Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
3-2015
Abstract
Much of the Fairfax County’s tidal shoreline is suitable for a “Living Shoreline” approach to shoreline management. The Commonwealth of Virginia has adopted policy stating that Living Shorelines are the preferred alternative for erosion control along tidal waters in Virginia (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/ legp504.exe?111+ful+CHAP0885+pdf). The policy defines a Living Shoreline as …”a shoreline management practice that provides erosion control and water quality benefits; protects, restores or enhances natural shoreline habitat; and maintains coastal processes through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill, and other structural and organic materials.” The key to effective implementation of this policy at the local level is understanding what constitutes a Living Shoreline practice and where those practices are appropriate. This management plan and its use in zoning, planning, and permitting will provide the guidance necessary for landowners and local planners to understand the alternatives for erosion control and to make informed shoreline management decisions.
The recommended shoreline strategies can provide effective shore protection but also have the added distinction of creating, preserving, and enhancing wetland, beach, and dune habitat. These habitats are essential to addressing the protection and restoration of water quality and natural resources within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The final Fairfax County Shoreline Management Plan is an educational and management reference for the City and its landholders.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21220/V5RM72
Keywords
Shoreline Evolution, Aerial Photography, GIS, Fairfax County Virginia
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Funding
This project was funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NA13NOS4190135 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, or any of its subagencies.
Recommended Citation
Hardaway, C., Milligan, D. A., Wilcox, C. A., Berman, M., Rudnicky, T., Nunez, K., & Killeen, S. (2015) Fairfax County Shoreline Management Plan. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.21220/V5RM72
Included in
Environmental Monitoring Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
