GDS NWR TAG Report

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

GDS NWR TAG Report ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Success of this TAG field investigation/analysis, and, subsequently, the value of this report addressing transportation planning considerations and opportunities for Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, reflects the successful preparations, logistics, facilitation skills and expertise contributed by those staff representatives listed in Appendix A. The members of the TAG team collectively thank these individuals for their dedicated efforts, and for the contributions they made that greatly facilitated our work. The TAG team also would like to thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands for providing staffing and other support to this effort, as well as all stakeholders that participated in the TAG. NOTICE This Transportation Assistance Group (TAG) was convened at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The TAG is an agency-independent effort that is intended to provide technical assistance in support of federal lands transportation and federal lands transportation programs, and does not imply, preference, or guarantee programmatic funding or project support, or further assistance of any kind. This document is disseminated in the interest of information exchange. The recommendations found herein reflect the collective expertise and consensus of the individual TAG members, do not represent regulatory or programmatic requirements, and do not in any way reflect the official opinion of any federal agency. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents of this document or use thereof. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED 06-17-2014 March 2014 – June 2014 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. FUNDING NUMBERS Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Interagency Transportation Assistance Group: Transportation Observations, Considerations and Recommendations 6. AUTHOR(S) 5b. CONTRACT NUMBER Heather Richardson, Lauren Deaderick 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION The Volpe National Transportation Center REPORT NUMBER U.S. Department of Transportation DOT-VNTSC-FHWA-14-06 55 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02142 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 4401 N. Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE 13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words) In March 2014, U.S. FWS hosted a Transportation Assistance Group at the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia. The purpose of the meeting was to identify transportation issues impacting the refuge, ways to improve access to and within the refuge, as well as opportunities to address the issues raised and potential funding sources for their implementation. This report summarizes recommendations for coordinated local and regional planning, and implementation related to bicycle, pedestrian and transit routes connecting the local communities to the refuge. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES Access, alternative transportation system, FWS, partnership, planning, wildlife, visitation 26 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT Unlimited Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 298-102 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ i Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Background and Existing Conditions ...................................................................................... 1 Visitation ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Partnerships and Programs ................................................................................................................... 7 Area Demographics ............................................................................................................................... 7 Transportation Issues/Problems .......................................................................................... 10 Suffolk ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Chesapeake ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Regional .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Analysis and Recommendations .......................................................................................... 24 Suffolk ................................................................................................................................................. 24 Chesapeake ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Regional .............................................................................................................................................. 27 Appendix A: TAG Participants .............................................................................................. 29 Appendix B: Supporting Documents and Resources ............................................................. 30 Appendix C: TAG Meeting Agendas ...................................................................................... 31 3 List of Tables Table 1: Populations of neighboring cities .................................................................................................... 1 Table 2: Entrances to Great Dismal Swamp NWR ......................................................................................... 4 List of Figures Figure 1: Map of GDS NWR ........................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2: Average visitation by weekday ...................