Gov. Tim Kaine announced Friday that a 244-acre property in Floyd County has been declared a state natural area preserve.

The new Chestnut Creek Wetland Natural Area Preserve -- the 50th such Virginia designation -- increases the state's preserve system to 42,295 acres. That land provides protection for some 317 rare species, according to a state news release.

The Chestnut Creek Preserve will shelter two extremely rare animal species, a bog turtle and the Mitchell's satyr butterfly, both of which are drawn to the open wetlands on the property, said Gary Waugh of the state department of Conservation and Recreation.

Dedication of such preserves works much like traditional conservation easements used to protect family farmland and other private properties from development.

Because grazing created the open wetlands needed to support the rare animals on the property, cattle herds will still be allowed under the new designation, Waugh said.

Waugh declined to identify the location of the property until his office can evaluate whether public access will be allowed to the site. The state does open some of its preserve land to the public, Waugh said.

The state raised the $497,000 purchase price through general obligation bonds and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant.

-- Tonia Moxley