Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Land-Coast Connections And Climate Change : Carbon Cycling In Chesapeake Bay And Its Watershed, Elizabeth A. Canuel, James E. Bauer, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, Initiative For Coastal Climate Change Research

Reports

VIMS climate change white paper: Land-coast connections and climate change : carbon cycling in Chesapeake Bay and its watershed

Workshop On Environmental Research Needs In Support Of Potential Virginia Offshore Oil And Gas Activities, Robert J. Diaz, Richard Brill, Linda C. Schaffner, Kenneth W. Able, Larry Atkinson, Diane Austin, Scott Kraus, Douglas Lipton, United States. Minerals Management Service

Reports

The MMS, a bureau within the Department of the Interior, sponsored a workshop on the environmental research needs in support of potential Virginia offshore oil and gas activities 3 and 4 December 2008, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The focus of the workshop was to assess the existing scientific knowledgebase along the Virginia Coast and the information gaps that need to 2 be addressed should a lease sale for oil and gas activities be held for the Virginia outer continental shelf. This report summarizes the outcome of the workshop.

Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program Annual Report 2008, John A. Lucy, Lewis Gillingham

Reports

Through 2008, the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program has maintained a database comprised of 14 years of data on tagged and recaptured fish. The program is a cooperative project of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament (VSFT-under the Marine Resources Commission) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) of the College of William and Mary (under VIMS Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program).

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia, Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2004-2008 Annual Report, 1 September 2007 - 31 September 2008, Philip W. Sadler, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris, Matthew W. Smith, Rebecca J. Wilk, Lydia M. Goins

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2007 through 31 August 2008. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2008 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the study that documents the prevalence of mycobacterial infections of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated management plan for …

City Of Chesapeake, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Sharon Killeen, Carl Hershner, Karinna Nunez, Karen Reay, Tamia Rudnicky, Daniel Schatt, Dave Weiss

Reports

This shoreline inventory is developed as a tool for assessing conditions along the tidal shoreline in the City of Chesapeake. Field data were collected between June and July 2002. Conditions are reported for three zones within the immediate riparian river area: riparian land use, bank and buffers, and the shoreline. A series of maps and tabular data are published to illustrate and quantify results of an extensive shoreline survey. Shorelines of the western, southern and eastern branches of the Elizabeth River including small tributaries were surveyed for this inventory. Small sections were coded using remote sensing techniques because the shoreline …

Gloucester County, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Sharon Killeen, Carl Hershner, Karinna Nunez, Karen Reay, Tamia Rudnicky, Daniel Schatt, Dave Weiss

Reports

This shoreline inventory is developed as a tool for assessing conditions along the tidal shoreline in the Gloucester County. Field data were collected between August and November 1998. Conditions are reported for three zones within the immediate riparian river area: riparian land use, bank and buffers, and the shoreline. A series of maps and tabular data are published to illustrate and quantify results of an extensive shoreline survey. Shorelines of the Poropotank, York, Severn, Ware, North and Piankatank rivers as well as creeks and small tributaries were surveyed for this inventory. Sections were coded using remote sensing techniques because the …

2008 City Of Portsmouth, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Sharon Killeen, Carl Hershner, Karinna Nunez, Karen Reay, Tamia Rudnicky, Daniel E. Schatt, David Weiss

Reports

No abstract provided.

Occohannock Creek Shoreline Erosion Assessment And Living Shoreline Options Report, C. Scott Hardaway Jr., Donna A. Milligan, Kevin O'Brien, Christine Wilcox, Shoreline Studies Program, Marcia Berman, Sharon Killeen, Tami Rudnicky, Center For Coastal Resources Management

Reports

This study provides information to Occohannock Creek property owners to help them assess their shoreline stability and their options if erosion is a problem. In the past, shoreline erosion control options were typically limited to rip-rap, groins, or bulkheads. These hard structures often destroyed marsh and other habitat and may not have provided the protection desired. Other methods of erosion control now exist that have been used in a variety of conditions and evaluated for their durability and performance. The alternative techniques incorporate vegetation and are referred to as Living Shoreline designs. Conditions on Occohannock Creek make it a very …

The Living Shoreline Suitability Model Worcester County, Maryland, Marcia Berman, Tamia Rudnicky

Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, To The Potomac River (Spring 2008), Mary C. Fabrizio, Troy D. Tuckey

Reports

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the American eel in November 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions agreed to implement an annual survey for young of the year (YOY) American eels. The survey is intended to “…characterize trends in annual recruitment of the YOY eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” (ASMFC, 2000). The development of these surveys began in 2000 …

Erosion Vulnerability Assessment (Eva) And Planning Tool, Marcia Berman, Julie Herman, Karinna Nunez, Daniel Schatt

Reports

No abstract provided.

