Living Shoreline Projects: 2009 Updates
Karen A. Duhring
Marine Advisory ScientistCenter for Coastal Resources Management
Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceCollege of William & Mary
September 17, 2009
Grant‐Funded Demonstration SitesGrant Funded Demonstration Sites
• Holly Point Nature ParkHolly Point Nature Park
• Reedville Fishermen’s Museum
• Hermitage Foundation Museum
• Virginia Zoological Park
• Longwood University’s Hull Springs FarmLongwood University s Hull Springs Farm
Partially Funded by Middlesex County Wetlands Board
HOLLY POINT NATURE PARK ATGrant‐Funded and Public Demonstration Sites
HOLLY POINT NATURE PARK AT DELTAVILLE MARITIME MUSEUM
Holly Point Nature ParkDeltaville, VA
2007Before
High tide at bulkhead too deep for natural marsh Wide gentle slope visible at low tidep
Proposed sand fill and planting areaExisting marsh visible in background used to design height and width of
created tidal marsh
Holly Point Nature ParkDeltaville, VA
2007
LESSON LEARNED
DuringInstalling fiber logs is much easier at low tide, but not impossible at high tide
H l d ill d dHoles pre‐drilled and stakes tied together
Holly Point Nature ParkDeltaville, VA
2007During
Sand fill containedSand fill contained by fiber logs
Tidal marsh planted byplanted by volunteers
Holly Point Nature ParkDeltaville, VA
2007After 2 months
August 2007 2 months after planting
W kl i ti d l t l tWeekly inspections and plant replacement
Holly Point Nature ParkDeltaville, VA
2009After 2 yrs
September 2009
Less than 100% cover, shade – limited ?
h f b lMarsh grasses growing into fiber logs
Will the sand fill persist after the logs p gdecay ???
Featured on Public Television
“Virginia Homegrown”
Grant‐Funded and Public Demonstration Sites
REEDVILLE LIVING SHORELINES TEACHING GARDENTEACHING GARDEN
Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, Northumberland County
2005Before
I i i l l d id l h ll illInvasive species control + planted tidal marsh + small sill + riparian buffer restoration
Reedville Fishermen’s Museum Northumberland County, VA
2009After 4 yrs
Photo by S. Tipton
Reedville Fishermen’s Museum Northumberland County, VA
2009
LESSON LEARNED Ch ti l t f i i b ff t ti b d
Photos by S. Tipton
Choose native plants for riparian buffer restoration area based on variable site conditions
Elizabeth River Project River Star
HERMITAGE MUSEUM & GARDENSGrant‐Funded and Public Demonstration Sites
HERMITAGE MUSEUM & GARDENSNORFOLK, VA
Hermitage Museum and Gardens Norfolk, VA 2006 Before
Small toe scour revetment at historic wall sand fill planted marsh
Photo by W. Priest
Small toe scour revetment at historic wall, sand fill, planted marsh, gapped sills
Hermitage Museum, Norfolk VA2009
After 3 yrs
Photo by W. Priest
Hermitage Museum, Norfolk VA2009LESSON LEARNED
Wide gap between sills created erosion area in
planted marsh
Photo by W. Priest
Hermitage Museum, Norfolk VA2009
Curator Yolima Carr showing riparian buffer g prestoration area, including native plants, walking paths and interpretive signs
Heirloom and Native Plant Sale – Saturday, September 26 8 am – 1 pm
VIRGINIA ZOOLOGICAL PARKGrant‐Funded and Public Demonstration Sites
NORFOLK, VA
Virginia ZooNorfolk, VA
2007Before
Upland excavation, existing marsh enhancement, upland buffer restoration Beforeupland buffer restoration
Photo by W. Priest Photo by K. DuBois
Virginia ZooNorfolk, VA
2009After 1 growing seasonAfter 1 growing season
LESSONS LEARNED
Photo by W. Priest
Ideal planting times don’t always coincide with construction schedule, but project can still be successful
LESSONS LEARNED
Goose fencing essential until plants are established
Virginia ZooNorfolk, VA
2009
LESSON LEARNEDPlanted marshes make excellent traps for floating garbage
LESSON LEARNED
Another filtering service provided by living shoreline projects
Virginia ZooNorfolk, VA
2009
Wetland Restoration Project Fact Sheet
www.virginiazoo.org/documents/WetlandsFactSheet.pdf
Award Winner
LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY’S Grant‐Funded and Public Demonstration Sites
HULL SPRINGS FARMWESTMORELAND COUNTYWESTMORELAND COUNTY
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm Westmoreland County, VA
2005BeforeBefore
VIMS coastal geologist Scott Hardaway surveying shoreline conditions for
project designp j g
Natural marsh limitNatural marsh limit
View looking south
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm Westmoreland County, VA
2008DuringDuring
Marsh sill with tidal gap + sand fill
installed June 2008Natural marsh limit
installed June 2008
Tid l h l ti b l tTidal marsh planting by volunteers
August 2008
View looking south View looking north
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm Westmoreland County, VA
June 2009After 1 growing seasonAfter 1 growing season
Photos by W. Priest
View looking south View looking north
Coming Soon – undergraduate research findings
What ecological effects did the marsh sill project have on
benthic and shallow water habitats?
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm Westmoreland County, VALESSONS LEARNED
C bbl t b hi d tid l t h li th tCobblestone behind tidal gap prevents shoaling that interferes with tidal inundation
Volunteers work well with planning and close supervision
Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm Westmoreland County, VA
2009LESSONS LEARNED
Contractor Recognition
2008 Ecological Excellence Award for Construction
g
Awarded to project contractor Earth Resources, Inc.
by Virginia Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society
From left: Bobbie Burton executiveFrom left: Bobbie Burton, executive director of Hull Springs Farm; Dan Brown, president of Earth Resources; Katie Register, Hull Springs Farm's program director; and Dr. Alix Fink, a Longwood conservation biologist and member of the Hull Springs Farm Board.
Photo courtesy Longwood University e‐news
Thanks for Sharing Interest in Living Shoreline Projects
Contact Info:Contact Info:Karen Duhring
[email protected](804) 684‐7159