The 980-acre Ragged Mountain Reservoir property is a forested, relatively undisturbed tract, situated 2 miles southwest of Charlottesville. With two lakes comprising 65 acres of surfacewater, the property is owned by the City of Charlottesville and managed by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority as a public water supply.

The Ivy Creek Foundation is proposing to establish a natural area at this site, similar to the Ivy Creek Natural Area on the Rivanna Reservoir.  As such, the property would be open free to the public for hiking, nature observation and study, and fishing, with the intent that it be preserved in a natural state.  The Foundation would be willing to participate in a management agreement with the City and County as now exists with Ivy Creek.  For more than 17 years this arrangement has provided area residents with a unique recreational resource at minimal expense to the City and County.  Under such an agreement at Ragged Mountain, the Ivy Creek Foundation will:

• Lay out, construct, post, monitor and maintain a trail system.

• Secure title in the City's name to a portion of an adjacent, privately owned field (tax map 75, parcel 47-B) as well as a connecting corridor to be contiguous to the 980-acre tract, for the purpose of providing parking space and access to the Natural Area.

• Design and construct a gravel-based, rustic parking lot for 20 vehicles (with overflow space) and an information kiosk. The Foundation is willing to commit a maximum of $15,000 toward the parking facility.  This sum is estimated to be sufficient.

• Print maps, handle public inquiries, and distribute information through our office.

• Conduct occasional public hikes, nature programs, and educational outings for school groups free of charge.

• The entire Ragged Mountain tract be designated a "natural area" upon which natural processes be permitted to take place undisturbed, except as necessary for operation and maintenance as a public water supply by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, and to further the goals and objectives of the Ivy Creek Foundation.

• The City (and/or County) remains committed to ownership of the entire 980-acre tract, the intent being that the "natural area" status and water quality not be compromised through sale or lease. The Foundation would welcome incorporation of additional acreage.

• No timber cutting be permitted, except as necessary for proper maintenance and operation of the reservoir as a public water supply, for human safety, and for proper construction and maintenance of the trail system.

• No roads be permitted, except as necessary for proper maintenance and operation of the property as a public water supply.

• Access be designated for foot travel only (with the exception of non-combustion type devices intended to aid the handicapped), for the purposes of hiking, nature observation and study, and fishing.  This would preclude bicycles, all-terrain-vehicles, horses, pets, etc.  This is not meant to preclude small fishing boats with non-combustion motors, provided this use does not compromise the objectives of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority and the Ivy Creek Foundation.

• The hunting or trapping of any animal during any season be prohibited.  The willful introduction of non-native plants be prohibited.  The willful introduction of native and non-native animals be prohibited, except fish stocking under direction of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

• The City and County assume responsibility for maintenance and security of the parking lot, trash removal, maintenance materials and other functions as currently performed at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.