Estimating Relative Abundance Of Young Of Year American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Virginia Tributaries Of Chesapeake Bay (Spring 2007), Troy D. Tuckey

Reports

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the American eel in November 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery dependent and fishery independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions (including Virginia) agreed to implement an annual survey for YOY American eels. The survey is intended to “…characterize trends in annual recruitment of the YOY eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” (ASMFC, 2000). The development of these surveys began in 2000 …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Impervious Surfaces Within Watersheds And Coastal Water Quality On Virginia’S Eastern Shore, Mark Luckenbach, Paige G. Ross, Alan Birch, Albert Curry Jr.

Reports

The overall objective of this research is to determine the relationship between the percent of a watershed covered by impervious surfaces and water quality in tidal creeks on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in an effort to provide local governments and citizens guidance in developing zoning plans. Our specific objectives were to:

(1) Determine the relationships between percent impervious surface in a watershed and concentrations of suspended sediments, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll a and fecal coliform bacteria in tidal creek headwaters;

(2) Examine these relationships with and without the inclusion of tomato cultivation to determine whether it should be included in …

Monitoring Relative Abundance Of American Shad In Virginia Rivers 2007 Annual Report, John E. Olney, Brian Watkins

Reports

Concern about the decline in landings of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) along the Atlantic coast prompted the development of an interstate fisheries management plan (FMP) under the auspices of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Management Program (ASMFC 1999). Legislation enables imposition of federal sanctions on fishing in those states that fail to comply with the FMP. To be in compliance, coastal states are required to implement and maintain fishery-dependent and fishery-independent monitoring programs as specified by the FMP. For Virginia, these requirements include spawning stock assessments, the collection of biological data on the spawning run (e.g., age-structure, sex ratio, and …

Delaware Shoreline Inventory: Appoquinimink River, Blackbird Creek, St. Jones River, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Carl Hershner, Sharon Killeen, Tamia Rudnicky, Karen Reay, David Weiss

Reports

This shoreline inventory is developed as a tool for assessing conditions along primary shoreline in three watersheds that discharge into Delaware Bay. Field data were collected between September 11-13, 2007. Conditions are reported for three zones within the immediate riparian river area: riparian land use, bank and buffers, and the shoreline. A series of maps, tabular data, and GIS files are posted to a website and available electronically to serve as a resource to all managers and planners within the three watersheds. The survey provides a baseline to which future conditions can be compared and tracked through time.

Access report …

New Point Comfort Lighthouse Mathews, Virginia Site Assessment Plan, C. Scott Hardaway Jr., Donna A. Milligan, Kevin P. O'Brien, Christine A. Wilcox

Reports

New Point Comfort is located at the southern tip of Mathews County (Figure 1) between Chesapeake and Mobjack Bays. The New Point Comfort Lighthouse itself is on an island (Figure 2) that was once attached to the mainland but is now almost 0.6 miles from the mainland and only 0.33 acres in area above mean low water. Previous studies have highlighted the problems which contribute to the instability of the island. McKay (2003) listed these factors which may allow continued erosion and potential damage up to and including the base of the lighthouse itself: rise in sea level, low base …

New Kent County, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Sharon Killeen, Karinna Nunez, Tamia Rudnicky, Daniel E. Schatt, David Weiss, Karen Reay

Reports

The data inventory developed for the Shoreline Inventory is based on a three‑tiered shoreline assessment approach. In most cases this assessment characterizes conditions that can be observed from a small boat navigating along the shoreline. The three tiered shoreline assessment approach divides the shorezone into three regions: 1) the immediate riparian zone, evaluated for land use; 2) the bank, evaluated for height, stability, cover and natural protection; and 3) the shoreline, describing the presence of shoreline structures for shore protection and recreational purposes. Hand-held GPS units are used to log features observed in the field.

Three GIS coverages are developed …

International Trade In Seafood And Related Products: An Assessment Of U.S. Trade Patterns, James E. Kirkley, John M. Ward, Christopher M. Moore, Christopher Hayes, Brian Hooker, John Walden

Reports

No abstract provided.

An Integrated Approach To Understand Relationships Between Shallow Water Benthic Community Structure And Ecosystem Function Serdp Project Si-1335, Linda C. Schaffner, Iris C. Anderson, Jennifer W. Stanhope, David J. Gillett, William J. Metcalfe, Alice M.Z. Brylawski

Reports

Human activities along our nation's coasts often lead to habitat modification, pollution, and overexploitation of living resources in coastal and estuarine waters (U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy 2004). Coastal areas are the most developed regions of the United States. In addition to recreational and leisure activities, these areas support commercial fishing, aquaculture, shipping, and defense activities. Numerous human activities can have detrimental effects on biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services that support and sustain human populations. Given their proximity to the land and human population centers, nearshore estuarine ecosystems are especially vulnerable. Effective management can be improved with a …

Center For Coastal Resources Management Annual Report 2007, Center For Coastal Resources Management

Reports

No abstract provided.

King George, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report Methods And Guidelines, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, Sharon Killeen, Carl Hershner, Karinna Nunez, Karen Reay, Tamia Rudnicky, Daniel E. Schatt, David Weiss

Reports

No abstract provided.

Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program Annual Report 2007, John A. Lucy, Lewis Gillingham

Reports

Initiated in 1995, the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program (VGFTP) database is comprised of tagged fish records, and corresponding recaptured fish records. These records are primarily generated through contributed efforts of a dedicated corps of trained marine anglers targeting only a select number of target species. The recaptured fish records are the result of observant individuals noticing the tags in live or freshly-boxed/shipped fish. Recapture reports originate from a mix of sources, including marine anglers, commercial fishers, workers in fish packinghouses, wholesale and retail sellers of fish, and NOAA Fisheries observers on coastal trawl boats.

Assessing Stakeholder Preferences For Chesapeake Bay Restoration Options : A Stated Preference Discrete Choice-Based Assessment, Rob Hicks, James Kirkley, Kenneth Mcconnell, Winifred Ryan, Tara Scott, Ivar Strand

Reports

Chesapeake 2000 or C2K is a multi-jurisdictional agreement between the states of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, representing the federal government, to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem. This agreement commits the participants to achieve five major restoration goals, 22 sub-objectives or categories, and 102 specific commitments or restoration activities. The five major goals are the following: (1) restore and protect natural living resources; (2) restore and protect vital habitat; (3) restore and protect water quality; (4) promote sound land use; and (5) promote stewardship and …

Using Seeds To Propagate And Restore Vallisneria Americana Michaux (Wild Celery) In The Chesapeake Bay, Kenneth A. Moore, Jesse C. Jarvis

Reports

Loss of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) has been significant in many coastal and estuarine systems such as the Chesapeake Bay where SAV die-offs have been observed in marine, brackish, and freshwater SAV communities (Orth and Moore 1983). Large-scale replanting using whole plants can be cost-prohibitive, and the use of plants taken from wild populations for propagule supply may not be possible or desirable. The use of SAV seeds for restoration has been increasingly demonstrated to be an effective method for replanting large areas of bottom, especially for marine species such as eelgrass, Zostera marina (Pickerell et al. 2005; Orth et …

Development Of A Nontidal Wetland Inventory And Monitoring Strategy For Virginia – Completion Of Phase Ii (Coastal Plain And Piedmont Physiographic Provinces), Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Sills: St. Mary’S City, St. Mary’S River, Maryland, C. Scott Hardaway Jr., W. G. Reay, Jian Shen, Scott Lerberg, Donna A. Milligan, Christine A. Wilcox, Kevin P. O'Brien

Reports

Living shorelines represent a shoreline management option that combines various erosion control methodologies and/or structures while at the same time restoring or preserving natural shoreline vegetation communities. A common living shoreline design in Chesapeake Bay includes a low offshore rock sill to absorb wave energy with an emergent wetland landward of the sill to enhance erosion control, provide critical habitat, and improve water quality condition. This study is part of a larger, ongoing project to (1) evaluate erosion control effectiveness and the sustainability of offshore sill and fringing marsh design and structure, (2) evaluate ecological services (e.g., habitat value, water …

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia : Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2004-2008 - Annual Report 1 September 2006 - 31 August 2007, Philip W. Sadler, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris, Rebecca J. Wilk, Lydia M. Goins

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2006 through 31 August 2007. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2007 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality based on annual spring tagging, and the preliminary results of the fall 2006 study that documents the prevalence of mycobacterial infections of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated …

Tidal Flushing Characteristics In Virginia’S Tidal Embayments, Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, Julie Herman, Jian Shen, Jie Huang

Reports

This project evaluated water bodies in the Virginia coastal zone using several water quality models to calculate residence times. Results were grouped into tidal flushing categories (quickly, intermediately, and slowly flushed) that reflect a relative time frame in which a water body is flushed.

Coastal Maritime Forests In Virginia – Delineation And Distribution, Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist

Reports

This project had two major goals. The first builds on an earlier effort by the Virginia Department of Forestry, who delineated maritime forests using remote sensing techniques. Their project integrated land use and soils data to generate a map that defines potential boundaries of maritime forest. This study follows an identical approach with two major exceptions. The first is the soils data used in this study is mapped at a much finer scale. The second is this study has a field validation component that reviewed random sites around selected locations to ground-truth the remote sensing output. The Virginia Department of …

The Coastal Primary Sand Dune And Beach Act, Lyle M. Varnell, C. Scott Hardaway Jr.

Reports

This document presents the supporting information and justification for the following recommendations: • Adding Middlesex County and Westmoreland County to the list of localities authorized to adopt the model ordinance of the Coastal Primary Sand Dune and Beach Act (Title 28.2, Chapter 14 of the Virginia Code) would result in the inclusion of significant dune resources into Virginia’s tidal shoreline management program. • Adding the localities of Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, Middlesex, New Kent, Newport News, Prince George, Richmond (county), Stafford, Surry, Westmoreland, and York to the list of localities …