Governor Celebrates Oyster Success“Historic, Historic Milestone” - Thanks to YOU!

ysters may have declined to 1 percent of their original

numbers bay-wide. But on the Lafayette branch of the Elizabeth, you’re making possible a dramatically different story.Gov. Terry McAuliffe visited the Hermitage on the shores of the Lafayette Sept. 25 for a ceremonial oyster toss to herald a “historic, historic milestone for the Chesapeake Bay.” With the announcement of federal grants to take us the last mile, Elizabeth River Project with partner Chesapeake Bay Foundation will build and stock the final five acres of oyster reefs to make the Lafayette 100 percent fully restored for the native oyster. Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director, Elizabeth River Project, underscored the significance by describing for the crowd her recent encounter with a cluster of wild oysters while paddleboarding

past one of our 12 recently restored reefs in the Lafayette.

Every few seconds, the living oysters spit tiny jets of water in the air as they, famously, filtered the water, “and there was

this constant soft clicking,” she said. “To me, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. It was the sound of our urban river returning to life.”Thanks for Lafayette Focus

s a member of the Elizabeth River Project, you’ve made possible our intensive focus since 2009 on

improving the health of the Lafayette. Your support also provides key matching dollars that helped us win the new National Fish and Wildlife Foundation oyster grants.

Fall 2017 ElizabethRiver.org

Elizabeth River ProjectMaking restoration a reality

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Making Restoration a Reality

By next summer, the Lafayette will boast 80 acres of oyster reef, the first Virginia river to meet the oyster goal set for it by bay scientists. Take a bow. You did it!

“It was the most beautiful sound in the world… ”

- Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director

More River Branches Need Your HelpYour Support will Help Us Reach the Next Milestone.

he Lafayette shows we can do it. But your help is urgent because our job together is far from done.

Oyster restoration and bacteria reduction are just two milestones for the Lafayette, and the Lafayette is just one of five main branches of the Elizabeth, an urban river left for dead not so long ago.

T With your continued generous support, we’ll keep the momentum going to tackle excess nutrients, toxics in the sediments, educating future generations and the other big challenges outlined in our action plans. Read more at elizabethriver.org and consider a special gift today.

Lafayette River

Eastern Branch

Southern Branch

Western Branch

Main Stem

Lafayette on target for 100 percent

restored oyster

populations

Gov. Terry McAuliffe tosses oysters to help Elizabeth River Project start the final five acres of oyster reefs needed for the Lafayette to make first Virginia river fully restored for oysters.

The newsletter exclusively for supporters of the Elizabeth River Project

Elizabeth River’s Five Branches

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Board of Directors

Directors David Bernd, CEO Emeritus, Sentara Healthcare, Sentara Independence Bruce Bradley, Retired, Landmark Communications, Former President and Publisher, The Virginian-Pilot J. Robert Bray, CEO Emeritus, Virginia Port Authority Melissa Page Deutsch, Certified Personal Development Coach, Owner, Inner Voice LLC Paul G. English, Professor of Business Management, TCC Matt Fine, Owner, The Safe Place Ann Fitzgibbon, Community Leader Bob Hume, Retired Chief Regulatory Branch, US Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District The Hon. Mamie Johnson, Norfolk City Council John Keifer, Retired Director of Norfolk Public Works Ray E. Moses, RADM NOAA (Ret.) Christopher R. Neikirk, AVP Executive, Norfolk Southern Corporation Judy Perry, Partner, Re:Design LLC Joshua P. Priest, Planner, Base Development Group of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command The Hon. Debbie Ritter, Chesapeake City Council Amelia Ross-Hammond, former Virginia Beach City Council The Hon. John Rowe, Mayor of Portsmouth Dr. Joe Rule, Retired Assoc. Dean, College of Sciences, Old Dominion University Louis F. Ryan, Retired General Counsel, Landmark Karen Jones Squires, Community Leader Joseph J. Thomas, COL. USACE (Ret.), Former District Engineer Michael Unger, Research Associate Professor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Lauren Wolcott, Shareholder, Lauren V. Wolcott, CPA, P.C.

