Over 100 volunteers joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and the City of Hampton to complete a living shoreline at Bluebird Gap Farm that will enhance native habitats and stabilize shorelines.
Amazon and the Port of Virginia volunteers planted 500 plugs of black needlerush, 500 plugs of smooth cordgrass, and 50 bushy seaside oxide, marking the completion of a 158-foot living shoreline at Bluebird Gap Farm earlier this month. That work followed the installation of 16 coconut fiber coir logs and the placement of 100 tons of sand by CBF and volunteers in the preceding weeks.
Living shorelines are a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to protecting waterfront property from erosion. By utilizing native wetland plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees, along with natural materials like the coconut fiber rolls, living shorelines create a natural barrier that dissipates wave energy and promotes shoreline stability.
“We are incredibly grateful for the invaluable work of the many volunteers, including Amazon and the Port of Virginia volunteers,” said Kati Grigsby, Restoration Coordinator at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Their hard work and dedication in addition to our partnership with the city of Hampton were instrumental in making this project a success. This living shoreline will not only provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife but will also help to improve water quality and protect Hampton’s shoreline from the threats of climate change.”
The three-week project involved bending and heavy lifting, but the volunteers rose to the challenge, working tirelessly to install the coir logs, spread the sand, and plant the plugs. Their efforts have resulted in a significant enhancement to the Bluebird Gap Farm property and helped improve the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay.
“We’re proud to join with the Port of Virginia to support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s important work to help protect the Bay for future generations. Rebuilding living shorelines and restoring the oyster population in the Bay can help improve water quality, prevent erosion, and provide habitat for the diverse fish and wildlife that call the Bay home,” said Carl Berger, director of export operations, global logistics at Amazon.
Amazon and the Port of Virginia have each committed $100,000 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation project, supporting the Bluebird Gap Farm Living Shoreline project entirely and additional Virginia shoreline restoration initiatives in the coming months including oyster restoration efforts.
“The Port of Virginia is committed to sustainability, and we are pleased to partner with like-minded organizations such as Amazon and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in supporting initiatives like this that help protect our natural resources,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “We are looking forward to working together on future projects that improve our environment and communities.”
Virginia Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
[email protected]
804-258-1567
