Oyster Restoration

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Hard Reef Restoration

Contact Information

Heather Lockwood
Project Manager | Biologist
Programs & Civil Works Branch
Norfolk District, USACE
803 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-201-7271

Project Videos

Phase II Oyster Reef Progress: Ecosystem Restoration

This video explains developments in the planning process of the proposed Phase II reef construction in the Broad Bay area of Virginia Beach. The Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Project aims to improve the overall health of the Lynnhaven River and the Chesapeake Bay through natural habitat restoration.

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Commitment, Communication and Collaboration

In this video, a team of professionals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) meets with the Senator Bill DeSteph, the Broad Bay Civic League, and City of V.A. Beach leadership to discuss plans to construct an artificial oyster reef in Broad Bay.

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USACE Engineers Launch Underwater Drone After Tornado

Following the destructive EF3 tornado that touched down in the Great Neck and Broad Bay areas of Va. Beach on April 30th, USACE engineers deployed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to check for debris and possible depth changes which could impact the worthiness of this site for reef placement.

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Background Information

Phase 1: Near Dix Creek

Background Information: This 8-acre reef was constructed in 2021 by Seaward Marine Corps to include a series of approximately 28,000 reef balls placed within the project footprint. Seaward Marine Corp. created a rig to deploy 56 reef balls at one time, spaced 1-2ft apart. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Christopher Newport University will be performing the first year of monitoring at the site in 2023. Monitoring will continue for up to 10 years prior to the project being turned over to the sponsor, the City of Virginia Beach.

Size: 8 acres

Substrate: 28,000 Reef balls

Status: Adaptive Management & Monitoring

Phase 2: Broad Bay

Background Information: Site selection is dependent on many factors including depth, bottom composition, historical presence of oysters, salinity, temperature, and the appropriate distance from piers, channels and aids. In Fall 2021, VMRC removed the ability to lease this bottom and returned it to state owned subaqueous bottom with the potential for a restoration project to be built. The Phase 2 reef design was finalized after a series of public coordination events and listening to all comments during the permitting process.

Size: 23.2 acres

Substrate: 6” of crushed stone, 6” of oyster shell

Status: Pre-construction

Why Broad Bay?

Site selection is dependent on many factors including depth, bottom composition, historical presence of oysters, salinity, temperature, and the appropriate distance from piers, channels and aids. In Fall 2021, VMRC removed the ability to lease this bottom and returned it to Baylor Bottom (historic oyster bottom) with the potential for a restoration project to be built.

Proposed Reef Size: Total project proposal is 25.1 acres. The primary focus area of the project is approximately 23.2 acres with one additional construction option for approximately 1.9 acres.

Distance from areas of interest: Federal Channel: 3,662 feet (western edge of reef) 6,099 feet (southeastern edge of reef) Long Creek: 2,264 feet (center of reef) Oyster leases: 50-100 feet Private docks: Minimum 200 feet