Phase i planning & design funding is requested for an integrated shoreline protection and habitat restoration project at reserve headquarters

This $111,858 Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) will fund Phase I planning and design for an integrated shoreline protection and habitat restoration project at a research reserve headquarters in Virginia.

The project aims to develop a high-energy, natural and nature-based shoreline protection strategy that integrates structural elements like breakwaters with the creation and restoration of critical coastal habitats like submerged aquatic vegetation, tidal wetlands, and dunes. This work will connect to and build upon an existing shoreline protection effort led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at the nearby Gloucester Point campus. The 12-month award period runs from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.

Site conditions require a high-energy natural and nature-based (NNB, living shoreline) shoreline protection strategy that integrates both structural and created/restored habitat elements. This project will connect/integrate with the existing virginia institute of marine science/college of william & mary (vims/w & m) gloucester point campus shoreline protection effort that has demonstrated high performance success of NNB design elements. Preliminary conceptual design by state experts includes: (1) installation of hardened structures (anchoring spur and offshore breakwater); (2) creation of scalloped embayment with unimpeded connectivity to the uplands; (3) beach nourishment; (4) establishment of critical habitat plant communities (submerged aquatic vegetation, emergent tidal wetland, and dune); and (5) enhancement of education program s