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3: Average visitation by weekend day ............................................................................................... 5 Figure 4: Underground Railroad Pavilion trail entrance ............................................................................... 6 Figure 5: Low-Income Populations and Accessibility to GDS NWR ............................................................... 8 Figure 6 Non-White Populations and Accessibility to GDS NWR .................................................................. 8 Figure 7: Vehicle Ownership and Accessibility to GDS NWR ........................................................................ 9 Figure 8: Indexed Demographic Variables for Underserved Populations and Accessibility to GDS NWR .... 9 Figure 9: Detail of entry points on Suffolk side ........................................................................................... 10 Figure 10: Jericho Lane conditions .............................................................................................................. 11 Figure 11: Part of Lake Drummond parking facility, Source: USDOT Volpe Center .................................... 13 Figure 12: Detail of entry points on Chesapeake side ................................................................................ 15 Figure 13: Boat Dock on Canal Trail side of the Dismal Swamp Canal ........................................................ 16 Figure 14 Kayak on boat tram at Lake Drummond ..................................................................................... 17 Figure 15: Dismal Swamp Canal Trail new boat launch .............................................................................. 18 Figure 16: Culpepper Landing Development location ................................................................................ 19 Executive Summary In 2011, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department
Recommended publications
  • Scenic Landforms of Virginia
    Vol. 34 August 1988 No. 3 SCENIC LANDFORMS OF VIRGINIA Harry Webb . Virginia has a wide variety of scenic landforms, such State Highway, SR - State Road, GWNF.R(T) - George as mountains, waterfalls, gorges, islands, water and Washington National Forest Road (Trail), JNFR(T) - wind gaps, caves, valleys, hills, and cliffs. These land- Jefferson National Forest Road (Trail), BRPMP - Blue forms, some with interesting names such as Hanging Ridge Parkway mile post, and SNPMP - Shenandoah Rock, Devils Backbone, Striped Rock, and Lovers Leap, National Park mile post. range in elevation from Mt. Rogers at 5729 feet to As- This listing is primarily of those landforms named on sateague and Tangier islands near sea level. Two nat- topographic maps. It is hoped that the reader will advise ural lakes occur in Virginia, Mountain Lake in Giles the Division of other noteworthy landforms in the st& County and Lake Drummond in the City of Chesapeake. that are not mentioned. For those features on private Gaps through the mountains were important routes for land always obtain the owner's permission before vis- early settlers and positions for military movements dur- iting. Some particularly interesting features are de- ing the Civil War. Today, many gaps are still important scribed in more detail below. locations of roads and highways. For this report, landforms are listed alphabetically Dismal Swamp (see Chesapeake, City of) by county or city. Features along county lines are de- The Dismal Swamp, located in southeastern Virginia, scribed in only one county with references in other ap- is about 10 to 11 miles wide and 15 miles long, and propriate counties.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
    To Williamsburg U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge 10 664 58 3100 Desert Road 32 Suffolk, VA 23434 264 64 757/986 3705 Great Dismal To Norfolk s www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp ypas 337 64 and 58 B 58 Virginia 460 58 Chesapeake Old Beach Federal Relay Service 460 Mill 17-Bus 460 Road Swamp 13 Martin for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Johnson Road 1 800/877 8339 ss ypa Suffolk 8 B 5 Big Entry Ditch 17 National Wildlife 58 Williamson Ditch 165 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service New Ditch 1 800/344 WILD Jericho 32 Lane Hudnell Ditch Hudnell Ditch http://www.fws.gov Refuge 13 Bypass Rosemary 17 13 d Jericho Ditch Ditch a 64 Gloucester 13 April 2016 o R East Ditch East h Portsmouth Ditch Trails s Williamsburg r Northeast Ditch a ynn Ditch Hampton L 13 M Camp Ditch Wakefield rail e 17 460 t 642 Norfolk i Virginia h Middle Ditch Windsor Beach 32 Franklin 64 165 604 W 58 Suffolk Chesapeake Virginia 13 168 N. Carolina S. 258 Sunbury Washington Ditch Elizabeth Refuge City Office Railroad Ditch 17 Dismal Swamp Canal T 604 Lake N Drummond Feeder Ditch 0 Miles 3 642 Interior Ditch ack R Ballah oa d 0 2 est Ditch est W Kilometers Road South Ditch Virginia Great Dismal Swamp North Carolina Desert National Wildlife Refuge DanielsRd. Dismal Swamp 17 Legend State Park Refuge Office Parking Area Auto Tour Route by Permit Trail Entrance Dismal Swamp Canal Swamp Dismal Refuge Area 32 Hiking / Biking Trail Pas qu South Boat Access Area ota nk Mills 158 R Pier iv er Sunbury 158 17 158 To Outer Banks Foggy morn This blue goose, designed by J.N.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Way to Escape
