Improvements are on the way in Hampton Roads and Richmond and on the state’s Eastern Shore now that almost $56 million has been dedicated to water infrastructure projects throughout the Commonwealth.
Lynnhaven Inlet following a dredging/shoaling removal project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Photo: USACEVirginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner recently announced that the funding, totaling $55.985 million, will be used for a handful of projects including wetlands restoration and dredging. The funds were provided by Congress and given to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the Corps’ “Work Plan.”
The funding will be used for various projects through construction, investigation, or operations and maintenance. Here are some of the projects the money will help to fund, according to Senator Kaine’s website:
Lynnhaven River Basin:
Restoration of wetlands and fish habitat; nutrient and sediment pollution reduction; flood control; helping oyster and scallop populations in the Lynnhaven and its tributaries.
Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Craney Island:
Expansion of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area’s dredge fill capacity. This will serve the future Craney Island Marine Terminal, which is expected to almost double the capacity of the Port of Virginia.
Norfolk Harbor and Craney Island:
Maintenance to reduce shoaling in Norfolk Harbor/around Craney Island; dike maintenance; the replacement of one of Craney Island Dredge Material Management Area’s six primary spillboxes.
Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection:
Dredging; beach re-nourishment to lessen impacts of extreme weather events that have already taken place.
Donor and Energy Transfer Ports (Port of Virginia):
“This funding will be provided to a dedicated account for ports around the nation that either pay more into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund than they receive in benefits from it or ports that are critical to the movement of energy commodities, of which the Port of Virginia is one.”
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway North Landing Bridge:
The continuation of a study that will create a plan to replace the 63-year-old bridge that connects Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Rudee Inlet (Virginia Beach):
Dredging to remove shoals in the waterway.
James River Channel:
Maintenance dredging to remove shoals in areas of the James; surveys that monitor river conditions.
Chincoteague Inlet:
Maintenance dredging to remove shoals; surveys to monitor/report channel conditions; coordination with the Coast Guard regarding buoys and channel markers.
Lynnhaven Inlet:
Maintenance dredging to remove shoaling in the inlet’s entrance channel/turning basin.
Hampton Roads Prevention of Destructive Deposits:
Upgrading of facilities to keep refuse and hazardous materials out of navigable waterways by working with state and federal agencies.
Waterway of the Coast of Virginia (channel from MD/VA line):
Maintenance dredging.
-Laura Boycourt
