Read the entire article and comment here, or at Pilotonline.com:
In its “state of the river” report for 2012, the environmental group Lynnhaven River Now gave a C+ to efforts at controlling bacteria pollution.
Not sure how this will affect the upcoming popular Lynnhaven River NOW Oyster Roast on April 20th.
Read and comment on Pilotonline.com article about unleashed dogs and their threat to PHP:
They also could disrupt the nests of diamondback terrapins or traumatize their hatchlings, she said.
“There needs to be a behavior change,” Everett said. “It’s important to keep dogs on-leash on the site because it’s a preserve area.”
Pet waste also is a major source of harmful bacteria, which degrades water quality, can render shellfish unsafe to eat and make humans and other animals sick, Everett said.
One comment excerpt:
Some dog owners in my neighborhood walk their dogs off leash routinely. Their self-centeredness is similar to what I am reading here. We had a dog attacked by another, requiring extensive vet bills.
Read Mary Reid Barrow’s new article.
“Pleasure House Point is no longer a private playground for you and your dogs.”
Photo Credit: Jet Ski Brian http://jetskibrian.com/
In case you’ve missed the great pics Jet Ski Brian has been getting here’s his website.
One of the seals seems to have a gill net wrapped around it’s neck:
I went through the pictures I took on Saturday and sure enough it looks like one the poor guys has what looks like part of a gill net tightly around his neck. I emailed and called the Virginia Beach Aquarium and am waiting to here back from them.
I saw several sets of gill net around the Islands of the tunnel.
Stranding Response Program at Virginia Aquarium.
Report a Stranding
ATTENTION ALL BOATERS AND BEACH WALKERS:
When water temperatures drop quickly, cold-blooded reptiles like sea turtles often find themselves in trouble up and down the East Coast. Some of these animals may appear deceased but are actually in a coma, due to the surrounding cold waters. These animals are in need of IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION! If you come across a sea turtle swimming, floating or stranded on the beach, please stay with it and call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team immediately at (757) 385-7575.
Report a StrandingTo report a stranded sea turtle or marine mammal (dolphin, whale, seal or manatee) to the Aquarium’s Stranding Response Program, call (757) 385-7575 (24 hours/7 days).
And, the Virginia Aquarium has a new website up to catalog the deadly balloons that can kill marine life.
Check out the Pilotonline.com article about Martha.
Giles’ favorite photo subject is nature, particularly birds. Favorite local sites include First Landing State Park, the Chesapeake Bay and Pleasure House Point.
“You’ll find that many of my pictures are of birds,” Giles said about her online gallery, http://www.blipfoto.com/mmg. “I never set out to take just pictures of birds, but that’s just how it happens.”
One Tree. Why bother saving one tree? Well, in order to get to your destination, you have to take one step at a time.
Please take a minute and sign the online petition to show the property owner that One Tree really does matter. Click here for the petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-live-oak-at-bar-harbor/
Here are several additional reasons why saving one tree is a good thing.
For more about saving Live Oak Trees, visit www.friendsofliveoaks.org
There was a lot in Ocean Park recently cleared of all but one of its live oak trees. It was impossible to save these trees.
Thinking boldly, CBF, thanks to Christy’s work, generously agreed to stage this lumber at PHP for use in a future inspirational art project.
We imagine many interested parties working together creating a magnificent sculpture in the near future with inspiration from birds, Native Americans ….
We can also imagine other interested parties helping create smaller pieces, benches, Native American inspired art…
Please join us in using the live oak’s precious lumber to create something worthy of their beauty & strength.
NOTE:CBF did not cut these trees down. CBF generously allowed them to be staged at their PHP parcel.
“CASPER” FAMILY DISASTER PREPARATION AND RECOVERY PLAN (24 pagePDF)
Thanks to Dave for having us repost his work! We highly recommend you download it, study it and take action before catastrophic storms are forecasted.
unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012
Brought to you by VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
View Lynnhaven River NOW’s E-News here.
2013 Watersheds Forum
March 21, 9:00-2:30, Virginia Beach Convention CenterOyster Roast 3 The first Virginia Beach Watersheds Forum will be held on March 21, 2013 at the Vriginia Beach Convention Center. Registration will begin at 8:15 AM and presentations begin at 9 AM. The Forum is 9 AM-1 PM and includes a box lunch.
The Forum is being held jointly by Lynnhaven River NOW and the Back Bay Restoration Foundation and is sponsored by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.The 2013 Forum will have two panel presentations from regional experts on adapting to Sea Level Rise and how our natural resorces fit into Virginia Beach’s long range planning. Additionally, break-out sessions for the northern and southern watersheds will feature speakers from VIMS, LRNow, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Registration is $15 and includes light morning refreshments, a box lunch and all presentations. Add-on workshops will be held at the close of the informational presentations from 1:00-2:30. For an additional fee, participants can build their own rain barrel, learn about gardening with native plants and receive their own native plant, or build their own worm composting bin.
Please register here using PayPal. If you prefer to pay with a check, please contact Mary Tilton at mary.tilton@bbrf.org or 757-619-6429.
For more information, visit our website or contact Karen at Karen@LRNow.org or 757-962-5398.
We hope to see you all on March 21st for an interesting day!
The department will work to identify funding for the project within its upcoming FY 2013-14 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Funding Plan, and if so identified, the target date for completion and opening of the dog park would be Spring 2014.
Great news for dog lovers everywhere! Let’s help the project get funded!
“Outta control”. That’s the title of yet another message we’ve received about dogs NOT on leashes on PHP.
Currently – this person has counted 7.
ANIMAL CONTROL
tel:757-385-4444Yes they called.
YEAS–Hanger, Watkins, Puckett, Ruff, McEachin, Petersen, Northam, Marsden, Black, Miller–10.
NAYS–0.
ABSTENTIONS–0.
Thank you.
Members of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources:
Special thanks to Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters Republican-District 8 for requesting SB926 to be stricken.
Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters Republican-District 8
Senator McWaters has just informed me at 9:28 pm TONIGHT that SB926 will be dropped tomorrow due to the opposition voiced by so many of our civic organizations. He said the bill needs more study and was not ready for prime time. YES!!!!!!! The voice of the citizens CAN be heard when we have dedicated people to group together, inform our members, and collectively express our voice. I thank ALL of you who have voiced your concerns during this intense negotiating period. WELL DONE!
And to Senator McWaters and his very hard working staff, WE THANK YOU!!!!!
The Chesapeake Bay and her precious wetlands need your help TODAY.
Senate Bill 926, a measure that weakens the authority of local wetlands boards, will be considered at tomorrow’s Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources. Your state senator, Sen. Jeff McWaters, has introduced this bill. Please ask Senator McWaters to withdraw this bill, which will have unintended harmful consequences.
CBF and many other conservation organizations oppose this bill, as it undermines Virginia’s effective, four-decades-old tidal wetlands program that relies upon local citizen wetland boards, with oversight by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), to protect our valuable tidal wetlands.Time is of the essence. Please contact Sen. McWaters today, and tell him SB 926 is a step backward and to please withdraw it immediately!
Respectfully ask Senator McWaters to withdraw Senate Bill SB 926.
EMAIL Senator McWaters & His Aid
PHONE Richmond Office: (804) 698-7508
Senator McWaters Contact Info
WHY?
Dear Gentleman,
I respectfully request that Senate Bill (SB926) be withdrawn.
Removing local Wetlands Board review of local City projects is unacceptable.
Citizen engagement at the local level must be maintained in order to keep trust in government.
The current review process for “28.2-1302 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the jurisdiction of local wetlands boards” results in State owned wetlands projects being reviewed by State commissions (VMRC) and locally owned wetlands projects being reviewed by local Wetlands Boards.
This is the correct method and must be protected.
Moving review boards out of the local area places an unfair burden on citizens and their rights for public comment.
Additionally, local Wetlands Boards are more familiar with the particulars of local projects and are best suited to review these applications.
Sincerely,
Todd Solomon
Shore Drive Community Coalition-Secretary
Maintaining the Status Quo for Shore Drive, check out http://www.sdcc.info
ALSO:
It could undermine Virginia’s no net loss goals for preservation of wetlands acreage and function.
It could undermine government openness and transparency by imposing additional barriers to public participation in the local public hearing of projects that would impact state-protected wetlands.
PLEASE CONTACT SENATOR MCWATERS NOW
Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters
Republican-District 8
Capitol Office
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Email: district08@senate.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 698-7508
Fax: (804) 698-7651
Room No: 310
Legislative Assistant: Cheryl Simmons, Christen T. Smith
District Office
1207 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: (757) 965-3700
Legislative Assistant: Cheryl Simmons, Christen T. Smith
1207 Laskin Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Phone: (757) 965-3700
As of the time of this post, this Senate Bill SB926 could be heard Thursday.
UPDATE: read the bill. Start here.
Check out SavePHP.org to learn more about work on Pleasure House Point.
Added a list of what’s available at our SDCC.info/Hot page. Scroll down to find info about bridge.
Direct link to CIP Project Page for Lesner Bridge.
Landscaping Concept Under Bridge
Sneak peak of power point presentation pulled from the Official City Project Page.
Construction – Begin July 2013; Complete July 2016
One image from presentation
Download presentation from VBGov.com. [24 page PDF]
Note: If you are viewing presentation on a Mac in Preview – you can watch in full screen slideshow mode.
You can also view each slide & read notes for each by clicking on small cartoon bubble icon in upper left corner of each slide.
Forwarded from previous OPCL President:
Hope at receiving this you had a festive holiday season and are ready to do great things for our City in 2013. Attached you will find a draft of the legislation Chris Stolle is carrying for the City to set the ground work for a collaborative process of creating a sand replenishment program for the Chesapeake Bay Beaches. Following completion of the Council funded study by VIMS (can be found at http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/public-works/coastal/Documents/cxb-shoal-report-12-11.pdf )[246 Page PDF]. The study focused on Chesapeake Beach but we are confident the sizeable deposits of suitable material exist offshore of all our Chesapeake Bay Beaches. Please share with your Commission/Board and if you would like Phil and I are more than happy to attend your next meeting to discuss our program initiative. As this has the unanimous support of the City Council we would like to receive both the Beaches and Waterways Advisory Commission and the Bayfront Advisory Committee endorsements. The Norfolk City Manager’s office is endorsing the legislation as well. Also request that once your organizations are behind the initiative that you take the opportunity to let our General Assembly Delegation know of your support. Please call if you have questions. VR Dave
Dave Hansen
Deputy City Manager
City of Virginia Beach
(757)385-4242
Download the VIMS study entitled A Geotechnical Evaluation of Chesapeake Beach for Beach Quality Sand. [246 Page PDF]
VIMS is the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
One image from VIMS study
#WeLoveShoreDrive 