SITE DESCRIPTION:
Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve is owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority and was established through the cooperative efforts of the county, DCR and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT). In addition to being dedicated as a state natural area preserve, the property is also protected with a conservation easement held by NVCT. The site supports one of the best remaining examples of a globally rare natural community known as a northern hardpan basic oak-hickory forest. This forest type, characterized by white oak, pignut hickory, white ash and redbud, occurs on diabase soil underlain by dense plastic clay, commonly referred to as shrink-swell soil. Under these conditions, water ponds easily during wet periods but evaporates quickly during dry spells. Such fluctuation in soil moisture results in stunted, open-canopy trees but encourages a wide variety of grasses and herbs to occupy the sunlit understory. With a natural range restricted to just a few counties in the northern Virginia and Maryland Piedmont, most examples of this forest-type have disappeared due to the rapid urban and suburban growth of the area.
Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve is owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority and was established through the cooperative efforts of the county, DCR and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT). In addition to being dedicated as a state natural area preserve, the property is also protected with a conservation easement held by NVCT. The site supports one of the best remaining examples of a globally rare natural community known as a northern hardpan basic oak-hickory forest. This forest type, characterized by white oak, pignut hickory, white ash and redbud, occurs on diabase soil underlain by dense plastic clay, commonly referred to as shrink-swell soil. Under these conditions, water ponds easily during wet periods but evaporates quickly during dry spells. Such fluctuation in soil moisture results in stunted, open-canopy trees but encourages a wide variety of grasses and herbs to occupy the sunlit understory. With a natural range restricted to just a few counties in the northern Virginia and Maryland Piedmont, most examples of this forest-type have disappeared due to the rapid urban and suburban growth of the area.
VISITATION:
This new preserve currently has no public access facilities. It is part of more extensive
Fairfax County Park Authority land holdings in the area that will be developed as public parks. For more
information please contact:
Charles Smith
Naturalist III
Natural Resource Management and Protection
Fairfax County Park Authority
(703) 324-8555
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/resources_nrp.htm
Locality
Fairfax
Owner
Fairfax Co. Park Authority
Preserve Size
226 acres
Access
By arrangement with Fairfax Co. Park Authority
CONTACT INFO
For additional information or to arrange a visit,
contact:
Rebecca Wilson, Chesapeake Bay Region Steward,
Department of Conservation and Recreation,
Division of Natural Heritage
Richmond, VA
(804) 225-2303.