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Home My WebLink About082107 Elizabeth riverMaking restoration Making restoration of your home river a reality of your home river a reality Most of us work Most of us work or play on this or play on this river… river… The dominant The dominant natural feature natural feature uniting four cities uniting four cities The Elizabeth River cannot recover The Elizabeth River cannot recover unless all branches are clean. unless all branches are clean. Thank you for a great partnership –VA Beach Thank you for a great partnership –VA Beach Why is this Why is this important for important for Virginia Beach? Virginia Beach? -The Eastern -The Eastern Branch received Branch received a score of a score of Severely Severely Chesapeake Degraded. Degraded. Making restoration a reality…. . •Members •Stormwater improvements •“River Stars”at work, school •Government partners in sediment clean up and wetlands National modelfor collaborative National modelfor collaborative partnerships that achieve results. partnerships that achieve results. “If you’re “If you’re looking for an looking for an example of example of the success of the success of partnerships , partnerships , Elizabeth Elizabeth River Project River Project is the model.” is the model.” -EPA former Administrator -EPA former Administrator Christie Todd Whitman Christie Todd Whitman Restoration results. Restoration results. 1. By 2000, bay’s most improving water quality. 1. By 2000, bay’s most improving water quality. 2. Pioneer for wetland restoration. 2. Pioneer for wetland restoration. 3. Most major waterfront industries enlisted to 3. Most major waterfront industries enlisted to reduce pollution voluntarily. reduce pollution voluntarily. 4. Bay’s largest sediment cleanups underway. 4. Bay’s largest sediment cleanups underway. 5. First curriculum on river ecology 5. First curriculum on river ecology 2020 Goal: 2020 Goal: Clean the river bottom Clean the river bottom . . A healthy bottom (benthic) A healthy bottom (benthic) community = a healthy estuary. community = a healthy estuary. Foundation of • Foundation of • food chain food chain 16 percent of all • 16 percent of all • living animals live living animals live along the bottom along the bottom of waterways of waterways Atlantic • Atlantic • Croaker, striped Croaker, striped bass, spot feed on bass, spot feed on bottom life bottom life Problem: Elizabeth River sediment contamination Elizabeth River sediment contamination from PAH, highest in the Bay from PAH, highest in the Bay (463 times average for bay) (463 times average for bay) Cancer in “mummichog”minnow, 60 to 90 percent Cancer in “mummichog”minnow, 60 to 90 percent Lesions, cataracts in other fish such as “Spot” Lesions, cataracts in other fish such as “Spot” Watershed Action Plan Action 1, Goo must go! Clean up toxic river bottom. 2007 goal: Restore the first contaminated site. -Underway: Money Point, Atlantic Wood, Scuffletown Progress: Progress: $5 million in sister Trust to clean $5 million in sister Trust to clean up sediments off-shore of Money Point –one of up sediments off-shore of Money Point –one of the most contaminated sites in the world. the most contaminated sites in the world. Progress: Scuffletown Creek Progress: Scuffletown Creek • • Historic cost- Historic cost- share of Corps of share of Corps of Engineers project Engineers project So. Branch by VB, Norfolk, by VB, Norfolk, Elizabeth R. Chesapeake, Chesapeake, Scuffletown Creek Portsmouth & Portsmouth & Commonwealth… Commonwealth… Along with Along with Woodstock Woodstock wetland wetland restoration in restoration in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach. Woodstock Neighborhood Woodstock Neighborhood Before Restoration Before Restoration Woodstock Neighborhood After Woodstock Neighborhood After Restoration Restoration $42 Million Mitigation Plan $42 Million Mitigation Plan • • Craney Island Craney Island Mitigation plan Mitigation plan will result in will result in the clean up of the clean up of all known all known contaminated contaminated river sites and river sites and the creation of the creation of new 57 acres new 57 acres of wetlands. of wetlands. 2020 Goal: 2020 Goal: Create 10 miles of restored river Create 10 miles of restored river shoreline, with sections in all 4 river cities. shoreline, with sections in all 4 river cities. Problem: Severe habitat loss 50 Including 50 Including percent loss of percent loss of tidal wetlands tidal wetlands since World since World War II War II Progress: Progress: dozen wetland More than a dozen wetland More than a restorationsmost oyster reefsrestored …& the restorationsmost oyster reefsrestored …& the per acre of any river on the bay! per acre of any river on the bay! Partnership with Partnership with LynnhavenNOW LynnhavenNOW Wetlands in the Classroom Wetlands in the Classroom 2020 GOAL: 2020 GOAL: Make Make environmental environmental stewardship the stewardship the industrial ethic, industrial ethic, Elizabeth River. Elizabeth River. Progress: Progress: Majority of largest riverfront Majority of largest riverfront facilities are River Stars –178 acres facilities are River Stars –178 acres restored/conserved in the last 2 years! restored/conserved in the last 2 years! 2020 GOAL: Reduce toxics and 2020 GOAL: Reduce toxics and nutrients in stormwater nutrients in stormwater Progress:Model Progress:Model strategy, 80-acre Low strategy, 80-acre Low Impact Development Impact Development plan for Scotts Creek, plan for Scotts Creek, under implementation under implementation by Earl Industries… by Earl Industries… including a large including a large green roof! green roof! 2007 Action Plan Revision 2007 Action Plan Revision ? ? Short-term goals up 2007 Short-term goals up 2007 ? ? Scientists now analyzing Scientists now analyzing latest data; stakeholder latest data; stakeholder group to reconvene fall 07 group to reconvene fall 07 to spring 08 to spring 08 ? ? We invite Virginia We invite Virginia Beach to appoint Beach to appoint meaningful participation meaningful participation and consider adopting and consider adopting the plan along with the the plan along with the other river cities and the other river cities and the Commonwealth. Commonwealth. Time Line for Revision of Plan Time Line for Revision of Plan • • Mon/Tue, Nov 5/6 Watershed Summit Mon/Tue, Nov 5/6 Watershed Summit – – Guest speakers: Guest speakers: Robert Zimmerman from Charles River Robert Zimmerman from Charles River • • Watershed Association Watershed Association • • Jeff Lape, Director, EPA Office, Chesapeake Jeff Lape, Director, EPA Office, Chesapeake Bay Program Bay Program • • Jeff Bridges, Executive Director of the Jeff Bridges, Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority Virginia Port Authority • • Plan to be published and adopted by state and local governments Plan to be published and adopted by state and local governments June 2008 June 2008 by by We need Virginia Beach’s leadership We need Virginia Beach’s leadership in restoring one of the great rivers of in restoring one of the great rivers of the world. the world. “When the wetlands really come back, “When the wetlands really come back, When the forests return to the shore… When the forests return to the shore… “When healthy fish “When healthy fish and clams and and clams and oysters find a home oysters find a home in the Southern in the Southern reaches of the river reaches of the river again again “And the sun rises off the Altanticin the morning “And the sun rises off the Altanticin the morning to reflect itself in the serene, pure waters of the to reflect itself in the serene, pure waters of the Elizabeth River Elizabeth River “Our children “Our children and grandchildren and grandchildren will know will know that we had them that we had them in mind.” in mind.” -Charles Kuralt -Charles Kuralt Life on the river should include the joys of a healthy river. www.elizabethriver.org 399-RIVR