Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve

Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve
Pawpaw blossoms as leaves emerge, in Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve
LocationYork County, Virginia
Nearest cityNewport News
Coordinates37°12′0″N 76°32′15″W / 37.20000°N 76.53750°W / 37.20000; -76.53750
Area375 acres (1.52 km2)
OwnerCity of Newport News

Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve is a 375-acre (1.52 km2) Natural Area Preserve located in York County, Virginia. It preserves Virginia's best remaining example of a coastal plain pond complex, and supports several locally-rare species including pond spice (Litsea aestivalis), Mabee's salamander (Ambystoma mabeei), barking treefrog (Hyla gratiosa), and the globally imperiled Harper's fimbristylis (Fimbristylis perpusilla).[1][2]

The preserve is owned and maintained by the city of Newport News, and is open for public access.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Comprehensive Report Species - Fimbristylis perpusilla". NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life. NatureServe. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve". Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved December 19, 2016.