The goal is increased water quality simply because it's our backyard. For decades, the #LynnhavenRiver had been impaired to a point in which oysters and other fish caught in certain parts of the estuary were not fit for consumption. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Virginia Beach city leadership, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and groups like Lynnhaven River NOW, water quality in this area has been on the rise. In this video, Norm Lyster, the Broad Bay Civic League President in Virginia Beach and USACE - Norfolk District biologist Peyton Mowery discuss the Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project and how the different parts of the project work synergistically to enhance the health of the river for all people who use it. In addition to the ongoing submerged aquatic vegetation and wetland restoration projects, USACE is currently working to add second oyster reef to the Broad Bay Area to ensure continued water quality improvements.

Norm Lyster, a resident of the Broad Bay Area of Virginia Beach explains his memories of what water quality was like when he moved to the area years ago versus how it is now. He explains the positive impact he believes oyster reefs have made on the water quality and subsequently his ability to increasingly enjoy the waters in his backyard. The questions include: Q1. What is your name and how long have you been living here? Q2. What is your profession? Q3. What changes have you seen in the water quality over time? Q4. What are some of the neg/pos influencing factors on water quality in this area? Q5. Why do you feel it is important to work towards improved water quality? Q6. What are some of your hopes for the future concerning water quality? Q7. What are some of the differences you see between Broad Bay and some of the nearby tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay and why do you believe they exist?

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and Thalia Creek is one of more than one-hundred thousand creeks and rivers that flow into it. In attempts to decrease the impact of urbanization and restore what is a natural habitat to an abundance of wildlife, the City of Virginia Beach and Va. Beach Public Schools Partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in what is known as the Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project. This video explains the goals of the project and how the return of certain species to the area after restoration indicates improved conditions for everyone that enjoys what this watershed has to offer.