Environmental Organizations Weigh In on the PHP Wetlands Mitigation Project

Three environmental organizations have indicated their support for the wetlands project at Pleasure House Point. Each letter contains important information about their views as well as recommendations about reducing negative impacts and ensuring the project is successful.

Lynnhaven River Now works to restore Virginia Beach waterways. In addition to expressing support for the project, Executive Director Karen Forget offers ways that the organization can help mitigate the negative impact by helping transplant trees, sharing monthly water quality water monitoring results testing, relocating diamondback turtle nests, conducting public tours during construction. She also points out the importance of vigilance in use of turbidity curtains and silt fences to allay damage to the oyster beds nearby. Here is their letter to Mayor Dyer and the City Council about this project.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation met with the COVB team last week. Here are comments to interested community members which include the history of the site and suggestions for ensuring the success of the project. “This project is an opportunity to return a portion of the site to its former condition while ensuring that wetland impacts in the Lynnhaven River watershed for City of Virginia Beach flood control projects are also mitigated in the same watershed basin.” They offer suggestions for “reducing impacts to existing valuable natural resources”. Comments and questions can be directed to Christy Everett at the CBF.

Friends of Live Oaks is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving live oaks. “FOLO will provide education and information about the unique environmental and ecological benefits of coastal maritime forest ecosystem communities with a focus on live oaks as well as the planting and care of live oaks.” In their letter to Mayor Dyer and the City Council, they include their view and recommendations. “Friends of Live Oaks is in support of the conceptual Management Plan and Master Plan that was completed in 2013-2014 and City adherence to its implementation.” In their letter they include very detailed recommendations for mitigating the impact on the trees in PHP.