Sea-level fight starts in Norfolk

Photo By Patrick Bloodgood | Col. Paul Olsen, Norfolk District commander, and Paul Fraim, mayor of Norfolk, Va; sign an agreement combat sea-level rise as members of the Norfolk City Council look on March 30, 2015. The agreement paves the way for construction of a coastal storm damage reduction project, which is unprecedented in the 333-year history of the city of Norfolk. The initial beach nourishment will expand the width of roughly seven miles of the beach by 60-feet in the Willoughby Spit and East Ocean View areas. (U.S. Army photo/Mark Haviland)  

NORFOLK, UNITED STATES

04.16.2015

Story by Patrick Bloodgood 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters

NORFOLK, Va. – Mayor Paul Fraim and other city of Norfolk leaders joined Col. Paul Olsen, Norfolk District commander, along Ocean View Beach to sign a historic project partnership agreement here March 30, 2015.

The agreement lays the foundation for construction of a coastal storm damage reduction project to protect the Willoughby and Ocean View neighborhoods of Norfolk.

According to Robert Pretlow, a Norfolk District project manager, these sections of the city are particularly vulnerable during storm events.

"The northern shoreline of Norfolk, Willoughby Spit and Ocean View is located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, so what we have is an area that is susceptible to wave damage from many different directions and the beach is subject erosion,” said Pretlow. “So when we get Nor’easters and hurricane forces the wave attack damages the beaches as well.

In addition to the storm damage, the area is at the forefront of sea-level rise as chronicled by the recently released North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive study, which has identified Norfolk as an area of high risk.

The project is a first in the city to start addressing the need to account for sea-level rise.

“The sea-level rise fight starts here, right now, and I am really proud to be a part of it,” said Olsen.

According to Fraim, the project is a serious commitment by the city to address the growing sea-level rise concern.

“This marks Norfolk’s largest single investment to date in our beaches, but it is a worthy effort and also helps address our risks and vulnerabilities as identified in our coastal resiliency plan,” Paul Fraim, mayor of Norfolk.

Seven miles of coastline will receive much needed sand at an initial cost of around $18.5 million

“The project will widen the recreational area by 60 feet, enhancing residence and visitor’s beach experience,” Fraim said. “It will also protect valuable property from coastal storms and erosion.”

Using sand as the main building material is more cost effective and more adjustable to future sea-levels says Pretlow.

“This is a project that will take place over 50 years, meaning we will come back on an estimated nine years cycle to put more sand on the beach, to rebuild or replace the existing beach berm,” Pretlow said. “We can adjust for sea-level rise by increasing the height of that berm at some point during the replenishment cycles as needed.”

Initial construction on the project will begin in November and last six months during the winter, avoiding nesting turtle season and tourist season in the area.

• Date Taken: 04.16.2015
• Date Posted: 04.16.2015 11:31
• Story ID: 160164
• Location: NORFOLK, US