Officers President - Phil Stedfast, Operations Manager, Kinder Morgan Elizabeth River Terminals Vice-President - Frank Daniel, Retired Regional Director, VA Dept of Environmental Quality Treasurer - Michael Nickelsburg, CAPT. USN (Ret.), Former Biology Department Head, Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus Secretary - Joshua Harris, Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, Merrill Lynch

Mudflats is the newsletter of the Elizabeth River Project, a membership-based non-profit working to restore the Elizabeth River through government, business and citizen partnerships. “Mudflats” refers to that slippery, biologically active zone where land and water meet, symbolizing our search for common ground among diverse interests.

What’s the sound of the river reviving?

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Staff Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director

Pamela Boatwright, Deputy Director Administration,

River Star Businesses Program Manager

Joe Rieger, Deputy Director Restoration

Robin Dunbar, Deputy Director Education

Susan Smith, Development & Communications Director

Dave Koubsky, Environmental Projects Manager

Katherine Reader, Accounts Manager

Barbara Gavin, River Star Homes Program Manager

Sarah Sumoski, Urban Park Ranger, Paradise Creek Nature Park

Rebecca Myers, Membership Coordinator-Office Manager

Casey Shaw, Grassroots Coordinator

Sarah Brennan, Bargekeeper

Grace Saunders, Eastern Branch Lead Scientist

Mike Fowler, Landscape Specialist

www.elizabethriver.org

475 Water Street, Suite C103APortsmouth, VA 23704[P] 757-399-RIVR (7487)[F] 757-397-8377

y birthday fell three days before the governor was expected for a big announcement about our oyster progress on the Lafayette. It was a beautiful day, the first of fall, and in the gold of late

afternoon I went paddleboarding on that branch of the Elizabeth.Near the Virginia Zoo we have built one of our largest oyster reefs. The zoo shore there is wild and natural, except for a few tumbles of concrete rubble. I slowed to see if the introduced oysters were migrating from our reefs to these random surfaces. Sure enough, wild oysters were clustered there with mussels, recreating the diverse reefs of old. I described briefly for the governor and dignitaries my joy in watching (and hearing) this living reef, after working more than 20 years to bring our Elizabeth River back to life (see p. 1). I didn’t mention then, but I’d like to now, that this was a birthday sighting. Thank you, Elizabeth River Project members, for the best birthday show ever. And thank you in advance for the support to keep going.

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson

From the Executive Director

Wild Oysters – Music to My Ears

Mission – To restore the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through community, business and government partnerships.

Dave Koubsky (L) and Joe Rieger of Elizabeth River Project show their newest design for oyster reefs in the Lafayette, after building 12 reefs to bring the Lafayette closer to fully restored for osyters than any Virignia river. Photo courtesy Chesapeake Bay Program. See the video at - https://goo.gl/p21AsX

Meet Your Oyster Reef PioneersThank You for This Problem-Solving Team

hanks to your support, members, Elizabeth River Project has a can-do team that doesn’t take no for an answer. Joe

Rieger, our Deputy Director- Restoration, and Dave Koubsky, our Environmental Scientist, have overcome a lack of suitable sites, a lack

At the hermatage with the governor on September 25.

of affordable shell and much more to bring the Lafayette closer than any other Virginia river to meeting goal for oyster restoration.“Our work leaves a lasting legacy for future generations,” says Rieger, a biologist on staff for 15 years. - See Pioneers, back page

W

RIVERFest is all about interactive activities to introduce children to the Elizabeth River! Photos this page courtesy: Joel Botts

hen area scientists set the most recent scorecard for the Elizabeth River, the Eastern Branch got the worst grades,

earning the dubious nickname, “the lost branch.” Not enough people know about this part of the river to take care of it, worried the team developing our Eastern Branch restoration strategy.Enter RIVERFest 2017. Elizabeth River Project took our annual festival on the road Sept. 17 to the headwaters of the Eastern Branch, Virginia Beach’s lovely Carolanne Farms Neighborhood Park. More than 1,300 attended, with 121 signing up for River Star Homes, our free residential stewardship program made possible by you, generous donors. Thank you!