    U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service American black bear Photo: P. Cuffee Lake Drummond Photo: P. Cuffee Great Dismal Swamp Wild turkey with young Photo: J. Ross Yellow jessamine Photo: D. Schwab Pine warbler Photo: D. Schneider National Wildlife Refuge Great purple hairstreak Photo: T. Kain Lake Drummond with the Dismal Swamp Canal. A Located within a two hour drive of over 1.6 million Lane entrance are both located off White Marsh Road in through the Railroad Ditch entrance, a route of six miles along public boat ramp is located north of the Feeder Ditch residents of southeastern Virginia and northeastern Suffolk, Virginia, and provide the best dirt roads for hiking Railroad Ditch Road, West Ditch Road, and Interior Ditch on the Dismal Swamp Canal. A canoe and kayak North Carolina, the Great Dismal Swamp National and biking. In the Railroad Ditch entrance, located off Desert Roads. A vehicle pass is needed and can be obtained from the launch is located south of the Feeder Ditch, adjacent Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to connect with Road in Suffolk, Virginia, are all-weather gravel roads that refuge offi ce on business days from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. With to the Dismal Swamp State Park. Near the lake, at nature. With 111,203 acres of forested wetlands and allow auto access by special permit to Lake Drummond. The a two week notice organized groups may secure a special use the Dismal Swamp Reservation, boats must be small the 3,100 acre Lake Drummond at its center, the Feeder Ditch water trail is located off the Dismal Swamp permit to allow access for small buses, up to 25 passengers.
    [Show full text]
  • George Reimherr: Sad News
    The Mineral Newsletter Meeting: April 24 Time: 7:45 p.m. Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington, VA Volume 58, No. 4 April 2017 Explore our Website! April Meeting Program: Studying Paleoclimatology In this issue … Mineral of the month: Titanite .....................p. 2 April program details ...................................p. 3 The Prez Sez ................................................p. 3 Name tag contest ........................................p. 4 March meeting minutes...............................p. 4 George Reimherr: Sad news .........................p. 6 Montgomery County show report.................p. 7 Flag Ponds field trip coming up .....................p. 8 More field trip opportunities........................p. 9 Editor’s corner: List of club officers...............p. 9 Jet: Gemstone made from coal .....................p. 10 AFMS: Be safe, be well.................................p. 11 EFMLS: How healthy is your club?.................p. 11 Hooded topaz ..............................................p. 12 Website review: Virginia Places ....................p. 13 Purple fluorite .............................................p. 14 Bench tips: Templates..................................p. 14 Photo: Bob Cooke. The mystery of Lake Drummond ...................p. 15 Upcoming events.........................................p. 19 Mineral of the Month Titanite by Sue Marcus Happy Easter! Titanite was named for a principal component, tita- nium. Although recognized in 1787 as a new—or at Northern Virginia Mineral Club least unknown—mineral, it was not formally described and named until 1795. members, Most minerals have a type locality, a place where the Please join our April speaker, Hunter Hughes, for material that was initially described (the “type”) was dinner at the Olive Garden on April 24 at 6 p.m. first found. Mindat lists three co-type localities for ti- tanite: Hauzenberg, Bavaria, Germany; Philipstown Olive Garden, Baileys Cross Roads (across from Township, Putnam County, New York; and Rossie, St.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic Dismal Swamp Canal
    Cruising the Canal Everything you always wanted to know about the “DO THE DISMAL” GREAT DISMAL SWAMP and We highly recommend it!!! DISMAL SWAMP CANAL Cruise the oldest continually operating hand-dug waterway in the country. Enjoy beautiful scenery, free dockage, and “convenience” stops. The Deep Creek, VA, lock is located about 11 miles from Hospital Point and Waterside Marina, off the southern branch of the Elizabeth River. There is an anchorage in a cove about 2 miles north of the lock and a FREE DOCK between the lock and the highway bridge. On the south side of the bridge, there are cleats on the east bulkhead. A nearby shopping strip offers various shopping opportunities From Deep Creek to the southern lock at South DISMAL SWAMP CANAL Mills, NC, is 22 miles, where boats can tie up to WELCOME CENTER the west bulkhead and visit “Your Information Center for a convenience store with Northeastern NC” food service. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center is located The Welcome Center, in Camden County on US Highway 17, approximately located 17 miles south of 18 miles north of Elizabeth City, NC, and 3 miles Deep Creek and 5 miles south of the NC/VA line. north of South Mills, offers FREE DOCKAGE, potable Camden County is adjacent to the Hampton Roads, water, picnic tables, grills, and clean restrooms VA, metropolitan area (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, open 24 hours/day. A friendly staff, Book Ex- Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, change, Boater’s Log, NC Coastal Boating Guide, vid- and Hampton), only a short distance from Williams- eos on the Dismal Swamp Canal, and a small GIFT burg, Jamestown and Yorktown.
