Category Archives: Environment

Preserving precious live oaks at beloved LBR&BF and public safety

Posted on by

Some photos of recent pruning of live oaks at beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility. 

IMG_8006

IMG_8009

IMG_8013

IMG_8016

IMG_8017

Planned is some cabling, a fence around both to strongly discourage climbing, which could lead to them being cut down for public safety reasons, plus signage with information about these live oaks.

Join us at our meeting this Monday where we will be discussing:

Proposed City Tree Task Force – SDCC is working with City Staff/Arborist to create a task force to discuss ways to help protect the City’s official tree (Live Oak) and maintain residential property rights.  Roadway encroachment lead to the planned removal of trees (200+ years old) at Shore Drive & Kleen St.

 

SDCC General Meeting – Monday May 18th at 7:30pm *** (One week early due to Memorial Day)***

Posted on by

Click here for a printable version of the agenda – 5.18.15 SDCC Agenda

SDCC General Meeting Agenda

Monday May 18, 2015 from 7:30 to 9:00pm

Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Hall

(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)

 

Program/Presentation – No presentation planned.

Officer’s Reports Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon

Old Business–

Bishard Development Update – City Council’s May 5th review meeting was deferred. New date is expected to be June 2nd. Baylake Pines Civic League is meeting with Mr. Bishard to discuss changes/proffers. City Traffic Engineers informed that sidewalk will be installed along Shore Drive, a turn lane will be installed at the existing median cut across from gas station to allow westbound cars to “U-turn” to head eastbound, stacking should not be a problem.

Lesner Bridge Replacement– New animated construction video posted on www.sdcc.info. Walkway protection to be added to east side of bridge to prevent restaurant parking from blocking sidewalk.

New Business –

Proposed City Tree Task Force – SDCC is working with City Staff/Arborist to create a task force to discuss ways to help protect the City’s official tree (Live Oak) and maintain residential property rights.  Roadway encroachment lead to the planned removal of trees (200+ years old) at Shore Drive & Kleen St.

Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?

Citywide Civic Engagement Opportunities –

  • June 9, 2015 Republican Party primary election for the Virginia Senate in the 8th district (East of Lesner Bridge). First use of new optical scanner voting machines

NEXT SDCC Meeting – Monday June 29th at 7:30pm

Unfortunately the live oak must be …

Posted on by

IMG_7696

…removed because of its impaired health & close proximity to Shore Drive.

Sad but true.

This is the remaining live oak at Kleen Street & Shore Drive.

Upset as much as everyone else is that this must happen!?

There are a few simple things you can do right now.

    Join Friends of Live Oaks

    Subscribe to our emailed newsletter The Advocate

    Contact Landscape Management Services of VB if you have concerns

Why?

The COVB has a great group of people including Susan French, City Arborist & her team yet they need help from us – the caring public – to ensure we all do our best to keep & increase our precious urban tree canopy.

Susan is very approachable and loves meeting people & chatting about trees. Call 757-385-4461 to reach her.

Stay tuned for future news about how you can help.

The COVB State of the Urban Forest Report is out and we get a C.

Posted on by

It is great see to the brutal honesty of the amount of work left to do to protect and increase our precious tree canopy.

Subscribe to The Advocate to learn more about what we'll be announcing soon to help

Subscribe to The Advocate to learn more about what we’ll be announcing soon to help

Start here to Subscribe to The Advocate – your resource for the latest news & info about the Shore Drive community.

Learn more about the Urban Forestry Management Plan, and the State of the Urban Forest Report at VBGov.com here.

The creation of this plan not only lays the framework for sustainable urban forest management in Virginia Beach, it indicates a high level of commitment to protecting trees and sharing knowledge about the important environmental, economic and social roles trees play in building healthy sustainable communities. The benefits of trees can be maximized when both professional management resources and an educated public coexist.

Protecting Pleasure House Point was used as a good example of what to do

Protecting Pleasure House Point was used as a good example of what to do

Sometimes all you have to do is ask for extra love. So we did. At the #LESNERBRIDGE.

Posted on by

Hooray for the new extra love for the City of Virginia Beach Official Tree at the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility!

We couldn’t understand why they weren’t already carefully marked off to protect them from the 3 year construction project – so we asked.

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Orange fencing to add some extra visual cues for the hard working crews

Love live oaks too?

