Are there plants in your yard that are on DCR’s updated invasive plant species list? 🤔 Swap in a Virginia native plant to support local wildlife and biodiversity. Here are suggestions from experts in Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 🌱 More here: https://lnkd.in/e8by2gQd
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Government Relations Services
Richmond, VA 4,662 followers
CONSERVE. PROTECT. ENJOY.
About us
Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), with the cooperation of partners and customers, is a leader in: providing tangible and lasting improvements to the quality of Virginia's resource lands and waters; serving as a trusted steward of the outdoor recreational and natural resources placed under its care; promoting the conservation and enjoyment of Virginia's diverse and unique environment and rich cultural legacy for future generations; protecting public safety through regulatory programs and conservation law enforcement; and recognizing the value of its dedicated and committed workforce. DCR's mission is to provide opportunities that encourage and enable people to enjoy, protect and restore Virginia's natural and cultural treasures.
- Website
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http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/
External link for Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Industry
- Government Relations Services
- Company size
- 501-1,000 employees
- Headquarters
- Richmond, VA
- Type
- Government Agency
- Founded
- 1926
- Specialties
- Conservation, Outdoor Recreation, Natural Resources, Dam Management, Floodplain Management, State Parks, Natural Area Preserves, Natural Heritage, Native Plants, Protected Wildlife, Land Conservation, Agriculture, Watershed, Waterways, Recreation Planning, Soil, Outdoor Grants, Trail Planning, Conservation Grants, Water, Americorps, Gardening, Virginia Outdoors, and Volunteer Program
Locations
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Primary
Richmond, VA 23219, US
Employees at Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
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Dr. Robert Baxter Jr.
Principal at Baxter Warner Associates
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Mark Killgore, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE
Lead Dam Safety Engineer and ASDSO State Representative for the Commonwealth of Virginia - Professional Engineer in Water Resources, Hydro, and Dams
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Dave Neudeck
Communications and Marketing Director at DCR
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Jeb Wilkinson
Deputy Director at Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Updates
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Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation reposted this
Good Fire! 🔥 It was a successful burn season for Virginia State Parks this spring. Park rangers utilize prescribed fire (aka good fire) to promote ecosystem health. These controlled burns are used to achieve specific goals like oak regeneration in forests, improved grasslands and habitat restoration. 🌱 Prescribed fire also reduces the risk of wildfires, by removing available fuel, such as dead trees and leaves. Years of excessive fire suppression have left many species and ecosystems that rely on intermittent fire in poor condition, and have left forests primed for extreme, out-of-control wildfires. 🚒 By mimicking natural fire, prescribed burns allow these species to once again thrive, and forests to return to their natural regenerative cycles from when they had regular, low-intensity fires. 📷 Parks pictured and photographer: 1-Staunton River State Park, by District 5 Resource Specialist Reed Stanley 2-Powhatan State Park, also by Reed Stanley 3-Holliday Lake State Park, by State Parks Planning Assistant Catherine Mcguigan 4-James River State Park, by District 3 Resource Specialist Al Cire ⚠️ BTW Fall fire season is here, until November 30! Reminders for safe campfires at Virginia State Parks: - Campfires are only allowed within a provided fire ring or grill (not allowed at False Cape State Park) - Never leave your campfire unattended - Fully extinguish your campfire: drown, stir, ensure it's cool, repeat as necessary More tips from Virginia Department of Forestry
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Here's a look into a freshwater mussel survey being conducted by DCR's Natural Heritage Program in the South Anna River, home to the common Eastern elliptio (Elliptio complanata). 📋 The data gathered helps validate DCR's new map that predicts freshwater mussel habitat across Virginia’s part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 🗺️ This work was funded through a Chesapeake WILD grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in a partnership between DCR and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/euYY2wS3 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
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UPDATE: Remember the experiment last spring to hand-pollinate the flowers of rare pondspice (Litsea aestivalis) shrubs? 7️⃣ fruit have successfully matured! They were harvested in September to be handed off to the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Experts there will grow them into seedlings for planting back into the tiny source population. New efforts were necessary to prevent the globally rare species from going extinct at Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve, where there were only two female plants. Pollen was harvested from male spicebush flowers about 50 miles away. Read more on this here: https://lnkd.in/eSYTefpu Photo 1 from the spring, when Zach Bradford was hand pollinating. Photo 2 of the fruit, taken last month by Zach Bradford.
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If you plan to go to the State Fair of Virginia (happening through Oct. 6) then come see us in the Farm Bureau Center's Natural Resources Area. We are here with Virginia State Parks and the Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Come ask us questions, learn and find out about DCR careers!
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If you believe myths like, "I don't need flood insurance because I live in a low-risk area."; "Flood insurance is too expensive."; or "My homeowners or renters insurance policy covers flood damage.” We are here to give you the facts in this new article, Fact-checking 3 myths about flood insurance: https://lnkd.in/eVKrNaQa
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⚠️ Due to Hurricane Helene, numerous Virginia Natural Area Preserves and Virginia State Parks are closed or partially closed. Know before you go, find the most up to date information here: https://lnkd.in/eEUS4x_D For your safety as well as the safety of park staff and emergency response workers, please do not attempt to access areas or parks that have been closed.
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We are continually working to expand access to all at Virginia State Parks!
📣 All-terrain wheelchairs are now available at 6 Virginia State Parks, with one in each region. 🆕 Yesterday we debuted this new amenity to expand outdoor recreation accessibility to guests who are wheelchair users or have limited mobility. Mason Neck State Park hosted the celebration of this new pilot program, since the efforts of the Friends of Mason Neck State Park and local officials such as Delegate Kathy Tran made this possible. And thank you to everyone who has ever purchased a Virginia State Parks license plate, as sales contributed to the purchase of these chairs. 🚗 In addition to Mason Neck, these all-terrain, electric powered wheelchairs are now available for use on designated trails within the following state parks: 🦼 Claytor Lake State Park 🦼 Powhatan State Park 🦼 Shenandoah River State Park 🦼 Wilderness Road State Park 🦼 York River State Park Kris Gulden, Accessibility Advisor for Friends of Mason Neck and frequent guest, pictured demonstrating use of the chair, said "This is a total game changer. It makes parts of this park that were perfectly inaccessible, totally accessible. I mean it just opens up things I never even knew existed here." 🗺️ To help us best serve our guests, we kindly ask that you make a reservation request for all-terrain wheelchairs at least 48 hours in advance. Find the reservation form and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eQdeMCJ5
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Seven trail projects have been awarded grants through the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), selected by DCR and the Federal Highway Administration. 7️⃣ This federal, matching reimbursement program is established to construct and rehabilitate recreational trails and trail-related facilities. 🏆 Swipe to see selected projects. The 2024 projects, representing non-motorized, motorized and diverse trail uses across the commonwealth, were selected from 29 applications. Counties, cities and towns, park and recreation authorities, tribal governments, state agencies, federal agencies and nonprofit organizations were eligible to compete for funding. Information on future RTP grant rounds and other recreation oriented grants is available at https://lnkd.in/ejyEGvcj.
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This week: 3️⃣ opportunities to join a community meeting to learn about available resources and discuss flooding challenges. Two in-person meetings listed here, as well as a virtual meeting on Sept. 24 at noon. Become a part of the decision-making process for Virginia’s Coastal Resilience Master Plan. Your stories and input help create better solutions! Learn more about the upcoming events here: https://lnkd.in/efpZ-R2N 🗓️ Note: Registration is not required for the in-person meetings, but is encouraged. However, you must register for the online meeting, to receive the link to join.