Coalition Raises Concerns over Proposed Lynnhaven Storm Surge Barrier’s Environmental Impacts

Conservation groups are pushing the City of Virginia Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to minimize environmental threats by prioritizing nature-based solutions as they weigh a proposed storm surge barrier project at the Lynnhaven Inlet near the southernmost part of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Army Corps is drafting an environmental impact statement as part of a feasibility study to determine the proper course of action for protecting the area and nearby homes from flooding, sea level rise, and more intense storms. They have identified the storm surge barrier, which could entail a series of tide gates near the Lesner Bridge, as an Early Actionable Element as part of the broader plan.

Everyone in the region benefits from a thriving, healthy Lynnhaven River, which is critical for local ecology, tourism, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Climate change and sea level rise, though, mean that new techniques and protections will need to be put in place in the coming years to protect homes, critical infrastructure, and natural resources.

There are several potentially significant concerns that the conservation groups are urging the Corps and the city to carefully evaluate and discuss with the public as they study the project, including:

Potential damage to oyster reefs if the barrier remains closed for too long during extended storm surges and disrupts water salinity;

• Increased marsh loss;
• Increased pollution loads if sediment becomes trapped in the river when the tide gates are closed;
• Increased bacteria as runoff becomes trapped; and,
• Blocked passage for fish and other critical species

The groups also urge the City of Virginia Beach and the Army Corps to consider nature-based solutions when evaluating options for the storm surge barrier. Those could include:

• Using oyster reefs to restore and stabilize eroded areas;
• Exploring the use of tidal wetlands, low marsh elevations, and revegetation; and,
• Facilitating marsh migration upstream to protect and stabilize the area

A comprehensive set of environmental concerns and recommendations to minimize disruption can be found in a new report from Biohabitats, an environmental consulting group, which was produced in partnership with the listed environmental organizations.

Time is running out to preserve the area’s natural resources, and especially wetlands. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) estimated that without support, all tidal marsh in the Lynnhaven could be lost by the year 2100, even under conservative estimates of sea level rise (Berman and Berquist 2009).

The report discusses how nature-based solutions such as wetland and marsh preservation can often achieve equal or higher returns on investment than traditional infrastructure such as flood walls and tide gates. This is because nature-based solutions typically deliver co-benefits such as cleaner water, enhanced wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, increased fishing, and reduced maintenance costs.

As part of the Virginia Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) plan, the Army Corps and the city are currently drafting a feasibility study to determine options for addressing the effects of sea level rise, flooding, and storms in the region. The study is required to evaluate and compare the environmental and economic impacts of different potential solutions, and the analysis is intended to help educate the public and ensure city leaders make an informed decision among the options.

Public input will be critical in the push. As the Biohabitats report outlines, Miami-Dade County had initially proposed a concrete floodwall that triggered intense opposition from local business owners. As a result, that region’s risk management study now recommends a combination of structural, nonstructural, and nature-based measures, including a Nature-Based Solutions pilot program.

Environmental Defense Fund Director of Flood Resilience Emily Steinhilber issued the following statement:

“Nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands and natural floodplains reduce flood risk while strengthening the health of the Lynnhaven River and Back Bay. They should be considered alongside traditional infrastructure, not as an afterthought or simply as mitigation. The City of Virginia Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have an opportunity to protect both local ecology and homes from flooding, but the environmental impacts of a storm surge barrier must be fully understood and transparently communicated before any final decision is made. The strongest, most resilient approach will use every tool in the toolbox to protect both communities and the ecosystems they depend on.”

Southern Environmental Law Center Senior Attorney and Regional Resilience Co-Leader Morgan Butler issued the following statement:

“The public doesn’t always get excited about engaging in a study, but this one is particularly important because the projects it recommends can be backed by significant federal funding and may therefore take on a life of their own. It is crucial for the public and decision-makers alike to truly understand what is being proposed and how it will affect them—both positively and negatively—before decisions are made, and engaging in this study is how to ensure that happens.”

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Hampton Roads Director Christy Everett issued the following statement:

“The storm surge barrier could disturb the delicate Lynnhaven River ecosystem. We have serious concerns about the number of closures and how they could affect water quality, fish, and other important species traveling in and out of the Lynnhaven. Virginia Beach and the Army Corps have a tremendous opportunity to incorporate nature-based solutions like oyster reefs and wetlands that will help preserve and protect the area for decades to come.”

Wetlands Watch Executive Director Mary-Carson Stiff issued the following statement:

“Federal investments like this are hard to come by, and if we’re lucky, we’ll be living with what we build for a long time. We better get it right. Sea level rise is already drowning wetlands at a rapid pace in urban rivers like the Lynnhaven. We don’t need projects that contribute to this loss. We need projects that buck the trend. Not only because wetlands clean our water, provide habitat for thousands of species, protect property from erosion, store carbon, and so much more, but because we can’t keep living in the places we love without them.”

Lynnhaven River NOW Executive Director Karen W. Forget issued the following statement:

“We recognize the challenges that climate change and sea level rise pose to the City of Virginia Beach and its residents. We also recognize the immense ecological, economic, and recreational value that the Lynnhaven River provides to the entire community. It has taken decades of focused effort by many to restore the river to the healthy and productive estuary it is today. Protecting this remarkable resource while strengthening our community’s resilience requires a careful and thoughtful approach. Only by fully integrating nature-based solutions into the CSRM plan can we safeguard both the Lynnhaven River and the people of Virginia Beach for generations to come.”