Compiled by Daniel Bieker
Ivy Creek Foundation President
February 1998
Having gained approval from the Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the Ivy Creek Foundation will soon establish hiking trails, construct a small parking facility, and accept management responsibilities for the 980-acre Ragged Mountain Natural Area.
This report attempts to describe to date the project’s scope and includes a brief biological inventory of the area’s plant and wildlife resources. A map detailing land and water areas, as well as the location and layout of proposed hiking trails and parking facility is attached.
The two interconnected lakes and associated watershed which comprise the Ragged Mountain Reservoir are located 2 miles southwest of Charlottesville. Elevations range from approximately 600 feet at average water level to more than 1200 feet on Bear Den Mountain, southwest of the upper reservoir. The entire watershed is forested, primarily in mature upland hardwoods with scattered stands of pine.
Of the 1216 acres which comprise the reservoir and overall watershed, 980 acres are owned by the City of Charlottesville and are the focus of this report.
The original Ragged Mountain Reservoir was established in 1885 to meet the increasing demand for water by Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. Prior to this, water was obtained from scattered springs about town. The dam is an earth structure, 45 feet high with a dry-stacked stone interior, and is still functional. The lake drains approximately 300 acres of watershed and is fed by springs and small inlets; the largest one enters from the south under Interstate 64. The surface area of the lake averages about 14 acres.
In 1908 a second dam, known as Mayo’s Rock Dam, was constructed 2400 feet downstream of the original impoundment near what is now Camp Holiday Trails. With the addition of this 50-acre lake, the total drainage area increased to 1216 acres and water capacity from 190 to 620 million gallons. Although separated by the old dam, the two lakes are interconnected and function as one body.
By the 1920s water demand again began to outpace supply, and the City looked to the Blue Ridge Mountains for relief. In 1925 a small dam was constructed on the Moorman’s River (immediately below what is now the Sugar Hollow Dam) and an 18" cast iron pipe was buried 13½ miles to feed directly into the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. This pipeline, capable of carrying four million gallons per day, is still in use. The Sugar Hollow Reservoir was completed in 1949 and feeds both the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir (completed in 1966) via the Moorman’s River and Ragged Mountain Reservoir through the cast iron pipe.
In 1953 a local timber dealer contacted the City in regard to buying timber on the Ragged Mountain watershed. The following year a study was undertaken by the Virginia Division of Forestry (now the Virginia Department of Forestry) which recommended that the property be selectively cut with special consideration for erosion control to protect the watershed. Between 1954 and 1958, 2½ million board feet of lumber were removed, with sale proceeds going to the City. No timber harvesting has taken place since then.
In the early days of the University, the area was apparently a popular get-away for adventurous students. The hills were described as “wild and dreary” by Edgar Allen Poe in the short story A Tale of the Ragged Mountains. Though written later in his life, it draws from his experience as a University student in the mid-1820s.
Well into this century subsistence farming was a way of life for Ragged Mountain residents. A study commissioned by the University of Virginia Civic Club in 1911 found the populace to be largely unschooled and well below the poverty level. Most families got by with vegetable gardens and a few hogs and chickens that could forage on the hillsides for nuts and roots. Some employment was to be found in sassafras and lumber mills, and chestnut trees could be sold for utility poles ($1.50 per pole in 1911). Some mining took place in the 1800s, principally for lead and zinc. In the mid-1800s a lead mine in the vicinity served as a source of bullets for the Confederate Army.(1)
Other than a caretaker’s residence near the lower Reservoir Dam, there are no occupied dwellings on the 980-acre property. Ample evidence exists, however, of old homesteads, pastures, and logging roads. If not bisected by Interstate 64, the area would best be described today as relative wilderness.
Due to the property’s steep terrain and poor accessibility it has remained relatively free from public access. The lakes are known to local sportsmen for their excellent fishing and that remains the primary recreational activity. In recent years, illegal hunting and all-terrain vehicle trespassing have escalated.
(1) An Investigation of Conditions in the Ragged Mountains of Virginia, published by the Civic Club of the
University of Virginia 1912
In February of 1997, the Ivy Creek Foundation proposed to the Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors that the 980-acre Ragged Mountain Reservoir property be designated a “natural area.” As such, the property would be open free to the public for hiking, nature observation and study, and fishing.
The term “natural area” in this case has no legally binding definition, but is understood by all parties to mean land upon which natural processes are permitted to take place undisturbed. Exceptions are made for safety, fire suppression, operation of the property as a public water supply, and the introduction of trails.
In April of 1997, City Council agreed to the proposal, pending development of a periodic review process by the City Attorney. In August of the same year, the Albemarle County Planning Commission concluded that the project is consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and recommended approval by the County Board of Supervisors with conditions (memo attached.) The County supervisors approved the project at their September 15, 1997 meeting.
Approximately four miles of trails skirting the lower and upper reservoirs were laid out by survey teams (see Biological Profile) on September 19 and October 17, 1997. David Hirschman, Albemarle County Water Resource Manager, was present on both occasions to assist with the layout. The trail is designed to maximize lake vistas while avoiding sensitive areas and possible erosion sites.
Upon approval by the Albemarle County Planning Commission, the Ivy Creek Foundation hopes to begin trail construction and complete the four-mile loop by late spring. A three to four foot wide path is envisioned, marked by aluminum or plastic blaze markers on trees. Live tree cuttings will be avoided wherever possible. On slopes exceeding 25%, locust (obtained on site) erosion bars staked with rebar will be incorporated. Three sites will require switchbacks in the trail: one southwest of the original dam, another northeast of this site, and a third near the lower reservoir dam. Stream and drainage crossings will be facilitated by treated 6x6 or locust steps staked with rebar into the banks.
At two points the proposed trail crosses the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority service road, which originates at the water tower near Ednam Forest. Signage will be maintained at the trail and road intersections to deter access to the service road, and public access to the natural area through Ednam Forest and other private property will be prohibited. A sign at the parking lot kiosk and warnings in future map literature will advise that hiking is permitted on the trail only. Pets, horses and motorized vehicles will be prohibited.
The parking lot is made possible by a 0.9 acre land donation by the Hedgerow Corporation and a $15,000 grant from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation to the Ivy Creek Foundation. The Ivy Creek Foundation will oversee construction of the parking facility and when complete will deed ownership to the City of Charlottesville.
A site plan of the proposed parking lot is enclosed. Space is to be provided for 20 vehicles with parking overflow along the entranceway berms. The parking area itself will consist of 4 inches of compacted stone (#3 or larger), with a 2-inch top dressing of finer stone. A 4% or less grade will be maintained, 10% or less on the entrance lane. A two to three foot cut is necessitated on the north end to facilitate grade. Wherever this cut cannot be sloped 20% or less, a stone or wood retaining wall will be incorporated.
To prevent vehicles from entering the adjacent private field and to maintain the field’s integrity as a horse pasture, a fence (envisioned at present as a three-plank board fence) will be constructed along the northwest boundary line of the lot. A new steel gate with lock will be installed at the entrance to the parking lot. The trailhead to the Natural Area will begin at the northern end of the parking facility near a wooden kiosk displaying a map and other information.
The donors of the parking site have stipulated that they be permitted to retain access through the parking lot to a farm road at the eastern end, and that the entrance gate to the new lot be locked at night.
Sport fishing at the Ragged Mountain Reservoir is reportedly excellent, as evidenced by the demand for parking permits issued by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. Under this arrangement, two parking spaces per day are made available at the caretaker’s residence near the lower reservoir dam. Parking permits must be obtained in advance at the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority office on Franklin Road.
The Ivy Creek Foundation sees no reason to change the current permit parking system. This arrangement allows access for small boats, by far the most common fishing method at the reservoir. The Ivy Creek Foundation will not discourage use of the new parking facility for those wishing to fish the reservoir, provided access is attained by foot. The practice of driving to the caretaker’s house, unloading boats, then parking at the new lot should be prohibited. This could lead to overwhelming of the parking lot and the caretaker’s road, as well as increased bank erosion from boats hauled up and down the hillside.
