Volunteers Devote a Day to Construction on Presquile NWR

by Anna Salzberg, JRA's Outreach Intern

October 26, 2011 was a beautiful sunny day for the 8 volunteers working on the wetlands walkway that will be part of the new James River Ecology School at Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Presquile NWR is a 1329-acre island in the James River, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, Virginia and is one of four refuges that comprise the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The volunteers gained a unique experience by visiting the NWR, since it is not open to the public without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The USFWS is currently working with JRA to establish the Ecology School on Presquile NWR in adherence with the USFWS Compatibility Determination and Comprehensive Conservation Plan.

Volunteers included some folks from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the National Park Service, retired carpenters with good hearts, and a couple journalists that did not mind working hard for a good cause. This group of volunteers with diverse backgrounds and skills met at the dock across the river from Presquile NWR around 9 am. Following brief introductions, a pontoon boat traversed the James to deliver the volunteer workers and supplies to the unloading dock at Presquile. Supplies were then carried up the hill to the main construction area.

After a quick tour of the Ecology school building currently under construction and an approximate one-mile walk across the island to the wetland walkway, construction efforts were quickly underway. The main efforts on this particular day included installing tiles in the curving sections of the 557-foot boardwalk. Tiles were also transported to the gazebo area where they will be installed in the near future. All-in-all, the day resulted in productive construction and networking for all involved (not to mention the yummy lunch served by JRA). JRA continues to need volunteers to further the construction progress, so please check out the upcoming Volunteer Work Days included on the JRA website calendar. Please contact Gabe Silver at gsilver@jrava.org or (804) 788-8811 ext. 214 to sign up. JRA would love to see you there!