Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
10.04
Grantee:
Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper
Project Title:
Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper
Project Description as Proposed:
The Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper program will continue to conduct year round on-the-water observations to investigate, assess and document citizen allegations of harmful activity, participate in the public process, and to minimize the growing potential for conflict between aquaculture industry and mainland impacts. The Shorekeeper will serve as an ombudsman for the seaside bays and provide an additional set of eyes and ears to alert the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) or other appropriate agencies on issues relating to the protection of sensitive natural resources. The Shorekeeper and volunteer Creek Watchers will ensure publicly funded oyster reef sanctuaries are protected from illegal harvest, eelgrass beds, planted under the auspices of the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VA-CZM), are not damaged and rare beach and colonial nesting birds are not disturbed. The completion of the Seaside Water Trail Map & Guide, funded by VA-CZM, will be distributed and marketed as an additional public information tool to better educate the canoe & kayak community on sensitive natural resources. A feasibility study will look into “camping platforms” as potential enhancements to the Seaside Water Trail. Public education focused on protection of beach nesting shorebirds will be distributed through fact sheets and other information materials at local public boat launching points. A Creek Watchers volunteer training program will continue to recruit volunteers to broaden its monitoring of human impacts to sensitive marine resources. Successful cooperative work between the Shorekeeper and the shellfish aquaculture industry will work to adopting voluntary hard clam aquaculture Best Management Practices (BMP’s) and to jointly address water quality issues affecting the industry and seaside waters.
Federal Funding:
$31,000
Project Contact:
Richard Ayers, 757.678.6182; shorekeeper@verizon.net
Project Status:
10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
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