Join Friends of Live Oaks today!

Live oaks are designated as the official tree of the City of Virginia Beach, and with good reason. Native to the area, live oaks were here long before European settlers. The tree is one of the most distinctive and recognizable plants in the city and immediately brings to mind our coastal areas and maritime ecosystem.

Markers for new beach trail at Pleasure House Point next to Brock Environmental Center pier vandalized.

Posted on by

Email from Lynnhaven River NOW sez:

Hey, everyone,

We started putting up the goose fencing for the planting sites along the trail at PHP, and came upon an unfortunate scene. Meredith had put in some fairly large stakes last week to mark the area, and they were all broken off today when we went out (stakes were thrown into the marsh area). We think maybe people think we are trying to block off the trails completely, and don’t understand that the path is simply shifting, though maybe they are just vandalizing for the sake of vandalizing. This was along the area where there is clearly still some type of ATV action.

IMG_3396

IMG_3390

IMG_3391

IMG_3395

Photo of stakes & goose fencing built by volunteers that was destroyed

Photo of stakes & goose fencing built by volunteers that was destroyed

Important phone numbers

Parks & Natural Areas Office: 757-385-2080
Police Non-Emergency Number: 757-385-5000
Animal Control: 757-385-4444

Still working on finding that sweet spot of eliminating 100% of vandalism & foolish behavior vs loving PHP to death.

“For example, to view information about a specific transportation project, such as the Lesner Bridge replacement, visit Budgetexpenditure.vbgov.com and click on the budget category “Quality Physical Environment” on the green graph to the right.”

Posted on by

Thanks to everyone who helped make the #LESNERBRIDGE updates and transparency about the project possible!

From the News Release yesterday at VBGov.com:

“Open VB marks a major step forward in increasing public transparency in our budget and capital improvement projects,” said city Budget Director Catheryn Whitesell. “We implemented Open VB because citizens have a right to know how fund are being raised and allocated.”

Here’s the link to the #LESNERBRIDGE at the new Open VB website.

Here’s the Shore Drive Corridor Improvements Phase IV hot link.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

Click screen shot to visit hot link at Open VB website.

The Search function in upper right hand corner of page seems to need exact name of the Project to find it.
It is a lot easier to scroll on the interactive map, and drill down/zoom in to find road projects you are interested in.

There is also a great way to find projects using the CATEGORY function.
As an example, it was easy to find the vital Sewer Pump Station Flow Monitoring & Date Storage page by drilling down in the CATEGORY function. Here’s that page.

Here’s an example of drilling down into the SERVICE function.
It was easy to find the Eastern Shore Drive Drainage Phase I page.

Thanks again to everyone who works so diligently on making government and it’s processes transparent.

Thanks to everyone at the COVB who makes it easy for the public to find it.

There’s a new inlet/outlet added at Pleasure House Point

Posted on by

Here’s a couple photos of the installation of the new inlet/outlet to the wetland. Does it flow during the exchange of the tide?

The answer to the question from Mike Moore P&R:

The pipe was installed in the washout that occurred this previous Halloween. It was installed higher than the normal ebb and flow tide. It isn’t to be an inlet but to allow water to pass through during extreme tide events without the berm going with it. We will monitor the berm and the pipe as we are sure we will need to add more sand and pack. Please feel free to let me know if you see it failing or erosion issues. Thank you.

Thanks for the scoop Mike!

IMG_4438
IMG_4437

“Help Hampton Roads Create a Hazard Mitigation Plan”

Posted on by

Three Public Meetings Scheduled Throughout the Region – view at VBGov.com.

Federal law requires localities to adopt hazard mitigation plans to be eligible for certain federal mitigation grant funds. It requires that these plans be updated every five years. Hampton Roads localities will pursue a regional, multi-jurisdictional plan.

Public involvement is a key component.

unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012

unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012

FOLO Meeting Monday, Feb. 23rd, 3:30 p.m. at Brock Environmental Center

Posted on by

Hi All: Looking forward to seeing you at our meeting on Monday, Feb. 23rd at the Brock Environmental Center on Pleasure House Point at 3:30. There are generally some parking places near the city pump station just off Chesterfield Ave. If those places are full, you need to park on Marlin Bay Drive and take the path to the center. See you then, Karen

Learn more about Friends of Live Oaks at their website.
Directions & Parking for BEC at CBF.org.

