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| Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge |
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Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The refuge was established as the 319th National Wildlife Refuge on April 24, 1972 to protect nationally significant habitat for bald eagles. The refuge is situated on the southwestern corner of the Chesapeake Bay in the City of Poquoson and is strategically located almost midpoint on the Atlantic Flyway. It consists of 3,502 acres of saltmarsh, shrub-scrub and wooded habitats that provide a haven for waterfowl, marsh-birds, and shorebirds. Previously owned by the U.S. Department of Defense, the area was used as a bombing range. Much of the area remains dotted with unexploded ordnance. Due to the unexploded ordnance hazard, Plum Tree Island Refuge is closed to the public for all purposes except permitted waterfowl hunting on the 200 acre Cow Island portion of the refuge. Cow Island is adjacent to the main tract of the refuge and was never used as a bombing range.
The Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge was established under the following authorities: An Act Authorizing the Transfer of Certain Real Property for Wildlife, or other purposes (16 U.S.C. § 667b “...particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program". Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. § 742f(a)(4)) “...for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources"; (16 U.S.C. § 742f(b)(1)) “....for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude". Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. § 715d) "...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds". The purpose for which the Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge was established is: Ò... particular value in carrying out the national migratory bird management program.Ó 16 U.S.C. ¤ 667b (An Act Authorizing the Transfer of Certain Real Property for Wildlife, or other purposes) The Refuge is scheduled to begin working on its Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) in 2010. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 mandates a CCP for every refuge in the System. Our final plan will establish management goals and objectives for all refuge programs over the next 15 years, while providing opportunities for compatible, wildlife-dependent public uses. We will evaluate refuge wildlife, habitat, land protection and visitor service priorities during the planning process. To learn more about this process, please click here. To see the Department of the Interior (DOI) GPRA Strategic Plan, click here.
Wildlife Refuge Manager ― Joseph McCauley Deputy Wildlife Refuge Manager ― Merry Maxwell Wildlife Refuge Biologist ― Sandy Spencer Outdoor Recreation Planner ― Cyrus Brame Law Enforcement Officer ― Dustin Martin Maintenance Worker ― Gary Bareford Administrative Assistant ― Frances Murphey Biological Technician ― Michael MacKinnon SCEP Biological Trainee ― Rosalind Wu Plum Tree Island NWR is one of four refuges in the Eastern Virginia Rivers NWR Complex. The refuges in this complex are:
The complex is part of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Northeast Region (Region 5) includes 13 states:
The Northeast Region is one of seven regions (not including Headquarters) in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Click this link to see a map of the regions. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is one of eight bureaus in the Department of the Interior. These bureaus are:
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Last Updated: March 14, 2009