Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 91
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciencem
Project Title:
Virginia Dunes Inventory
Project Description as Proposed:
In response to our continuing analysis of dune resources and management in Virginia's portion of the Chesapeake Bay, this phase of the overall research plan will focus on three tasks identified as necessary from the results of our Year 1 effort. These include (1) characterization and enumeration of dune systems which were identified in localities currently not under jurisdiction of the Coastal Primary Sand Dune Act, (2) development of a Virginia Bay-wide monitoring program of selected dune systems, and (3) defining, quantifying and delineating adjacent dune ecosystems that complement the functions of coastal primary sand dunes (secondary dunes and dune fields). Efforts to develop a habitat suitability index for horseshoe crabs will also continue throughout this project. Additionally, in an effort to communicate Virginia Coastal Program efforts directly to the responsible environmental decision-makers we plan to present summary information on the results of this project to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and as requested to the Coastal Resources Policy Team. This project begins a three year effort as outlined in the Draft Dunes Management Strategy.
Federal Funding:
$56,900.00
Project Contact:
Scott Hardaway, 804.642.7277
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The scope and tasks of this study are to: 1) Characterize and enumerate dunes in non-jurisdictional localities (the counties of Middlesex, Westmoreland, Isle of Wight, Surry, and York and the cities of Newport News, Suffolk and Poquoson); 2) Develop a Bay-wide monitoring program of selected dune sites. This program characterizes the seasonality of dune resources, biological assessments, groundwater dynamics and analyses of historical shoreline change for selected dune fields (with emphasis on secondary dunes); 3) Define, quantify, and delineate adjacent dune ecosystems that complement functions of coastal primary dunes (secondary dunes and dune fields); 4) Continue the assessment of horseshoe crab spawning habitat, and habitat suitability index development and refinement.
Results of this study are included in a single interim report.Task 1) Approximately 30 additional dune sites were identified in the eight (8) non-jurisdictional localities listed above. Most of the "new" dune sites occur in Middlesex County and Westmoreland County as Open Bay and Bay-influenced while sites in the remaining localities are mostly Riverine.
Task 2 and 3) Nine monitoring sites were developed and included sites in Lancaster County (LN39), Mathews County (MA3), Northampton County (NH10,NH17,NH51), Northumberland County (NL42, NL58, NL59), and Virginia Beach (VB4) with 33 total surveyed shore profiles. Preliminary results indicate a considerable variability alongshore and cross-shore within each site. By averaging measured parameters like primary dune and secondary dune crest heights, the analysis showed that secondary dune heights are equal to or slightly higher than the corresponding primary dune heights at the seven monitoring locations. This holds with the original model cross-section for the relationship between primary and secondary dunes. Dune crest heights are lower on sites with low backshores. All sites have a distinct evolutionary history through natural and man-induced activities. In almost all cases, the secondary dune was once the primary dune. Some current primary dunes, particularly along parts of site MA3, have developing foredune features that may become the primary dune in the near future, relegating the existing primary dune to secondary dune status. Storm events have been generally lacking in Chesapeake Bay since 1999, and we attribute much of this beach/dune growth to that fact. Vegetative distributions among the primary and secondary dunes are typical for bay and coastal communities except for one section at NL58 where the jurisdictional primary dune has typical secondary dune vegetation, simply due to loss of the typical primary dune feature.
Task 4) From the perspective of horseshoe crab spawning habitat suitability, the dune-associated beaches in non-jurisdictional localities do provide the required habitat characteristics similar in magnitude to the beaches of jurisdictional localities.Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@deq.virginia.gov
A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov
