The Contractor’s Toolbox: Living Shorelines

Introduction

The Virginia General Assembly has directed that living shorelines are now the preferred method for treating shoreline erosion. It is more important than ever that contractors, property owners and regulators all communicate in a “common language” and stay up-to-date on the shoreline management alternatives that sustain our seafood industry and coastal lifestyle. The “Contractor’s Toolbox” is an on-going initiative of Lancaster County, Friends of the Rappahannock and The Wetlands Project. The goals of this initiative are to:

• Inform the general population about the economic and environmental value of wetlands.
• Introduce new shoreline management concepts and treatment alternatives.
• Provide current information on changes to Virginia regulations related to wetlands and coastal areas.

How to Use the “Contractor’s Toolbox”

A selection of available resources from a variety of organizations is included in the six sections of the Contractor’s Toolbox:

1. Shoreline Evaluation and Decision Tree
2. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Permitting Information
3. Living Shorelines
4. Shoreline Plant Selection
5. County Wetlands Information
6. Additional Resources

The manual is designed for use when preparing for and during on-site shoreline evaluations. Some of the documents are especially suitable for shoreline management and project proposal discussion with property owners. Essential mapping tools and downloadable sources for most of the toolbox documents are listed in the “Contractor’s Toolbox of On-line Resources” in section 6. Additional county-specific permitting information will be added to Section 2 as it becomes available.

Suggestions for additions and modifications to the Contractor’s Toolbox content are encouraged and welcome. Please email the source information and attach a PDF or an on-line link to a document or resource. The information will be distributed to the contact list of marine contractors and interested stakeholders. Point of contact will be Kate Daniel: [email protected].

Section 1:  Shoreline Evaluation and Decision Tree

• VIMS Currently Defended Shorelines Definitions
• VIMS Decision Tree
• VIMS Decision Tree Definitions
• VIMS Coastal Terms Glossary
• VIMS Decision Tree Manual
• Shoreline Evaluation Program (SEP) Sample Report
• Shoreline Erosion Advisory Service Sample Report
• SAGE “Natural and Structural Measures for Shoreline Stabilization” Brochure     (print and on-line versions available)

Section 2:  Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act and Permits

• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
• Resource Management Jurisdictions on the Shoreline
• Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Permitting Program
• DCR Resources Protection Area on Site Buffer Area Delineation
• Lancaster County Virginia Wetlands Project Application JPA Review Sheet
• Lancaster County Virginia Wetlands Permit Application Policy Memorandum
• Middlesex County Tidal Wetlands Handbook
• Living Shoreline Group 1 General Permit

Section 3: Living Shorelines (new section added 4/19/2017)

• Living Shoreline Site, Evaluation Scoring Sheet
• Northern Neck Master Gardener Shoreline Evaluation Program Brochure
• Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) Specifications
• Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) Contract – Form 1
• Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) Job Sheet – Form 2

Section 4:  Plant Selection Guides – click on guide or organization website for additional information

• “Field Guide to Virginia Salt and Brackish Marsh Plants” — VIMS website
• “Plant List for Shoreline Management” — Shoreline Evaluation Program (SEP)
• “Salt Tolerant Northern Neck Native Plants” brochure — Native Plant Society (Northern Neck Chapter)
• “Native Plants for Northern Neck Bay Friendly Properties” brochure – Native Plant Society (Northern Neck Chapter)
• “Living Shoreline Plant Species by Tolerance” — Environmental Concern

Section 5: County Wetlands Information (Mapping courtesy of Northern Neck Planning District Commission):

• Wetlands Mapping Definitions
• Northern Neck National Wetlands Inventory
• Northern Neck Virginia Ecological Valuation Assessment (VEVA)
• Lancaster County National Wetlands Inventory
• Northumberland County National Wetlands Inventory
• Richmond County National Wetlands Inventory
• Westmoreland County National Wetlands Inventory
• Essex County National Wetlands Inventory
• Essex County Virginia Ecological Valuation Assessment (VEVA)
• Mathews County National Wetlands Inventory
• Mathews County Virginia Ecological Valuation Assessment (VEVA)
• Middlesex County National Wetlands Inventory
• Middlesex County Virginia Ecological Valuation Assessment (VEVA)

NOAA County Coastal County Snapshots for “Flood Exposure”, “Ocean Jobs” and “Wetland Benefits”: Click on NOAA website, select state and county, select “snapshot”. Information is available for most US coastal counties.

Section 6:  Resources

• Simple Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Contractor’s Toolbox List of On-Line Resources (revised 4/19/2017)
• List of Environmental Mapping Websites – Northern Neck Planning District Commission
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
• “Living Shoreline” Brochure – Chesapeake Bay Foundation 
• “Got Buffer?” Brochure – Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation