Read entire article & view amazing photos at Pilotonline.com article.
Having an Oyster Roast or Clam Bake? Save those Shells! at LrNow.org
Oyster shells from local oyster farmer going back in Lynnhaven.
Category Archives: Environment
“For effective stormwater management, the combination of landscape vegetation and a specially designed filter media allows bacteria, metals, nutrients and total suspended solids (TSS) to be removed naturally.”
Editors note: this is not an endorsement for products from Filterra by SDCC. Merely an informative post to learn more about this system.
Check out Filterra Bioretention Systems.
Filterra Bioretention Systems harness the power of nature to capture, cycle and immobilize stormwater pollutants to treat urban runoff.
There’s an interesting animation of how their system works on their website.
Get the Scoop on CBF’s Brock Environmental Center. Come out for ice cream and information on construction of Brock Environmental Center at Pleasure House Point.
Tuesday, July 16, 6 p.m. Ocean Park Rescue Squad 3769 E. Stratford Rd.
Download 2 page PDF about presentation PHP Open House Flyer
See ya there!
See ya Tuesday July 16th!
ATTEND OUR MEETING MONDAY! “Come hear the City’s interim plan to fix stormwater problems for areas east of the Lesner Bridge. There will also be an $80+ million project that could impact homes and businesses. You will definitely want to attend and learn the study details.”
Meeting at:
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad
STARTS 730pm
VIEW MEETING AGENDA at SDCC.info
Dave L. Hansen – Deputy City Manager will be making the presentation.
As article below mentions, City Council will be voting on the recommendations in August 2013.
City Engineers Present “Eastern Shore Dr. Interim Drainage Improvement Proposal”
On Thursday June 20th at the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC), City Engineers presented the “Eastern Shore Drive Interim Drainage Improvement Proposal”. This proposal was the result of an engineering study performed by City engineers and engineering consultant Kimley-Horn. The study was performed as part of the community’s on going request (since 2009) to fix tidal flooding issues in neighborhoods east of the Lesner Bridge. The presentation, studies and recommendations can be found on the City’s Public Works website. Click here to access
The City’s Engineering results on interim flooding fixes has been summarized on Slide 33 of their presentation shown below. This presentaiton will be made to City Council at which point they will decide whether to fund the interim projects. Please note that the housing and garage impacts are based on a 4.0 foot tide occurence.
Return On Investment
- Total Cost of Interim Improvements: $1.2 M
- Benefit is some reduction in flooding frequency for:
– 5 houses
– 15 Garages
– 570 L.F. of Street
- Comprehensive improvements are budgeted and initial phases could begin in 2016
- A decision on whether to fund the Interim Improvements is needed
“Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department is working with Lynnhaven River Now on ways to protect the diamondback’s nesting habitat from human and dog traffic at Pleasure House Point.” Links to more info, & video of a Diamondback laying her eggs.
Read Mary Reid Barrow’s article at Pilotonline.com:
Only folks who have natural shorelines or natural areas like Pleasure House Point still provide nurseries for these turtles.
Yet another reason why it is vital to always, always keep your dog on a leash so they do not disturb these precious creatures whilst nesting this summer on Pleasure House Point.
Please help protect the Diamondback Terrapins currently nesting on PHP!
From LRNow Field Guide on the Diamondback Terrapin
Lynnhaven River Now is happy to be working with the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department on ways to protect the diamondback terrapin’s nesting habitat from human and dog traffic at Pleasure House Point.
Visit this link to download the 2 page Diamondback Terrapin Field Guide PDF at LRNow.org.
MORE HELPFUL LINKS
Photo credit: Kevin Dubois
Photo Credit: Kevin Dubois
Photo Credit: Leah Graham.
Terrapin Hatchling on the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project, Talbot County, MD
You can obviously see how vulnerable a Diamondback Terrapin hatch-ling is!
PLEASE LEASH YOUR DOG!
WATCH A DIAMONDBACK HATCH HER EGGS
SDCC’s final legal argument v. Indigo Dunes
A photo of a Diamondback Terrapin nest was on the cover of SDCC’s final legal argument v. Indigo Dunes.
This document included hundreds of pages of our legal argument, graphs, charts, photos and more which helped stop Indigo Dunes from receiving any permits eventually leading to PHP’s permanent preservation as a Natural Area.
