Home / Missions / Civil Works / Lynnhaven River Ecosystem Restoration / Wetland Restoration

Wetlands Restoration

    

Project Manager

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

Wetlands Restoration Videos

Phase I

Background: 

The first phase will restore wetland and riparian buffer habitat at Princess Anne High School adjacent to Thalia Creek, a tributary of the Lynnhaven River.  This project is a unique partnership with Virginia Beach Public Schools to create an “Outdoor Living Resources Laboratory.”  Additional benefits will include:

  • Reduction of the invasive plant species, Phragmites australis competing with native vegetation
  • Restoration of the historic, native salt marsh community
  • Restoration of historic channels/hydrology
  • Increased plant species diversity
  • Improved fish and wildlife habitat
  • Improved water quality
  • Improved resiliency in the watershed

Students will participate in biannual monitoring using a transect/quadrant method for the following metrics on restored wetland habitat:

  • Species diversity
  • Species density
  • Percent cover

Size: 5.46 acres

Status: Adaptive management and monitoring

 

Phase II

Background: The second phase will restore wetland and riparian buffer habitat along Great Neck North Creek, a tributary of the Lynnhaven River. Benefits of this project will include:

  • Reduction of the invasive plant species, Phragmites australis competing with native vegetation
  • Restoration of the historic, native salt marsh community
  • Restoration of historic channels/hydrology
  • Increased plant species diversity
  • Improved fish and wildlife habitat
  • Improved water quality
  • Improved resiliency in the watershed

Size: 21.8 acres

Status: Permitting & Final Reviews

Phase III

Background:
The third phase will restore an existing marsh near Pleasure House Point through marsh elevation enhancement. This marsh is currently drowning and will not survive as sea levels continue to rise. The project aims to beneficially use dredged material to raise the elevation of the marsh so the native marsh grasses can continue to provide valuable habitat for the wildlife within the Lynnhaven River. Benefits of this project will include:

  • Reduction of the invasive plant species, Phragmites australis competing with native vegetation
  • Restoration of the historic, native salt marsh community
  • Increased plant species diversity
  • Improved fish and wildlife habitat
  • Improved water quality
  • Improved resiliency in the watershed

Size: 8-10 acres

Status: Planning/design

Photo Gallery

Wetlands Replanting Begins
Wetlands Replanting Continues
Wetlands After Removal of Phragmites
Growth Over the First Year
Wetlands After Removal of Phragmites
New Plants Begin to Settle in
Wetlands Restoration 1.5 Years Later
Wetlands Restoration Progress Continued
Wetlands Restoration
Wetlands Restoration
Wetlands Restoration

Courtesy photos:

Aerial photos of wetlands  -  provided by The City of Virginia Beach

 

           

FAQ's, Reports & Other Documents

Corps Camera

Due to some predation on the site, in partnership with USACE Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) the team installed two trail cameras to assist in identifying which creature(s) are eating the wetland plants. We also hope to capture seasonal changes to the site over the course of the next year.