Chesapeake Bay Reserve, Virginia

State

Virginia

State Partner

Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary

Acres

3,072

Est. Date

1991

Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve manages four diverse sites along the largest estuary in the United States. The habitats it protects range from oyster reefs and seagrass beds to tidal wetlands and mudflats. The Reserve works to promote understanding of estuarine and watershed systems through training and education, conserve coastal resources and water quality, understand human and climate change impacts on ecosystems, and develop ways to monitor coastal environments.

Volunteer

This Reserve currently does not have a formal volunteer organization.

Be A Friend

This Reserve currently does not have a formal friends organization.

Did You Know…

Werowocomoco—Virginia’s original “capital city” and Chief Powhatan’s seat of power—is located across the York River from the Virginia Reserve.

Latest News from Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay Reserve

Data for a Healthy Chesapeake Bay

Data for a Healthy Chesapeake Bay

While others might cheer the spring return of warmer temperatures to Virginia’s Lower Potomac, A.J. Erskine eyes the related runoff with a bit of concern.

read more
Spreading the Word on Seagrass

Spreading the Word on Seagrass

Most people don’t know anything about these ecosystem superstars that grow on the bottoms of coastal waters, even though they support food security, mitigate climate change, promote biodiversity, and own the title of world’s largest plant.

read more
Can they have it all?

Can they have it all?

Around Chesapeake Bay, just about everyone agrees: oysters are tasty and seagrass is important. But there’s a hitch—these equally beloved resources thrive in the same places. But what if the same spot could support both?

read more
Chesapeake Bay Reserve, Virginia