This amazing shot is of Harrisons Point, located at the Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, along the James River. The Charles City County, Virginia Shoreline Management Plan, developed by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, identified the site as experiencing a historic erosion rate of ONE to TWO FEET per year!
To reduce the erosion along the riverbank, a living shoreline consisting of offshore granite sills and newly planted marsh grasses is being installed to protect and enhance the existing wetland and to protect about 1500 feet of riverbank, thereby preserving the historic resources and agricultural viability of the adjacent upland areas.
Many agencies and organizations participated in the construction process, including the James River Association, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Shoreline Erosion Advisory Service (DCR SEAS), and the Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District. Project engineering was provided by VHB. Construction contractor was Environmental Quality Resources. Funding provided through a combination of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Fish Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant and the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Agricultural BMP Loan program provided bridge loan construction financing.