Natural Area Preserves Closure Info. The Virginia Natural Area Preserve System was established to conserve natural heritage resources. Occasionally, a natural area preserve may be subject to temporary closure to protect sensitive natural heritage resources or to facilitate completion of a resource management activity that benefits natural heritage resources. Natural area preserve closures may apply to the entire site or just a portion of the site, and may last from one day to several months. Public admittance into closed preserves or areas is prohibited during designated closure periods.
Some species even require fire in order to survive.
To meet the ecological needs of these fire-adapted natural heritage resources, DCR conducts prescribed burning on some natural area preserves. Prescribed burning is the intentional use of fire in a particular time and place, under defined conditions, to accomplish specific resource management goals. Natural area preserves are closed to public access during prescribed burn operations for safety reasons. Closures for burning usually last only one day but may range up to three days. Because prescribed burning is weather dependent, an exact date of preserve closure cannot be provided in advance, so please call before visiting.