parking area. An online Dameron Marsh NAP Self-Guided Field Trip guide. is available to help you enjoy your visit. You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this file.

Part or all of the preserve may be periodically closed for resource protection or resource management activities. Please call before visiting.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Kilmarnock, go north on VA 200 towards Burgess. Turn right onto VA 606. Turn left at the Shiloh schoolhouse onto VA 605. Turn right onto VA 606, and then left onto VA 693. Follow VA 693 into the preserve.