A survey for oysters and shell in the vicinity of the proposed construction site for a city of Norfolk water line across the Lafayette River near the Hampton Boulevard bridge

Abstract

At the request of the Department of Utilities of the City of Norfolk, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducted a survey of the oyster ground in the Lafayette River in the immediate vicinity of the proposed construction site for a 20 11 water line across the river just below the Hampton Blvd. bridge and in front of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club (Figure 1). The section of river bottom surveyed was delineated by the Department of Utilities engineers on their site plans. It consisted of a strip across an oyster ground leased by Holland Fisheries. Inc. (Virginia Marine Resources Commission Plat File No. 1403), with boundaries parallel to the proposed water line, approximately 680 ft long on the SE side and 550 ft long on the NV side (Figure 2). The strip was approximately 35 ft wide on the NW side of the proposed water line and 82 ft wide on the SE side. The total area surveyed was estimated to be 1.8 acres. Overall area of the oyster ground lease is 33.80 acres