The Dover Farm Wetland Mitigation Bank, established in 2008, is a 966-acre ecological restoration project located on the west side of the Dismal Swamp Canal in Chesapeake, Virginia. The site, historically known as Dover Farm, is adjacent to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to the north and west.
The bank comprises approximately 243.3 acres designated for wetland preservation, 686.1 acres allocated for wetland restoration, and 33.5 acres of upland areas. Prior to restoration, the property was actively farmed until 2009. Restoration efforts included filling internal ditches using material sourced from remnants of an on-site airfield, constructing a water control structure in the northeast corner, and planting around 200,000 trees to reestablish native vegetation.
The primary goal of the Dover Farm Mitigation Bank is to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, specifically within Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03010205. By restoring and preserving wetland ecosystems, the project aims to enhance water quality, support diverse habitats—including bottomland hardwood forests, marshes, riparian zones, and wetlands—and provide a sustainable environment for wildlife. Notably, the area supports species such as the canebrake rattlesnake.
In 2019, the Dover Farm Mitigation Bank underwent its Year 10 monitoring event, assessing the project’s long-term success in ecological restoration and compliance with environmental standards.
Overall, the Dover Farm Wetland Mitigation Bank serves as a significant example of large-scale wetland restoration, contributing to the ecological health and resilience of the Chesapeake Bay region.