Carvins Cove Natural Reserve
Encyclopedia
Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest city park in the United States
, at 12700 acres (51 km²). It is located in Botetourt County, Virginia
and Roanoke County, Virginia
.
In the 1930s, Carvins Creek was dam
med to create the Carvins Cove Reservoir
, which for many decades served as the primary water source for the City of Roanoke
. A small rural community (called Carvins Cove
) was displaced by the reservoir's creation, and some of its roads and housing foundations still become visible during droughts. A series of droughts in the late 1990s spurred the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County to create the Western Virginia Water Authority, which consolidated their water delivery systems.
The reservoir and the land below the 1,200 foot (366 m) contour are owned by the Authority. The land above the 1,200 foot (366 m) contour is owned by the City of Roanoke. In April 2008, Roanoke City Council placed 6185 acres (25 km²) of Carvins Cove under a conservation easement
donated to the Western Virginia Land Trust
and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation
. The easement protects much of the Cove from inappropriate development and is the largest ever recorded in the Commonwealth of Virgnia.
Recreational activities, such as mountain biking
, hiking
, and equestrian
activities, are allowed around the reservoir. Boating
and fishing
are allowed on the reservoir itself, but there are strict limits to preserve water quality. The fear of zebra mussels motivated the city to apply the first restrictions in the early 1990s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, at 12700 acres (51 km²). It is located in Botetourt County, Virginia
Botetourt County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
and Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
.
In the 1930s, Carvins Creek was dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
med to create the Carvins Cove Reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
, which for many decades served as the primary water source for the City of Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
. A small rural community (called Carvins Cove
Carvins Cove, Virginia
Carvins Cove was a community in both Botetourt and Roanoke County, Virginia, United States, that was abandoned and subsequently inundated in order to create the Carvins Cove Reservoir by the City of Roanoke in the mid–1940s.-History:...
) was displaced by the reservoir's creation, and some of its roads and housing foundations still become visible during droughts. A series of droughts in the late 1990s spurred the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County to create the Western Virginia Water Authority, which consolidated their water delivery systems.
The reservoir and the land below the 1,200 foot (366 m) contour are owned by the Authority. The land above the 1,200 foot (366 m) contour is owned by the City of Roanoke. In April 2008, Roanoke City Council placed 6185 acres (25 km²) of Carvins Cove under a conservation easement
Conservation easement
In the United States, a conservation easement is an encumbrance — sometimes including a transfer of usage rights — which creates a legally enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and a government agency or a qualified land...
donated to the Western Virginia Land Trust
Western Virginia Land Trust
The Western Virginia Land Trust is a non-profit land trust headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia that seeks to preserve the wilderness and farmlands in the western portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia from excessive commercial development...
and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation
Virginia Outdoors Foundation
The Virginia Outdoors Foundation is a quasi-state agency formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1966 "to promote the preservation of open space lands and to encourage private gifts of money, securities, land or other property to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, open-space and...
. The easement protects much of the Cove from inappropriate development and is the largest ever recorded in the Commonwealth of Virgnia.
Recreational activities, such as mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, and equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
activities, are allowed around the reservoir. Boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
are allowed on the reservoir itself, but there are strict limits to preserve water quality. The fear of zebra mussels motivated the city to apply the first restrictions in the early 1990s.