The Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge was created on July 10, 1975 when 373 acres of

land were transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA). The refuge, comprised mainly of salt marsh and woodlands, is

located east of Wattsville in Accomack County, Virginia and contains habitat for a variety of trust

species, including upland- and wetland-dependent migratory birds. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service has an agreement with NASA to use the NASA-owned portion of Wallops Island

proper on a non-interference basis for research and management of declining wildlife in special

need of protection. The agreement with NASA covers approximately 3,000 acres of Wallops

Island proper and is primarily salt marsh. Wallops Island NWR and the agreement with NASA are

administered by the staff at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

A sea-level fen, known as the Simoneston Bay sea-level fen, exist on and is protected by the

refuge. Sea-level fens are nutrient-poor, maritime seepage wetlands, confined to a few sites with

an unusual combination of environmental conditions for the mid-Atlantic. The fen is located just

above the highest tide levels, at the base of a slope where abundant groundwater discharges. Only

four occurrences are known in Virginia.

The Wallops Island NWR was opened for the first time ever to public hunting in 2002 to reduce

the affects of overbrowsing by deer on refuge habitats and reduce the potential of deer collision

with vehicles on the adjacent state highway 175 and neighboring flight facility.