Fully half of Virginia is drained by Chesapeake Bay rivers, and two-thirds of the state's population lives within the Bay watershed. From the farm fields of the Shenandoah Valley to the pinewoods of the Eastern Shore, for most Virginians the Bay is as close as the nearest creek or stream.

LAFAYETTE RIVER RESTORATION

What's Going On and How You Can Help

Algal blooms on the Lafayette River
Harmful algal blooms, depicted in these odd-colored swirls, invade the Lafayette and other nearby waterways every summer.

The Lafayette River restoration project is looking for residents who want to take action to turn the river's water quality around.

Photo by Christy Everett/CBF Staff

Click here to get involved

If you live on or near the Lafayette River in Norfolk, Virginia, you'll be happy to hear there's an active movement underway to restore this wonderful resource. Recently, a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation helped the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Elizabeth River Project bring together partners and concerned citizens to come up with a plan that will vastly improve the Lafayette's ailing water quality. It will take plenty of community involvement to make this new effort succeed. We hope that these projects will help improve the health of the Lafayette so much that it will, in time, become fishable and swimmable for all to enjoy.

Guided Canoe Trip on the Lafayette

CBF will lead an educational canoe trip on the Lafayette River in Norfolk on Saturday, June 19 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.. Participants will learn about the ecology of the Lafayette watershed, its water quality issues, plus projects and programs to restore the river. Our trained educators will provide all equipment, canoes, and information. Cost is $30 for CBF members; $40 for non-members.

Register online for the event. Or if you have questions, send an e-mail to discoverytrips@cbf.org or call 622-1964.

 

Read on for an overview of the problems facing the Lafayette River and the solutions being put forward—or read the article on page 6 of CBF's Save the Bay magazine. Then click here to get involved.

 

PROBLEMS

  • Oyster Population Decline/Shellfish Consumption Ban
    Although anglers enjoy ample fishing opportunities from the Lafayette, shellfish consumption has been prohibited for years due to high bacteria levels. The once vibrant oyster population is down to a fraction of its historic levels due to pollution, disease, and over harvesting. Sadly, algal blooms have become a routine summer occurrence, an ominous sign that the waterway is not healthy beneath the surface. These unsightly swirls of mahogany colored algae lead to low dissolved oxygen levels that have been known to recently kill crabs in crab pots.
     
  • Harmful Stormwater Runoff
    Located within one of the most urban areas in the Chesapeake Bay region, the Lafayette River is plagued with problems stemming from an overabundance of paved surfaces. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria from a variety of sources—including stormwater runoff, which carries lawn fertilizer, pet waste, motor oil, and a slew of other toxins from yards and streets—funnel into storm drains and creeks which feed into the river. The biggest building boom in Norfolk took place from the 1900s to the 1950s, before the importance of water quality was understood. Many wetlands, which provide valuable filtration, are gone or threatened, and much of the city's stormwater system leads polluted water unfiltered right into our waterways.

SOLUTIONS

Here are some of the actions identified so far that can help restore the Lafayette River.

Improve Water Quality:

  • Construct rain gardens, which help control stormwater runoff.
  • Plant trees and shrubs, which reduce pollution flowing into our waterways.
  • Install pet-riwaste disposal stations so less pet waste is carrying bacteria into the Lafayette.
  • Install educational storm drain medallions.
  • Track progress through bacteria monitoring.

Restore Oysters:

  • Get more residents to grow oysters for restoration.
  • Monitor the river's oyster population in partnership with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences.
  • Have residents install spat (seed oyster) catchers on their docks.
  • Place oyster reef balls in the river.

GET INVOLVED

If you would like to be part of these or other river restoration activities, please sign up below.

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