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

Join us for the next count from February, 13 -16, 2015! Bird Watchers of all ages count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are.

Posted on by

Visit official website for all details.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.

Since then, more than 100,000 people of all ages and walks of life have joined the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

We invite you to participate!

Simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 13-16, 2015. You can count from any location, anywhere in the world!

How to get started:

1. Register for the count or use your existing login name and password. If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count or any other Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you’ll need to create a new account. If you already created an account for last year’s GBBC, or if you’re already registered with eBird or another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login information.

L1250961

L1200265-Edit-2

“Virginia Beach HAS NOT Been Suspended From Flood Insurance Program”

Posted on by

At VBgov.com:

On Dec. 10, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 3 office sent a letter to Virginia Beach Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., confirming that Virginia Beach was in compliance with the flood insurance program. In addition, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) confirms that Virginia Beach is in compliance with all requirements of the program, and will not be suspended.

Find injured or stranded wildlife? Here’s what you can do.

Posted on by

We’re fortunate to live in such an amazing neighborhood that includes the Chesapeake Bay, Lynnhaven River, Pleasure House Point & First Landing State Park!

As most of you know, we share this area with a lot of wildlife.

Sometimes our local feathered, finned and furred friends need a little help.

Here’s what you can do.

Virginia Law sez:

Please remember it is illegal to keep or care for orphaned, sick or injured wildlife unless you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries website has a searchable data base of Licensed Wildlife Rehabbers including phone numbers. Start here for Virginia Beach.

More resources include:

VBSPCA Wildlife Center

Aside from having an outstanding core group of wildlife volunteers, The Virginia Beach SPCA boasts its very own Wildlife Treatment Room onsite at the shelter. We are very proud to be one of only a handful of shelters nationwide that have a dedicated room just for wildlife care.

Wildlife Response

WRI, Hampton Roads oldest Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization, was formed in 1992 by a group of licensed rehabilitators, veterinarians, and other concerned citizens in response to the increasing numbers of wildlife in need of assistance and the lack of people trained and funded to help them.

Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge

Hello and thanks for stopping by. Here is a little about me and what we are doing.

We have been rehabbing for about 19 years now. We are doing this primarily due to the loss of habitat due to destruction of wilderness.

Virginia Aquarium Stranding Team

Marine mammals and sea turtles spend their lives in the ocean, allowing only brief glimpses into their intriguing world. Unfortunately, these amazing creatures sometimes end up on our beaches, sick, injured, or dead, or become entrapped and unable to return to their natural habitats. These events are known as “strandings.”

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic

“Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Next Steps for the Commonwealth moved the current dialogue forward by providing a forum for the second meeting of the Governor’s Climate Change and Resiliency Update Commission. It also brought together for discussion national, state, and local experts and leaders on current actions being taken to adapt to flooding and coastal change and highlighted key legal and policy matters currently confronting both the public and private sectors.”

Posted on by

We’re fortunate we can share the Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Next Steps for the Commonwealth conference that was held very recently.

Click graphic to visit W&M's Law School website for conference

Click graphic to visit W&M’s Law School website for conference

To view conference, visit link at William & Mary’s Law School website which includes:

    Conference Videos:

    Introductory Remarks & Reports to Commission (1:22:28)
    Second session of the Commission (25:11)
    Senator Kaine’s Keynote Address (57:24)
    FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System, and Local Government Liability Panel (1:01:13)
    Adaptation: Market Sector Responses Panel (57:11)
    Social Vulnerability Panel & Voices of Adaptation in Virginia Panel (1:39:20)

    Conference Presentations:

    Jim Redick, Secure Commonwealth Panel Presentation
    Carl Hershner, Climate Commission Report Presentation
    Bill Lesser, NFIP Presentation
    Shannon Hulst Jarbeau, CRS Presentation
    Kristen Clark, Stormwater CRS Presentation
    James Andris, Local Government Liability Presentation
    Scott Hunter, Comparity Insurance Presentation
    Mike Vernon, Flood Mitigation Hampton Roads Presentation
    Lisa Schiavinato, Strict Scrutiny Presentation
    Erica Holloman, Southeast CARE Coalition Presentation
    Sarah Stafford, Social Vulnerability in Mapping
    Molly Mitchell, Virginia Vulnerability Mapping Presentation
    Curt Smith, Adaptation on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Last year, the Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic (VCPC) at the William & Mary Law School and the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) hosted a forum for state and local government officials as well as coastal stakeholders to discuss the legal and policy challenges presented by coastal flooding.