Interestingly, this Diamondback Terrapin nest was located where one of the proposed 11 story towers for Indigo Dunes were to go.
“The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health has lifted a swimming and wading advisory that was issued for the Chesapeake Bay from Starfish Road to Rockbridge Road. Lab results showed bacteria levels in the water meet the State Water Quality Standards.”
Read entire News Release at VBGov.com:
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters.
Learn more about Enterococci at EPA.gov:
Enterococci are a subgroup within the fecal streptococcus group. Enterococci are distinguished by their ability to survive in salt water, and in this respect they more closely mimic many pathogens than do the other indicators. Enterococci are typically more human-specific than the larger fecal streptococcus group. EPA recommends enterococci as the best indicator of health risk in salt water used for recreation and as a useful indicator in fresh water as well.
Human Gut Microbe (Enterococcus faecalis)
“The city’s Department of Public Health has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Starfish Road and Rockbridge Road.”
“A September 2011 survey of Pleasure House Point found at total of 113 diamondback terrapin nests along the entire property.” So CBF is protecting them.
With construction of CBF’s Brock Environmental Center set to begin this summer, it was important to put the barrier in place prior to the nesting season in order to allow the terrapins to find another location at Pleasure House Point that will not be disturbed by future construction activities.
Please do not disturb the terrapins if you see them and leash your dog!
Photo Credit: Mary Reid Barrow
Photo Credit: Tim Solanic
Photo Credit: Tim Solanic
Virginian-Pilot coverage on Clean The Bay Day focuses on Pleasure House Point
To help pay for trash bags and other supplies, T-shirts were sold. Everything the volunteers brought to designated zones was hauled away by city sanitation departments.
“There was a lot of big stuff out there that first year,” Pahno said of Pleasure House Point, where he has volunteered for all 25 events. In addition to cans, bottles and cigarette butts, there were appliances, construction debris and tires.
That’s a pic from Clean the Bay Day last year with some of the trash we picked up. Steve Pahno, of Dominion Printers, has been the team captain since day 1 for CTBD on PHP.
CBF milled live oak today.
Remember the lot that was clear cut of its live oaks located on Shore Drive near the Lesner Bridge?
CBF accepted the cut down live oak material.
Today it was milled into lumber to be dried then used inside & around the Brock Center.
Thanks to everyone who helped preserve the live oak material.
Shame the trees couldn’t be preserved but at least their beautiful lumber will live on & may inspire future generations.
Participate in Virginia Beach’s plan to preserve the urban forest
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is inviting the public to provide input at two different public information meetings that involve the City of Virginia Beach’s Urban Forest Management Plan. Learn what is in the works to improve the environmental, economic and social benefits of the city through the proper planting, maintenance and preservation of trees.
The first public meeting will discuss the City’s northern watersheds (Lynnhaven River, Elizabeth River, Rudee, Oceanfront, and Little Creek) and takes place at Bayside Recreation Center (4500 First Court Rd) on Wednesday, May 15, 2013…Both meetings take place from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm.
Pearls of Wisdom from Lynnhaven River NOW
From LRNow.org’s Pearls of Wisdom:
After reading this letter, if you think you might be mowing your wetlands, give us a call and we will send someone out to advise you. If you start letting them grow, you will be supporting new habitat, helping clean the water, and potentially reducing erosion along your shoreline!
And we all want a clean Lynnhaven so we can always have healthy oysters right? Right?
Vandalism on PHP
Certainly “grown ups” can’t be responsible for this.
From an email:
The past two weeks we have seen an elevated amount of vandalism at Pleasure House Point. The two dog boxes were ripped from their signs, along the two Marlin Bay trails, last week. We installed new ones and I inspected the site yesterday and found that the same occurred again. Last week we found that a household kitchen bag was dumped on a trail. Mail within the bag was addressed to (redacted). Yesterday, along the same trail I found four very large bags dumped on the trail. I removed the litter and pulled the dog boxes out of the woods from where they were thrown and placed them beside the posts from which they were installed. At this point we are discussing which dog boxes to reinstall. A police report was given and I have a case number pertaining to the issue.
I wanted to keep you posted as well as possibly ask if you wouldn’t mind mentioning something about this in your next OPCL Newsletter.
