Laurie Carroll Sorabella

Engaging a Community in Restoring a RiverEngaging a Community in Restoring a River

Lynnhaven River & WatershedLynnhaven River & Watershed

Watershed Area:

64 mi2

(21% of City’s land area)

Population:

225,000

(47% of City’s population)

Reduce Pollutant Inputs:BacteriaExcess NutrientsSedimentToxins

Restore Vital Habitats:Oyster ReefsWetland & Buffer HabitatsUnderwater Grasses

Goal: A clean and healthy Lynnhaven RiverGoal: A clean and healthy Lynnhaven River

Community Education & InvolvementCommunity Education & Involvement

Habitat: Oyster CastlesHabitat: Oyster Castles

Habitat: Salvage ShellHabitat: Salvage ShellSave Oyster Shell for the Save Oyster Shell for the

LynnhavenLynnhaven

Habitat: Sanctuary Habitat: Sanctuary CreationCreation

Sanctuary Oyster Reefs 1997-2017Sanctuary Oyster Reefs 1997-2017

FirstLandingState Park

Intertidal Shell Reef Subtidal Shell Reef Oyster Castle

Reef TypeReef Type

Citizen Science: Spat Collectors &Citizen Science: Spat Collectors &Larval DistributionLarval Distribution

2016 Spat Settlement in Shell Cages2016 Spat Settlement in Shell Cages

F0-v 0-10 spat 11-50 spat 51-100 spat 101+ spat

Evaluate Alternative SubstratesEvaluate Alternative Substrates

Success in the Lynnhaven Success in the Lynnhaven Results from Synergy of Results from Synergy of

Many PartnersMany Partners• Allied Concrete• Aquaculture Industry• Army Corps of Engineers• Chesapeake Bay Foundation• Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund• Citizens• City of Virginia Beach• Dominion Power• Fish America Foundation• Lynnhaven River NOW

• National Fish & Wildlife Foundation• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration• Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia• Restaurants Saving Shell• Schools & Teachers• The Nature Conservancy• Virginia Aquarium• Virginia Institute of Marine Science• Virginia Marine Resources Commission