The practice of allowing private boats to be stored on a bank near the residence should be re-examined (10-15 boats are there at present). This privilege is not available on other public water impoundments in the county and should perhaps be discontinued. The boats are haphazardly stored, unsightly, and no equitable system exists for securing a spot in the limited space available. However, one advantage of boat storage on site is less erosion caused by boats carried up and down the hillside. If the practice is continued, perhaps a definite number of spaces could be determined and a lottery system initiated for their use. There are numerous junk boats littering the shore at present that should be removed.
The Ivy Creek Foundation will accept responsibility for management of the new Natural Area, working with the City and County under an arrangement similar to the one at the Ivy Creek Natural Area. See enclosure. The Foundation will construct, post, monitor, and maintain the trail system, construct a small parking facility for 20 vehicles, and erect an information kiosk. The Foundation will also handle public inquiries through its staffed Ivy Creek office, print maps and brochures, and disseminate other information concerning the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. From time to time, interpretive hikes and environmental education activities may take place, and the Foundation will maintain an ongoing collection of biological data for the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.
The City and County will be responsible for, in equal share, the cost of trail maintenance materials, hazard mitigation, maintenance of the parking lot and gate, and trash removal as is currently done at the Ivy Creek Natural Area. It has been the policy for the County Parks and Recreation Department to administer and perform these duties, then bill the City for one half of costs. The County’s practice has been to bill for on-site costs only and not for administrative time.
Long term goals of the Ivy Creek Foundation in establishing the Ragged Mountain Natural Area are:
Present and future threats to the area include: urban sprawl, the need for more roads, timber harvesting, illegal hunting, development of the area into a park (as opposed to a natural area), and erosion due to all-terrain vehicles.
By designating the property a natural area with public involvement, the Ivy Creek Foundation feels many of these threats can be better addressed. If residents come to value the area for its scenic, unspoiled beauty, the chances are increased it will be kept that way. This designation is compatible with and protective of the ongoing use of the Ragged Mountain property as a public water supply.
In contrast, the Ivy Creek Foundation recognizes the limitations of achieving a purely natural environment. The operation of water manipulation structures and fire suppression, for example, can hardly be considered natural yet are essential given the circumstances. Our goal is that the Ragged Mountain Reservoir property remain wild and relatively undisturbed.
On September 19 and October 17, 1997, a biological survey of the area north of Interstate 64 was conducted. Participating were:
The survey route generally followed the proposed trail location. No threatened or endangered plant or wildlife species were encountered on these outings and no plant or wildlife community was deemed threatened by the proposed trail. The data to date comes from several outings over the past two years by personnel from the Ivy Creek Foundation as well as the biological survey teams mentioned above. It should be noted that these outings in no way represent a thorough or exhaustive inventory of the wildlife or plant species present. However, they are an attempt under the constraints of time and financial resources, by qualified though volunteer personnel, to collect information and initiate a database. No observed or likely species, including rarities, are deemed threatened by the proposed hiking trail, provided the area be kept off-limits to dogs, horses, and motorized vehicles. It is the opinion of all survey party members that natural area designation and managed access will ultimately serve to protect plant and wildlife habitat.
The reservoir property is heavily forested on rolling to steep terrain. Soils over most of the area are fertile and fall into the Cecil and Porter loam types, considered good to excellent for hardwood timber growth. Canopy closure on the majority of the property is 80-90%.
The entire area can best be described as an uneven-aged poplar-oak woodland, with yellow poplar, white oak, northern red oak and black oak predominating. Black gum, chestnut and scarlet oak, red maple, walnut, mockernut and pignut hickory, and Virginia and shortleaf pine are also well represented in the overstory.
Dogwood, spicebush, mountain laurel, sassafras, witch hazel, and saplings of canopy species comprise a majority of the understory. Densities vary from site to site, with thick stands of mountain laurel present in some areas.