Please let me know if you need other information or anything on our end. I appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Michael T. Moore; CNMP
Open Space and Resource Manager
Parks and Natural Areas
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation
Parks and Natural Areas Office | 2289 Lynnhaven Parkway | Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Photo taken at April 20th clean up on PHP.
Ocean Park to get sand now. Chic’s Beach in a few years.
A similar project will add about 200,000 cubic yards of sand at Ocean Park Beach when the Army Corps of Engineers later this year works to clear sand that’s built up in the Lynnhaven Inlet, Roehrs said.
A major beach restoration project for Chic’s Beach also is in the works, although it might take a few years to start while the city obtains agreements from waterfront property owners ensuring public access to the shore, Roehrs said.
Photo Credit: Kevin O’Hara
Lynnhaven River Now Presentation on Long Creek Aquaculture Center – Monday April 29th at SDCC General Meeting
Lynnhaven River Now will be the special guest speaker
at the Monday April 29th General Meeting of SDCC
Karen Forget will present their plan for an Aquaculture Center on Long Creek. This sounds like an amazing project for the Lynnhaven River, our community and the City of Virginia Beach. We hope you can come out and learn more.
Monday April 29th, 2013 @7:30pm
SDCC General Meeting
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Meeting Hall
“Attached you will find our response to the Norfolk District Commander of the Corps of Engineers attesting to the City’s commitment for providing the necessary real estate interests for the project features identified in the Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Plan. This plan consists of restoring 38 acres of Wetlands, 94 acres of sub~aquatic Vegetation (SAV), the reintroduction of bay scallops on the SAV and the construction of 31 acres of reef habitat.”
Recent correspondence between City of VB & ACOE re: Lynnhaven River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Plan. (9 page PDF)
We understand that concerns exist regarding the City’s ability to accomplish the real estate acquisition that may be necessary for the project. Please be assured that We have reviewed the potential real estate requirements identified in the District’s letter dated March 12, 2013. We acknowledge that the provision of all real estate interests necessary for the construction, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of the project will be the responsibility of the City of Virginia Beach as the Non-Federal Sponsor for this project It is understood that the procurement of real estate interests may include acquiring or terminating existing oyster leases, acquiring permanent real estate interests from private and pubîic property owners for wetlands restoration, and securing permanent easements over state-owned river bottoms to support the parts of the project involving submerged aquatic vegetation restoration, bay scallops reintroduction, and reef habitat creation.
“What captured Kmet was a release of three dozen pelicans that were rescued over the winter. They were freed at the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp.”
View article at Pilotonline.com.
Photo Credit: Kevin O’Hara from Ocean Park
OPCL Adopts PHP. First clean up April 20 10am – noon.
Kudos to Ocean Park Civic League for Adopting PHP!
Please mark your calendars! The OPCL has “adopted” PHP and our first clean up opportunity is coming up soon.
Date: April 20th
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Rain Date: April 27h
What to Bring: The City provides bags, plastic gloves & has a few tools.
Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing & shoes appropriate to the task & terrain … it can be a dirty job.
We encourage people to bring their own work gloves, rakes, litter pick up poles, etc. We will report heavy objects to P&R staff. All filled bags will need to be hauled away or left at the pump station by the park.
For this first clean up at least, sign-in will be onsite & a short orientation will take place at 10 a.m.
Here’s the information on where we’ll meet, where orientation will occur and how you can sign up to assist!
Entry: Trail entrance on Marlin Bay Drive is the first entry southeast of the “PHP Natural Area” sign off Shore Drive, across from Ocean Tides Drive & by the “Participating Agencies” sign.
Sign in & Orientation: A short distance down the Trail.
*Clean Up Volunteers may sign up the day of the event.
*Volunteers that would like to help with registration, orientation, reporting, etc., please contact Susie Walston.
Thanks, all. Let’s have a great turnout and show everyone how much we value this crown jewel in our “back yard”.
Terry Gearhart OPCL Membership and Orientation
That’s a pic from Clean the Bay Day last year with some of the trash we picked up. Steve Pahno, of Dominion Printers, has been the team captain since day 1 for CTBD on PHP.
Steve was also one of the Founders of Clean the Bay Day.
Clean The Bay Day registration open
The 25th Annual Clean the Bay Day (CTBD) will be held on Saturday June 1, 2013, between 9:00 a.m. and noon at hundreds of sites throughout Virginia.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 