Very special thanks also to the City of Virginia Beach. Just in time for the festival, the city approved funding to help Elizabeth River Project pay up to 50 % of the costs when Beach residents in the Elizabeth River area or “watershed” work with us to install rain gardens, rain barrels and other yard improvements that reduce pollution. Norfolk and Chesapeake already help fund these improvements for River Star Homes working with us in their cities.

River Star Homes signed up 121 new recruits, the majority from Virginia Beach where we have new funding to help with yard projects that help the river.

VA Beach Rediscovers Elizabeth RiverYour Gift Brings RiverFest, River Roles to New Audience

Find your starring role:

RiverStarHomes.org 392-7135

Above, Robin Dunbar, Deputy Director- Education, gives the thumbs up for the new “green” building under construction at Paradise Creek Nature Park. Left, IC Norcum High School students test river water at the park.

W hen more than a thousand pre-k to high school students visit our Paradise Creek Nature Park this fall, they’ll find woods

and wetlands in abundance for their field investigations. What they won’t find – quite yet – is anything more than a portable toilet when nature, in turn, calls on them.So we’re imagining their gratitude to you, generous supporter, as the Fred W. Beazley River Academy nears construction completion. Made possible by many dozens of our donors, the “academy” will feature an indoor classroom for 30 (allowing for year-round instruction in all kinds of weather), work stations for our education staff, a large rain cistern, solar power – and two “dual flush” or water-conserving restrooms.

The walls are up, the roof is on – the River Academy is on target for opening by early spring! Follow the progress at ParadiseCreekNaturePark.org.

Almost Ready: Your River Academy for all Ages Students, Especially, Will Thank You for “Green” Classroom, Paradise Creek Nature Park

Volunteer Now - Nature Park Needs YOUParadise Creek Nature Park offers frequent volunteer programs for all ages. Volunteers can participate in a variety of park improvement projects including invasive plant removals, trash pickups, native plantings, and more! Participate in our service volunteer event to help beautify the park on Saturday December 9th from 9-11 AM or help us with invasive plant removal during one of our Forestry Stewardship Corps volunteer events on: January 27th (10am-12pm), February 3rd (10 am-12 pm), March 2nd (2-4 pm), March 9th (2-4 pm), or March 24th (9-11 am). Visit ParadiseCreekNaturePark.org to find your perfect opportunity in Paradise or contact our Urban Park Ranger Sarah Sumoski at ssumoski@elizabethriver.org for more information.

Pioneers, cont’d from p. 2 - He says the Lafayette reefs, on sites selected with a team of local citizens and constructed with an affordable mix of concrete, oyster and whelk shells, show up to eight times the success goal set by bay scientists, with up to 400 oysters found per square meter during surveys. After building 12 oyster reefs in the Lafayette, with five more acres in the works this year, Dave – a geologist on staff for 11 years - says “our

big discovery” involved designing more complex reef structures to leave gaps for fish access and oyster growth, while costing less. “As fast as you can restore, wildlife will return and flourish,” said Koubsky. “Member support makes it happen.”

Keep the momentum going. Return the enclosed card with your special gift today.

Deepest Thanks to Our Donor Societies

Special Thanks to Our Extraordinary Supporters

“The Elizabeth River is the highlight of my daily walks.

Thanks to the Elizabeth River Project, the River is returning to its natural unpolluted state so future generations can enjoy it as well,” said Linda Cameron, a 40-year Norfolk

resident. The retired CPA and avid walker demonstrates her strong belief in a personal responsibility for the good health

of our river by supporting the Elizabeth River Project.

