Pleasure House Point Wetlands Mitigation Project

Lynnhaven River Now Executive Director, Karen Forget responded to questions raised by neighbors:

1. Do you believe that this project will result in a net positive outcome for this natural area?

“Wetlands are our most threatened habitat and are critically important to the health and the marine life in the Lynnhaven River and the Chesapeake Bay. Most of our wetlands have been lost to development.  Wetlands were drained and canals dug to drain off the water to enable development of the land.
Bulkheads were installed severing the connection between the land and the water and drowning the wetlands.  Most of the remaining wetlands in the Lynnhaven are vulnerable to sea level rise either because they are unable to move upland because of development as the water levels rise or because they are part of our extensive marsh islands that are already eroding and are also vulnerable to drowning as water levels rise.
Much of Pleasure House Point was wetlands before the berm was built and it was used as a storage area for dredge material many decades ago.  Dredge material was piled on top of the wetlands creating the sandy areas that exist there today.”

2. Have you heard any reassurances that the city knows what it it doing in creating this wetland area? Is it difficult to create this kind of area?

“This project will be permitted by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.  It is more complicated than simply excavating the sand, but this is restoration and is in a place where wetlands should be. Though I look forward to seeing more detailed plans than are available currently, I am confident that it will be well designed. These types of wetlands restoration have been done successfully in other places coastal Virginia.”

3. Do you know what the “monitoring” consists of and who does it? What recourse is there if the area does not ‘take’ as a wetland’?

“It is my understanding that City staff will do the monitoring.  Adjustments can be made if necessary to attain maximum functionality.”

4. Is spoils dumping the only reason that the area filled in? Is there natural accumulation of sand etc from tidal activity.  Another words, will this fill in by itself? Will additional dredging be necessary? Which would disturb the habitat again?

“It exists as it is today because the berm was built to hold in dredge material and dredge material was piled on top of the wetlands that naturally existed there.  It will not fill in again.”

5. Does LRNow support this project?

“LRNow is supportive of this project but is requesting the following:
   — The City Arborist or a contract arborist do an assessment of the trees that will be removed (number, approximate size, and species)
   — That the live oak at the corner of the project area be protected.
   — That the tree loss be mitigated at the same rate (1:1) as trees lost in other city projects.
   — That care be taken to move any existing diamondback terrapin nests in the construction area.
   — That a silt curtain and other devises be used to minimize any sediment entering the creek that could be detrimental to the thriving oyster population in Pleasure House Creek.

We look forward to reviewing more detailed construction plans and offering comments if pertinent.  We also urge the City to provide a detailed construction schedule so that we can help the public be prepared for the changes that are coming and for any disruptions in the use of the property.”