Leesylvania State Park Living Shorelines Restoration Update

 Leesylvania State Park Living Shorelines Project was a collaborative regional effort.  The Prince William County Public Works Department's Environmental Services worked with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (who designed the project) and the Virginia Association of Parks on the $300,000 project to construct the living shoreline. The project was funded with grants from Dominion Energy and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The design by VIMS was completed and permitted in 2013and the construction was completed in the Summer of 2016.

In June 2016 on behalf of the project NVRC accepted an award from then Governor Terry McAulie designating the project as a Virginia Treasure. The project incorporated “Living Shoreline” practices: sills, marsh restoration, and beach enhancement to balance habitat restoration with shoreline protection and recreational access to the Potomac River. Living shorelines provide an effective and natural looking alternative for protecting shorelines in low wave energy areas, such as the Potomac River and its tidal tributaries.

VIMS is one of the leaders in designing and implementing living shorelines on public and private lands throughout the region. Living Shorelines area more natural approach to shore stabilization that uses marshes, beaches, and dunes to protect the shoreline along Virginia's creeks, rivers, and bays. This approach to shoreline management creats critical habitat for marine plants and animals, improvs water quality, and reduces sedimentation. After four years in place, the project has proved successful at mending  and protecting 800 feet of eroded shoreline in Leesylvania  State Park the Prince William County Press Release reports: 

"Adding sand to renourish the shoreline and planting high marsh switchgrass and the low marsh river bulrush in the sandy beach to create a tidal wetland, as well as installing rock barriers, called sills (that deflect and break up the wave energy of the river), off the shoreline have kept erosion at bay," said Prince William County Department of Public Works Environmental Services Environmental Engineer Tom Dombrowski. "The protected shore is no longer eroding. The beach is actually growing, and the wetlands are healthy."

Additionally, Mr. Dombrowski said, "A living shoreline provides habitat, breeding and spawning areas for aquatic and terrestrial species." The image below is from Google Earth with comments from VMIS in their review of the project. 

Before and after pictures of the restoration from Northern Virginia Regional Commission's report. 

Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District and Prince William County can provide information and assistance if you want to implement Living Shoreline Practices on your property.