    [Show full text]
  • Points of Interest
    Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (DSCT), opened in at 111,200 acres, is a forested wetland ecosystem that straddles spring 2006. DSCT is a section of the former State Rt. 17, located in Enjoy. .and learn the state line separating southeastern Virginia and northeastern Chesapeake, Virginia at the intersection of Dominion Blvd . and Old North Carolina. Lake Drummond, 3,100 acres, is found at the Rt. 17. Running south for 8.3 miles, adjacent to the Dismal Swamp while you center of the swamp and is one of only two naturally occurring Canal, it is a multi-purpose linear nature trail traversing some of the lakes in the state of Virginia. The refuge is a favorite with most uniquely historical and ecologically significant habitats in the sportsmen for hunting white-tailed deer and black bear in late United States. autumn. A featured site on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is an historic, environmental Trail, birding reaches a peak in April and May, as neo-tropical and outdoor-recreation delight. The canal marks the east border of Paddle for the Border migratory birds move into and through the refuge. The The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Chesapeake. Washington Ditch and Jericho Lane entrances are gateways to The area is home to myriad species of wildlife; parts of the Refuge miles of refuge trails open for hiking and biking. The Feeder were assessed by George Washington’s survey company; the Swamp Ditch is a water trail connecting Lake Drummond east to the is nationally recognized as a stop on the “Underground Railroad”; the Sponsored by Dismal Swamp Canal.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Drummond Reservation Information
    LAKE DRUMMOND RESERVATION We are pleased to submit to you the following information for the Lake Drummond Reservation in the heart of the Great Dismal Swamp. The southern portion of the reservation, approximately 1 acre, is open for visitation for outdoor and wilderness experience and historical appreciation. While the Lake Drummond Reservation is open to the public, you visit at your own risk and must comply with Virginia State Park COVID-19 guidelines. There are no public restrooms or water available during the months of December, January, and February. The reservation is accessible only by water via the Dismal Swamp Canal and Feeder Ditch leading to the spillway at Lake Drummond. Canoes and small vessels with a draft of 3 feet or less can transmit the Feeder Ditch to the reservation, water depths decrease during low water events in the canal. A dock is available for small vessels. Small vessels weighing less than 1,000 pounds will be able to transit the marine railway to enter the lake when the operator is on duty from March to November. The Dismal Swamp Canal Boat Ramp is located off the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (old US-17), approximately 3 miles north of the North Carolina/Virginia state line, about ¼ mile north of Ballahack Road in Chesapeake. This ramp is maintained and operated by the City of Chesapeake at no cost to the public and overnight parking is allowed. There are no public roads leading into the reservation. An operator is on duty from approximately 8:30 am ~ 4:00 pm except New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Dismal Swamp About 4,000 Years Ago, Likely After a Fire Burned Away Several Feet of Peat Soils
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lake Drummond Lake Drummond, at 3,100 acres, is the largest natural lake in Virginia. The lake was formed Great Dismal Swamp about 4,000 years ago, likely after a fire burned away several feet of peat soils. Peat from the National Wildife Refuge swamp’s organic soil colors the lake’s water a dark brown, but despite its murky appearance, the lake is only about three feet deep in most places. The lake’s acidity and dark color limits the abundance of plants in the lake. Despite this, the lake is home to several species of fish, includ- ing mud sunfish, yellow perch, brown and yellow bullhead catfish, bowfin and crappie. Contrary to popular myth, there are no alligators in the lake. In the winter, the lake provides a resting place The Railroad Ditch Trail vehicle access gate for thousands of migratory birds including is open Monday-Saturday, 7:30am to 3:00pm. Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. In the summer, Pick-up and complete the self-service pass keep an eye out for Great Blue Herons and Great found at the entrance gate. Vehicles must exit Egrets, as well as Northern Parula Warblers and the area by 4:00pm. Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the cypress trees. The shore of the lake is also home to a Hiking and biking are allowed everyday on Bald Eagle nest. refuge trails, including the Railroad Ditch Trail, sunrise to sunset. The Railroad Ditch Trail is occasionally closed for hunts, maintenance, prescribed burns and other management events. The refuge office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Dismal Swamp
    THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP: A TWENTIETH-CENTURY PERSPECTIVE By Kevin Christopher Bradley Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts In Public Anthropology Chair: Daniel Sayers, Ph.D. Richard J. Dent, Ph.D. Sue Taylor, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Date 2013 American University Washington, D.C. 20016 © COPYRIGHT by Kevin Christopher Bradley 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP: A TWENTIETH-CENTURY PERSPECTIVE BY Kevin Christopher Bradley ABSTRACT Research presented in this thesis will continue the investigation of (inter)actions within and around the Great Dismal Swamp, while expanding analysis beyond the current temporal focus of the Great Dismal Swamp Landscape Study. The twentieth century witnessed perhaps the most dramatic series of changes to landscape use in the Great Dismal Swamp throughout its entire social history, changes that undoubtedly affected previously established behaviors and relationships. Archival material and oral reports referenced in this work help identify the socioeconomic and ideological underpinnings of society, providing a means to evaluate how these broad processes influenced cultural activity in and around the swamp. Of particular interest in this thesis is the identification and understanding of the signs and manifestations of control expressed over the landscape, and the consequential acts of defiance taken by marginalized or disenfranchised communities. Archaeological evidence, also, has the potential to further illuminate our understanding of past actions in the swamp. However, since no concerted archaeological investigations of the twentieth century have been conducted there, it will be demonstrated that not only is such an endeavor possible, but it is ultimately worthwhile.
    [Show full text]
  • Hampton Roads
    REGION23 Hampton Roads Norfolk Harborfest | Robbie Hickman/Virginia Tourism Corp. CHAPTER 13 Regional Recommendations Region 23 • Hampton Roads Scenic Virginia Beach | Sarah Hauser/Virginia Tourism Corp. Introduction Regional Focus The Hampton Roads Recreational Planning Region includes the Table 23.1 Most-Needed Outdoor counties of Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton and York. The Recreation Opportunities region also includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Hampton Roads Recreational Planning Region Beach and Williamsburg and the towns of Boykins, Branchville, % of households in Capron, Courtland, Ivor, Newsoms, Smithfield and Windsor. activity region state Three major Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain river drainage systems in Parks 56 49 the region are the York, James and Chowan basins. To the east, the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay form an undulating Natural areas 47 54 natural boundary for the region. Natural features include coastal shorelines, vast expanses of open water and marshlands. The Water access 43 43 James and York rivers are predominantly estuarine. Freshwater systems include the Nottoway, Blackwater, Meherrin, North Landing Trails 42 43 and Northwest Rivers, Back Bay and the Dismal Swamp. Historic areas 42 39 Scenic drives 28 29 (driving for pleasure) Playing fields, sports and golf 21 22 facilities Source: 2017 Virginia Outdoors Demand Survey 2018 Virginia Outdoors Plan 13.125125 www.dcr.virginia.gov CHAPTER 13 Regional Recommendations Region 23 • Hampton Roads Enjoying the Beach | Sam Dean/Virginia Tourism Corp. Table 23.2 Top 10 Outdoor Recreation Activities Regional Featured Projects By Participation To be considered a regional featured project, a project must meet Hampton Roads Recreational Planning Region at least one of the following criteria: % • Has statewide or regional significance.