Coastal Maritime Forests in Virginia – Delineation and Distribution

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 Forestry provided staff support from various regional offices to perform all field work. Ancillary data such as soils and aerial imagery were also used where wetland and dune habitat could be distinguished. The second major goal of this project was to compute, on a county-by-county basis, the amount of maritime forest cover present in each coastal locality, and the extent of maritime forests located within conservation lands. Boundaries for conserved lands data from VA DCR were used. The results of the study are documented here. A website hosted by the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) includes report, maps, and GIS data (http://ccrm.vims.edu/maritimeforest/maritimeforest.html

York County Shoreline Situation Report 1999

This report represents the first attempt to update the earlier Shoreline Situation Reports. It \u27s purpose is to present recent shoreline conditions, and evaluate, where possible, the change in shore condition since previous reports. New information is presented for areas not previously surveyed. Additional attributes have also been added in phase two. Some information, however, was not computed as part of this second reporting phase, and reference to earlier conditions may be presented. For example, revised shoreline erosion and accretion rates were not computed, but knowledge of previous rates may be of interest in some areas. These are included in this report

James City County Shoreline Situation Report 1999

This report represents the first attempt to update the earlier Shoreline Situation Reports. It\u27s purpose is to present recent shoreline conditions. and evaluate, where possible, the change in shore condition since previous reports. New information is presented for areas not previously surveyed. Additional attributes have also been added in phase two. Some information, however, was not computed as part of this second reporting phase, and reference to earlier conditions may be presented. For example, revised shoreline erosion and accretion rates were not computed, but knowledge of previous rates may be of interest in some areas. These are included in this report

Piankatank River Shoreline Situation Report

This shoreline inventory has been developed as a tool for assessing conditions along the tidal shoreline of the river, and tributaries in the Piankatank River Watershed. Recent 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 survey in the watershed. This survey extends from the mouth of the Dragon Run to the mouth of the Piankatank River, at the confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. Coverage extends slightly south and east, including regions surrounding Gwynn Island in Mathews County (Figure I)

Investigation and long-term monitoring of Phragmites australis within Virginia\u27s constructed wetland sites : final report

The use of constructed wetlands to replace natural wetlands is becoming pandemic. An investigation using Global Positioning System technology to map the vegetated communities of fifteen of the largest constructed wetlands in Virginia reveals that 80% are colonized by the invasive species, Phragmites australis Trin., and/or aggressive species, Typha spp. Tidally influenced wetlands that have subtidal perimeter ditches have significantly less (p\u3c0.05) P. australis in the wetland interior than those without perimeter ditches. Fractured regression analyses show that 6-years after constructionP. australis invasion can be extensive. Linear regression analysis suggests that, if conditions remain favorable for P. australis colonization, constructed wetlands could be overrun in 40 years

Gloucester County Shoreline And Tidal Marsh Inventory

This inventory is intended to serve as a useful planning tool for managers, planners, regulators, and environmentalists with an interest in Gloucester County. This report documents conditions measured in the County of Gloucester using remote sensing techniques. Two separate activities have occurred in tandem to develop this inventory of tidal marsh, and shoreline features. First, a delineation of tidal marshes within the county used high end image processing software along with color infra-red imagery to delineate the boundaries oftidal marshes\u27within 33 georeferenced scenes. The process calculates the amount of tidal marsh measured within each river segment in acres. Second, the report illustrates results from an aerial survey to delineate the types of shoreline structures, and general conditions observed along the shore. Documentation describing the waterway segments has been edited from the earlier Tidal Marsh Inventory Report for Gloucester County. Frequent reference to the Marsh Types, as defined by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and the Wetlands Advisory Program at VIMS, is noteworthy. Appendix 1 defmes these types. The report organizes the county into nine (9) river segments or waterways: the Poropotank River to Purtan Island, Purtan Bay to Sandy Creek, Jones Creek to Carmine Islands, Gloucester Point, Guinea, the Severn River, the Ware River, the North River, and the Piankatank River. Both shoreline features and tidal marshes are illustrated separately as a series of plates which divide the waterway into smaller segments. A composite image of the waterway segment is presented fust, followed by the larger scale plates at 1:24,000. A brief description of each segment precedes the plates, and presents information related to the composition of the marshes, and the general state of the shoreline. Appendix 2 defines some important terms found in these sections

The effects of sea level rise on tidal wetlands in the Lynnhaven River Watershed

This study classified tidal wetlands for the Lynnhaven Watershed using remote sensing techniques and high resolution imagery from 2007. This updated delineation of wetlands, was used in conjunction with a simplistic geospatial elevation model to quantify the potential loss of wetlands under various sea level rise scenarios.The study revealed that using conservative estimates of sea level rise, nearly all wetlands would be lost by the year 2100. Projecting sea level rise into the future can be considered speculative, nevertheless such predictions are necessary to begin managing for and planning for climate change impacts. Evidence from this study suggests that upland infrastructure along portions of the watershed will also be at risk to sea level rise. This study documents where and how much potential loss of both wetlands and upland land area could be experienced given current a nd projected rates of sea level rise

Delaware Shoreline Inventory: Appoquinimink River, Blackbird Creek, St. Jones River

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 via Download tab

Summary Tables: Prince William County, Virginia Shoreline Inventory Report

The Shoreline Inventory Summary Tables quantify observed conditions based on river systems, such as the combined length of linear features (e.g. shoreline miles surveyed, miles of bulkhead and revetment), the total number of point features (e.g. docks, boathouses, boat ramps) & total acres of polygon features (tidal marshes)