$100,000 and Above - OrganizationsBatten Educational Achievement Fund of the Hampton Roads CommunityFoundation Beazley Foundation, Inc.City of ChesapeakeCity of NorfolkCity of Portsmouth Hampton Roads Community FoundationNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship FundNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration – Environmental Literacy Grant TowneBank Foundation

$50,000 to $99,999 - OrganizationsDollar Tree FoundationDominion FoundationHRSDLandmark FoundationNational Endowment for the ArtsNorfolk Southern Foundation

$25,000 to $49,999 - OrganizationsPort of Virginia – Aid to Local PortsShearwater Foundation, Inc.

$10,000 to $24,999 - OrganizationsBAE Systems Norfolk Ship RepairRebecca L. Huber Family Charitable Fund of the Hampton Roads Community FoundationLuck Companies FoundationPNC FoundationPRA GroupVirginia Department of Game and Inland FisheriesThe Windward Foundation

$100,000 and Above - IndividualsJames and Karen Jones Squires

$50,000 to $99,999 - IndividualsMr. and Mrs. Macon Brock Jr.

$25,000 to $49,999 - IndividualsFrank and Aimee Batten Jr. Bruce and Lilly Bradley David and Susan Goode

$10,000 to $24,999 - IndividualsJane BattenDavid and Helen BerndHenry and Angelica LightMr. and Mrs. Chris Neikirk Louis and Prudence Ryan $5,000 to $9,999 - Individuals J. Robert Bray James L. Camp IV Mr. and Mrs. Joe CovingtonDr. and Mrs. Brian and Melissa Deutsch Robert and Marjorie Mayfield JacksonOriana McKinnon Mr. and Mrs. Peter MeredithMr. and Mrs. Charles and Bonnie Moorman

$1,000–$2,499 - IndividualsShirley BaldwinRADM Charles J. and Susan Beers Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bernert III Bruce & Sarah Bishop Robert BoydBlake Bailey and Mary Brinkmeyer Mr. and Mrs. Norman ColpittsMr. and Mrs. Stephen Cyrus Mr. and Mrs. Frank DanielGatewood Dashiell John Ellis Jr. Paul and Linda English Reid and Harriet Ervin Matthew and Karen Fine Cyrus W. Grandy W.T. Gray and Donna Phaneuf Pam Boatwright and Don Gulliver Eleanor and Sandy Harris Gayle Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Host IIIMr. and Mrs. Peter Huber Bob and Susan HumeMr. and Mrs. Ron Hurley Capt. & Mrs. Lawrence I’Anson Mr. and Mrs. James Izard II The Hon. Mamie Johnson Thomas Johnson Jr. Mike Kirsch VADM and Mrs. Alexander Krekich Mr. and Mrs. David Lawson Mr. Edgar Lester John and Ruth Martin Robert May Ruth McElroyMr. and Mrs. Richard Meredith RADM and Mrs. Ray MosesJohn D. Munford Dr. Donald Nuss MD Mr. and Mrs. Josh PriestMr. and Mrs. Walter Priest III Katherine Reader Kathleen and Anne Redfern Lynn Cobb and Warren Richard F. Scott and Michele Ripley Richard D. and Shirley Hanson RobertsBria and Cameron Robinett Ron Hartshorn and Nancy Ronald Jack and Gina Ruffin Toy Savage Jr. Bob Layton and BB Schenk Mr. and Mrs. John Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Shumadine Jason Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Phil Stedfast Joe and Petra Thomas Betty and John TrinderMary VaughanRobert VollbrechtMary Ann and Philip Walzer Mr. and Mrs. Mark Warden Dudley WareRandy and Lelia Graham Webb Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Webster Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Wilbanks Rolf and Beth WilliamsHenry and Dixie Wolf Ken & Nancy Wren Sr. John Wynne

$5,000–$9,999 - OrganizationsAmerican Borate CompanyBank of AmericaChesapeake Bay FoundationColonna’s Shipyard, Inc.CSX TransportationEnviva Port of ChesapeakePortsmouth Service LeagueSoutheastern Virginia Community FoundationVirginia Institute of Marine ScienceWells Fargo FoundationWheelabrator Portsmouth Inc.

