Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve
The Crow’s Nest peninsula in Stafford County is rich in natural resources. It supports 900 acres of wetlands, 23 miles of streams, and over 2,300 acres of mature hardwood forest. It provides habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, and its lands and waters have played important roles in the Native American, Colonial, and Civil War histories of Virginia. NVCT has been involved in conservation of the Crow’s Nest peninsula for nearly thirty years. Today, the total area of Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve is over 3,300 acres.
Over time there have been a number of proposed uses for the land on this peninsula, and in 1973 the Crow’s Nest Harbour Subdivision was platted with 346 residential lots, totaling approximately 880 acres. The lots were sold to individuals and developers, but public utilities were never installed, so the lots are undevelopable. This subdivision is within an area that contains important natural resources that deserve to be conserved. Today, all but 28 of the Crow’s Nest Harbour lots are being held by NVCT or Stafford County for future addition to the Preserve.
Partners in Protecting Crow's Nest
We at NVCT are proud to have partnered with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Stafford County to dedicate our Potomac Creek Heronry parcel as an addition to the Crow's Nest preserve in 2018 and our Potomac Hills parcel in 2020. Through these partnerships, we helped to expand Virginia's 54th state natural area preserve to a total of 3,056 acres. It has been an honor for us to play a part in this important land conservation achievement and we are committed to continuing our efforts to protect and preserve natural areas for future generations.
NVCT is excited to now facilitate a unique opportunity for landowners to be compensated for their properties, while at the same time helping to conserve this special land. We have a rare, time-limited opportunity to help protect this land in Stafford County. Comprised of wetlands and hardwood forest, this area is home to dozens of at-risk species including the bald eagle and great blue heron.