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge TRAIL INFORMATION 3100 Desert Road Suffolk, VA 23434 To Williamsburg 757/986 3705 Great Dismal www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp 10 664 58 32 264 Federal Relay Service 64 To Norfolk Swamp s for the deaf and hard-of-hearing ypas 337 64 and 58 B 58 Chesapeake Virginia 1 800/877 8339 460 58 Martin Old Beach 460 Johnson Mill 17-Bus 460 Road Road 13 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife GG ss Black Bear Trail ypa Suffolk 1 800/344 WILD 8 B 5 17 58 165 http://www.fws.gov Refuge Williamson DitchNew Big Entry Ditch Ditch Jericho 32 Lane Hudnell Ditch Hudnell Ditch 13 Bypass January 2019 G Rosemary 17 d Ditch 13 Jericho Ditch a 64 Gloucester 13 o R Trails h Portsmouth Ditch s Williamsburg r Northeast Ditch a Hampton Lynn Ditch Lynn M Wakefield 604 e 17 460 t 642 Norfolk i Virginia 13 h Middle Ditch Windsor Beach Franklin 64 165 W 58 Suffolk Chesapeake 32 G Virginia 13 168 N. Carolina S. 258 Sunbury Washington Ditch Elizabeth Office City RailroadDitch G Dismal Swamp Canal Trail 604 Lake 17 N Drummond Feeder Ditch 0 Miles 3 642 Interior Ditch ack R Ballah oa d 20 est Ditch est W Kilometers Road South Ditch Virginia Great Dismal Swamp North Carolina Desert National Wildlife Refuge DanielsRd. Dismal Swamp 17 Legend State Park Refuge Office Auto Tour Route by Permit G Gated Trail Entrance Dismal Swamp Canal Swamp Dismal Refuge Area 32 Hiking / Biking Trail P asq uo South Boat Access Area ta nk Mills 158 R iv Pier er Sunbury 158 17 158 To Outer Banks _____Railroad Ditch Entrance, 3120 Desert Road, Suolk, VA Enter color-coded trail _____Jericho Lane Entrance, 1330 WhiteMarsh Road, Suolk, VA networks at these _____Washington Ditch Entrance, 3076 WhiteMarsh Road, Suolk, VA gated trail entrances: _____Portsmouth Ditch Entrance, 3457 MartinJohnson Road, Chesapeake, VA _____Feeder Ditch Entrance (by water only), Dismal Swamp Canal, Chesapeake, VA This blue goose, designed by J.N.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Drummond Reservation
    LAKE DRUMMOND RESERVATION We are pleased to submit to you the following information for the Lake Drummond Reservation in the heart of the Great Dismal Swamp. The southern half of the reservation, approximately 1 acre, is open for visitors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for outdoor and wilderness experience and historical appreciation. While the Lake Drummond Reservation is open to the public, you visit at your own risk. The reservation is accessible only by water via the Dismal Swamp Canal and Feeder Ditch leading to the spillway at Lake Drummond. Canoes and small boats with a draft of 3’ or less can transit the waterway to the reservation, water depths decrease during low water events in the canal. A dock is available for small boats. Small boats weighing less than 1,000 pounds will be able to transit the marine railway to enter the lake when the operator is on duty. Due to shoaling near the marine railway, it is NOT operational until further notice. The Dismal Swamp Canal Boat Ramp is located off the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (old US-17), approximately 3 miles north of the North Carolina/Virginia state line, about ¼ mile north of Ballahack Road in Chesapeake. This ramp is maintained and operated by the City of Chesapeake at no cost to the public and overnight parking is allowed. There are no public roads leading into the reservation. An operator is on duty 7 days a week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and Presidents Day from approximately 8:30 am ~ 4:00 pm.
    [Show full text]