Linda Cameron, Norfolk

$2,500–$4,499 - IndividualsDeborah ButlerLinda CameronThe Hon. Howard CopelandChristine Goode Martha Goode Mr. and Mrs. Joshua HarrisKitty Whitman and Louis JaffeMr. and Mrs. David Lawson Harvey Lindsay RADM and Mrs. Ray Moses Capt. and Mrs. Michael Nickelsburg Barbara McCready Parrish Steve and Judy Perry Andrew Wallach Lauren and Eddie Wolcott

The Elizabeth River Project is proud to recognize members of our leadership giving societies. Thank you for contributing $1,000 or more annually to support our award-winning restoration and education programs. Join us! Contact Susan Smith at (757)399-7487 or ssmith@elizabethriver.org

$1,500–$3,999 - OrganizationsAccurate Marine Environmental, Inc.Bay Disposal & RecyclingBay EnvironmentalBhav BrigadeBirdsong Peanut CorporationBuckeye PartnersCarl W. Mangum Jr. and Marguerite S. Mangum Fund of the Hampton Roads Community FoundationChesapeake Bay Restoration FundCottrell Contracting Corp.David R Goode Charitable Lead Annuity TrustDuke UniversityHarbor Group International Host Terminals, IncJim and Patty Rouse Charitable FoundationKITCO Fiber OpticsNorfolk DredgingPender & CowardStihl, Inc.Waste Management

Deepest Thanks to Our Donor Societies

Special Thanks to Our Extraordinary Supporters

“The Elizabeth River is the highlight of my daily walks.

Thanks to the Elizabeth River Project, the River is returning to its natural unpolluted state so future generations can enjoy it as well,” said Linda Cameron, a 40-year Norfolk

resident. The retired CPA and avid walker demonstrates her strong belief in a personal responsibility for the good health

of our river by supporting the Elizabeth River Project.

$100,000 and Above - OrganizationsBatten Educational Achievement Fund of the Hampton Roads CommunityFoundation Beazley Foundation, Inc.City of ChesapeakeCity of NorfolkCity of Portsmouth Hampton Roads Community FoundationNational Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Stewardship FundNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration – Environmental Literacy Grant TowneBank Foundation

$50,000 to $99,999 - OrganizationsDollar Tree FoundationDominion FoundationHRSDLandmark FoundationNational Endowment for the ArtsNorfolk Southern Foundation

$25,000 to $49,999 - OrganizationsPort of Virginia – Aid to Local PortsShearwater Foundation, Inc.

$10,000 to $24,999 - OrganizationsBAE Systems Norfolk Ship RepairRebecca L. Huber Family Charitable Fund of the Hampton Roads Community FoundationLuck Companies FoundationPNC FoundationPRA GroupVirginia Department of Game and Inland FisheriesThe Windward Foundation

$100,000 and Above - IndividualsJames and Karen Jones Squires

$50,000 to $99,999 - IndividualsMr. and Mrs. Macon Brock Jr.

$25,000 to $49,999 - IndividualsFrank and Aimee Batten Jr. Bruce and Lilly Bradley David and Susan Goode

$10,000 to $24,999 - IndividualsJane BattenDavid and Helen BerndHenry and Angelica LightMr. and Mrs. Chris Neikirk Louis and Prudence Ryan $5,000 to $9,999 - Individuals J. Robert Bray James L. Camp IV Mr. and Mrs. Joe CovingtonDr. and Mrs. Brian and Melissa Deutsch Robert and Marjorie Mayfield JacksonOriana McKinnon Mr. and Mrs. Peter MeredithMr. and Mrs. Charles and Bonnie Moorman

