Living Shorelines on the Nansemond River
Testing five different oyster reef materials along 250 linear feet of shoreline in the Nansemond River.
On Suffolk, Virginia's Nansemond River, oyster restoration practices were used to protect shorelines in a pioneering partnership between the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance (NRPA) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). These restoration projects deployed a variety of innovative techniques and the results will be evaluated for their ability to provide benefits such as increasing oyster populations and preventing erosion.
Living shorelines are a creative and proven approach to protecting tidal shorelines from erosion. The technique consists of planting native wetland plants and grasses, shrubs, and trees at various points along the tidal water line. Plantings are often coordinated with carefully placed bio-engineered materials, such as man-made coconut-fiber rolls or oyster reefs.
Oyster reefs can not only protect shorelines, but also improve the health of waterways and contribute to the economy. Oysters naturally filter the surrounding water, removing pollutants while creating reefs that serve as habitat for other key aquatic species. Native oyster restoration is an ongoing effort in the Bay’s waterways, and providing additional habitat is critical to its success.
This story map goes into further detail on the different oyster reef materials used in this project, the project sites, and the details of each site.
Project Site Locations
CBF and NRPA worked with 250 linear feet of shoreline broken up into six individual sites. This map depicts the areas where the oyster reef materials will be deployed.
Click the bookmark icon to navigate around the map and to view all of the site locations.
Erosion Evidence
These aerial images show sites A, B, and H in 1990 and 2018. Click and drag the slider left or right for comparison
These aerial images show sites D and E in 1990 and 2018. Click and drag the slider left or right for comparison
These aerial images show site F in 1990 and 2018. Click and drag the slider left or right for comparison
Drone Video of Sites
This video of project sites was taken by Flynn Gladden, a volunteer for NRPA.
Barrel Point Oyster Cultivation Initial Survey
Oyster Reef Materials
Currently, oyster reefs are not the preferred method of shoreline stabilization. This is mainly due to the lack of research on how they perform. This project is important because it allows us to test different methods along different types of shoreline to better understand a reefs impact. Each site presents us with different challenges that will allow us to understand further the role of oyster reefs in living shorelines.
Below is the list of oyster reef materials used in this project.
Use the arrow on the right of the image to explore the different reef material options.
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Site Designs
The main goals of this project were to determine if these substrates have the ability to trap sediment, retain structural integrity, and to accrue oysters. Based off various site visits and speaking with other living shoreline professionals, the below drawings represent CBF and NRPA execution proposal.
Use the arrow on the right of the image to explore the different project site designs.
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Reef Ball Event
October 15th -17th, 2020
CBF and NRPA enlisted the help of the Nansemond Indian Nation and Junto Women's Club to build the 70 reef balls needed for this project. Check out the a newspaper article about the event and some of the event photos below.
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Project Installation
Check out some of the pictures from the install!
Field Visit
October 12th, 2021
CBF and NRPA hosted a field visit for the Living Shoreline Collaborative to demonstrate an oyster's role in shoreline stabilization. We are happy to report that all of the substrates had spat settlement and were maintaining their structural integrity. See pictures of the event below!
Stay up to date on the Nansemond River Project and other oyster restoration activities through the CBF - Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore Facebook page.
Learn more about the critical role oysters play in the Bay's restoration.
