Description
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) is located along Virginia’s Eastern Shore in Accomack County. The CNWR is comprised of several barrier beach islands, of which the Virginia portion of Assateague Island is the largest and the subject of this study. The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) oversees the administration of the Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), which includes the entirety of Assateague Island, in both Virginia and Maryland. CNWR and the Virginia District of ASIS are accessible by road from the mainland via Chincoteague Island and the Town of Chincoteague. The popularity of Assateague Island’s beach and other attractions, combined with its limited access and parking, has resulted in seasonal traffic congestion and other transportation concerns that affect CNWR and the surrounding area.