$1,000–$2,499 - IndividualsShirley BaldwinRADM Charles J. and Susan Beers Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bernert III Bruce & Sarah Bishop Robert BoydBlake Bailey and Mary Brinkmeyer Mr. and Mrs. Norman ColpittsMr. and Mrs. Stephen Cyrus Mr. and Mrs. Frank DanielGatewood Dashiell John Ellis Jr. Paul and Linda English Reid and Harriet Ervin Matthew and Karen Fine Cyrus W. Grandy W.T. Gray and Donna Phaneuf Pam Boatwright and Don Gulliver Eleanor and Sandy Harris Gayle Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Host IIIMr. and Mrs. Peter Huber Bob and Susan HumeMr. and Mrs. Ron Hurley Capt. & Mrs. Lawrence I’Anson Mr. and Mrs. James Izard II The Hon. Mamie Johnson Thomas Johnson Jr. Mike Kirsch VADM and Mrs. Alexander Krekich Mr. and Mrs. David Lawson Mr. Edgar Lester John and Ruth Martin Robert May Ruth McElroyMr. and Mrs. Richard Meredith RADM and Mrs. Ray MosesJohn D. Munford Dr. Donald Nuss MD Mr. and Mrs. Josh PriestMr. and Mrs. Walter Priest III Katherine Reader Kathleen and Anne Redfern Lynn Cobb and Warren Richard F. Scott and Michele Ripley Richard D. and Shirley Hanson RobertsBria and Cameron Robinett Ron Hartshorn and Nancy Ronald Jack and Gina Ruffin Toy Savage Jr. Bob Layton and BB Schenk Mr. and Mrs. John Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Shumadine Jason Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Phil Stedfast Joe and Petra Thomas Betty and John TrinderMary VaughanRobert VollbrechtMary Ann and Philip Walzer Mr. and Mrs. Mark Warden Dudley WareRandy and Lelia Graham Webb Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Webster Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Wilbanks Rolf and Beth WilliamsHenry and Dixie Wolf Ken & Nancy Wren Sr. John Wynne

$5,000–$9,999 - OrganizationsAmerican Borate CompanyBank of AmericaChesapeake Bay FoundationColonna’s Shipyard, Inc.CSX TransportationEnviva Port of ChesapeakePortsmouth Service LeagueSoutheastern Virginia Community FoundationVirginia Institute of Marine ScienceWells Fargo FoundationWheelabrator Portsmouth Inc.

Linda Cameron, Norfolk

$2,500–$4,499 - IndividualsDeborah ButlerLinda CameronThe Hon. Howard CopelandChristine Goode Martha Goode Mr. and Mrs. Joshua HarrisKitty Whitman and Louis JaffeMr. and Mrs. David Lawson Harvey Lindsay RADM and Mrs. Ray Moses Capt. and Mrs. Michael Nickelsburg Barbara McCready Parrish Steve and Judy Perry Andrew Wallach Lauren and Eddie Wolcott

The Elizabeth River Project is proud to recognize members of our leadership giving societies. Thank you for contributing $1,000 or more annually to support our award-winning restoration and education programs. Join us! Contact Susan Smith at (757)399-7487 or ssmith@elizabethriver.org

$1,500–$3,999 - OrganizationsAccurate Marine Environmental, Inc.Bay Disposal & RecyclingBay EnvironmentalBhav BrigadeBirdsong Peanut CorporationBuckeye PartnersCarl W. Mangum Jr. and Marguerite S. Mangum Fund of the Hampton Roads Community FoundationChesapeake Bay Restoration FundCottrell Contracting Corp.David R Goode Charitable Lead Annuity TrustDuke UniversityHarbor Group International Host Terminals, IncJim and Patty Rouse Charitable FoundationKITCO Fiber OpticsNorfolk DredgingPender & CowardStihl, Inc.Waste Management