Described as a “game-changer” for Virginia, the event generated recognition that the magnitude and complexity of these challenges places local governments in a position of needing a variety of assistance if they are to meet their responsibilities to protect health, safety, and welfare.

We encourage you to visit Willam & Mary’s Law School website to learn more about the massive changes coming to your neighborhood, and to continue the conversation.

“To prevent future losses of these endangered sea animals, the Stranding Response Team asks all citizens to be on the lookout for turtles during the colder months. If you encounter a stranded sea turtle, no matter its condition, call the 24-hour hotline at (757) 385-7575.”

Posted on by

Learn more at VBGOV.com.
IMG_2238.JPG

Healthy live oak cut down on Shore Drive & Kleen Street

Posted on by

Any one know why the Official City Tree, the live oak, was cut down?

IMG_2233.JPGIMG_2234.JPG

Update:

Tim, it had a big vertical fissure in the trunk and rot inside. Susan said that pedestrians were in potential danger.

“Later, a group of six or so great egrets flew in a graceful dance over the water, sparkling in the sunlight. Four of the beauties settled in a treetop as if to give the photographers a chance for shots. Since 2012, 144 species of birds have been reported at Pleasure House Point. More than 20 species were seen at last week’s bird walk, including the great big rare Brock Center species.”

Posted on by

Read all of Mary Reid Barrow’s article here.

The bird walk was one of several scheduled through the year by Lynnhaven River Now and led by Steve Coari, an expert birder from the Virginia Beach Audubon Society.

More about Lynnhaven River NOW at LRNow.org.
Visit Virginia Beach Audubon Society page for Pleasure House Point to learn more about bird sightings at PHP.

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic on a different trip.

Photo Credit: Tim Solanic on a different trip.

“LRNow is turning mere peasants into royalty this holiday season!”

Posted on by

For All of Our
Oyster Kings and Queens

LRNow is turning mere peasants into royalty this holiday season!
Gift your loved ones with an Oyster Castle at the Laskin Gateway Project, to be constructed spring 2015. We need 420 castle blocks to build our oyster kingdom, and they are available for purchase at $10 per block or $250 for a whole castle.

You will receive an acknowledgement card to give to the recipient and all donors and recipients will be listed in our quarterly newsletter. To purchase a castle for your king or queen click here, call us at 757-962-5398, or stop by our office.

unnamed-2

original

“The city is moving forward on a long-awaited sand replenishment project for Chic’s Beach, starting with collecting “public beach” releases from the neighborhood’s waterfront property owners.”

Posted on by

View article at Pilotonline.com.

The release states that a property owner agrees the portion of the land between the dune or the bulkhead line and the water is a public beach. The owner gives the city permission to dump sand on it and agrees not to impede public access.

City officials met with Chic’s Beach residents about the project and the release form last month. They’ll need consent from the owners of roughly 140 properties stretching about a mile from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek to Joyce Avenue.

Chic's Beach resident Taylor Sharpe and his dog Sandy walk the beach there at high tide on Aug. 28, 2011, after the departure of Hurricane Irene. Waves from the Chesapeake Bay lap at the pilings of the waterfront homes on Ocean View Avenue in this section of Virginia Beach. (Vicki Cronis-Nohe | The Virginian-Pilot)

Chic’s Beach resident Taylor Sharpe and his dog Sandy walk the beach there at high tide on Aug. 28, 2011, after the departure of Hurricane Irene. Waves from the Chesapeake Bay lap at the pilings of the waterfront homes on Ocean View Avenue in this section of Virginia Beach. (Vicki Cronis-Nohe | The Virginian-Pilot)

“Join us at Adaptive Planning for Flooding and Coastal Change in Virginia: Next Steps for the Commonwealth, where the dialogue will move forward by sharing the resolutions made to date”

Posted on by

Learn more at VA Coastal Policy Clinic at W&M Law School event page.

    Friday, December 5th 2014
    8:30am – 5pm
    Miller Hall (Mason School of Business)
    101 Ukrop Way
    Williamsburg, VA 23185