The Commonwealth of Virginia has a marine debris reduction plan in place, the first of its kind on the East Coast. In 2012, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program began scoping out a framework. In less than two years, they … Continued
Several public access sites have been added along the James River, Elizabeth River, and other Tidewater rivers. New sites in and near Hampton Roads include kayak and canoe launch areas, boat ramps, bank fishing areas, and other resources. New sites … Continued
In June 2014, officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced $102.7 million in competitive matching grants to support 54 projects along the Atlantic coast. The grants will fund science-based solutions to restore wetlands and other natural areas, … Continued
In April 2014, gale force winds battered Hampton Roads, causing a variety of damage to commercial shipping vessels in the area. The situation began unfolding on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, when the Coast Guard received a report of a collision … Continued
According to a USGS report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten U.S. coastal communities, including those in the Mid Atlantic states. The report emphasizes the need for increased coordination and planning to ensure U.S. coastal communities are … Continued
2013 marked year 2 of a planned 3-year largemouth bass stocking project on Back Bay by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). The project plan calls for stocking 125,000, 2 inch fingerling largemouth bass each year for … Continued
Parts of the Hampton Roads – Tidewater area could see more frequent flooding in the coming decades, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report published in Nature Climate Change. The study found that the rate of sea level rise is … Continued
In 2012, NOAA Fisheries announced $435,000 in funding to support oyster and wetlands restoration projects in the Lafayette River. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and NOAA Restoration Center provided approximately $300,000 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Elizabeth River … Continued
A three-year largemouth bass stocking project in Back Bay began in May of 2012, according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). The stocking program follows an experimental stocking of approximately 75,000 surplus largemouth bass fingerlings in … Continued
Beginning January 1, 2012, visitors to Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and public fishing lakes owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries who are age 17 and older will need to have an Access Permit unless they possess … Continued