| SEARCH | CONTACT US | DONATE NOW
|
||
|
 |
|
North Fork of the Shenandoah River Headwaters Special Project Area
Location: Frederick and Shenandoah counties Description: The Cedar and Passage Creek watersheds, which comprise the North Fork of the Shenandoah River headwaters in Frederick and Shenandoah counties, are considered among the cleanest and least disturbed streams in the Shenandoah Valley region. The Virginia Outdoors Plan identifies both Cedar and Passage creeks as major recreational streams in the region, and identifies Cedar Creek in its entirety as qualifying for designation as a Virginia Scenic River. The plan also identifies Cedar Creek and portions of Passage Creek as eligible for study for National Wild and Scenic River System designation. A portion of the Cedar Creek watershed has been a designated a national historical park within the larger Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District, established to protect both historic resources and the natural landscape features that contributed to historic events. The includes scenic and forested land that buffers the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Devils Backbone State Forest, and the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park. These watersheds contain 28 species of plants and animals identified as rare, including: Canby's mountain-lover, which is imperiled at state and global levels; long dash skipper, which is critically imperiled in Virginia; and the wood turtle, which is threatened and critically imperiled in Virginia. The watersheds also contain unique and rare ecosystem features including areas of mountain dry calcareous forest, Central Appalachian shale barrens, karst, caves, bluffs, Appalachian bogs, and cliffs.Designated by VOF: January 27, 2011 Nominated by: The Potomac Conservancy Nomination supported by: Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park, Fort Valley Ruritans, Frederick County, Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Shenandoah County, Shenandoah University, Trout Unlimited, and the Virginia Department of Forestry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