Herbaceous ground cover is sparse due to the dense canopy cover, although a healthy variety of ferns, ephemerals, and other plants common to upland forest habitats of the region are present.
Area A: Uneven-aged hardwoods with scattered Virginia and shortleaf pine. Yellow poplar, white oak, red oak dominate. Red maple, black gum, chestnut oak, mockernut hickory, black walnut also present. All age classes represented.
Area B: Uneven-aged oak/poplar. Yellow poplar and red oak dominate lower slopes, chestnut oak on upper slopes and ridge tops. Mostly mature timber. Thick stands of mountain laurel on some southwest slopes.
Area C: Rocky with shallow soils; chestnut oak and mountain laurel dominate. Mostly mature timber. Yellow poplar present on lower slopes.
Area D: Uneven-aged oak/poplar. White oak, red oak, chestnut oak, and yellow poplar dominate. Pole size to mature timber.
Area E: Bottomland; once an old field. Pole size yellow poplar dominate.
Area F: Uneven-aged yellow poplar and oak; mature timber scattered throughout.
Due to the relatively undisturbed nature of the area, variety of vegetation, and presence of lakes with associated shoreline, the reservoir property seems to support an excellent quantity and diversity of wildlife species.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie are commonly encountered. Shallow bays on both lakes provide excellent spawning habitat for bass and bluegill. Sport fishing is reportedly excellent. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has no sampling data on record and at present has no plans to stock the reservoir.
Observed: green frog, spring peeper, northern cricket frog, gray treefrog, wood frog, American toad, eastern box turtle, snapping turtle, five-lined skink, black rat snake.
Of note: four-toed salamander, three-toed salamander, seal salamander, northern chorus frog, southeastern crowned snake, and river cooter are interesting possibilities. Chorus frogs are disappearing from all over their range and have gone from fairly common to rare in Albemarle County in the past 15 years. Wood frog egg masses were discovered in the southern portion of the natural area in 1995.
Observed: eastern chipmunk, gray squirrel, beaver, white-tailed deer, raccoon. Excellent habitat present for: northern short-tailed shrew, little brown bat, eastern pipestrelle bat, red bat, white-footed mouse, woodland vole, gray fox, mink, striped skunk.
Of note: star-nosed mole, Keen’s myotis, silver-haired bat, southern bog lemming, eastern woodrat, meadow jumping mouse, black bear, river otter, and bobcat are some less common possibilities.
Observed: 70+ species to date. Large tracts of mature hardwoods, especially oak, offer excellent habitat for nesting neotropical migrants. Sixty-five acres of surface water attract waterfowl, including (observed): wood duck, hooded merganser, American coot, mallard, black duck, Canada goose, and pied-billed grebe. Shorebirds should be watched for in mud flats at the southern end of upper reservoir.
Of note: a survey by the author on the morning of May 8, 1996 from the entrance gate to the caretaker’s residence and vicinity of Round Top Mountain yielded 12 species of wood warblers including cerulean, black-throated blue, parula, and blackburnian. Three singing woodland thrush species were also recorded: wood thrush, Swainson’s thrush, and veery.
On June 25, 1997 a singing male prothonotary warbler was observed on the peninsula northwest of the caretaker’s residence. No nest was discovered. A common nester along coastal areas of Virginia, this species is rare in Albemarle County with no known nesting records away from the James River.
Taxonomic identification of plants and wildlife referenced herein by common name can be found in:
1. Map of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area with tree cover designations and proposed trails. (108K, black-and-white GIF image)
2. Site plan for the parking lot.
3. Survey of the parking lot site. (52K, black-and-white GIF)
4. Ivy Creek Foundation proposal for the Ragged Mountain Natural Area, February 21, 1997
5. Memo from Leon Churchill to City officials with the Ragged Mountain Report attached.
6. Memo of approval with conditions from the Albemarle County Planning Commission.
7. Operation practices at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.
8. Letter of land donation from the Hedgerow Corporation.
