Why Tank Creek Matters
Natural areas in Virginia are essential for a multitude of reasons. Those open to the public provide opportunities for recreation, an escape from the busy city that provides mental and health benefits, and the chance to get up close and personal with nearby nature. What about private nature preserves without public access? Trees purify the air, help reduce stormwater runoff, and even help minimize city temperatures by as much 7 degrees Fahrenheit. Private protected areas also serve as rest stops for wildlife passing through. Each animal has a part in the upkeep of the ecosystem, such as decomposing dead organisms, pollinating plants, and fulfilling their role in the food chain. This sustains the surrounding environment and the resources we use, like drinking water. This can all be said for any of the places we protect, so why is Tank Creek so unique? Why should you make the effort to be a part of its preservation?
Tank Creek Preserve is vital to our history, livelihood, and the lives of all the plants and animals who rely on it. Mature hardwood trees such as American Beech, White Oak, and Hickory span a majority of the property. These trees can store large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and their extensive root systems can filter water pollutants before they enter underground water systems. These forests also provide crucial habitat, food, and nesting for wildlife. Majestic barred owls soar at night, and gentle white-tailed deer graze at dawn. Nearby residents enjoy the majestic tree canopy that sways in the breeze and explores the wonders of the forest.
Tank Creek preserve’s first owner was General George Mason Cooke (1792 -1866), son of Col. John Travers Cooke (1755-1819). George Mason Cooke’s grandfather was Founding Father George Mason (1725-1792), who wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as the foundation for the United States Bill of Rights. The Mason Cooke family made a living by farming, harvesting timber, fishing, and collecting freestone from the nearby Aquia Creek. John Travers Cooke was a significant supplier of freestone during the construction of much of the architecture of Washington, DC. In 1819, George Mason Cooke built a home named Chelsea in Wide Water. Much of the property was lost during the development of the Chelsea Manor subdivision, adjacent to present day Widewater State Park. The most recent owner purchased this twenty-acre property 40 years ago. Seeing its natural value, she decided to protect it rather than build on it. Now, she is passing the torch to NVCT and has generously given us time to raise the required funding to purchase it.
All the opportunities, benefits, and living things that exist on the Tank Creek Preserve will disappear if we don’t permanently protect it. The Tank Creek Preserve is changing quickly and is very susceptible to home development. We can’t save it alone and need your help reaching our goal by December 31st. Please consider donating so that we can protect Tank Creek Preserve together forever.