π± Virginia rebuilds island shoreline to save bay
Virginia completed a major shoreline restoration project on Ragged Island to combat erosion. The work, involving the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Ducks Unlimited, was funded with $8 million from NOAA Fisheriesβ Office of Habitat Conservation. The project installed breakwaters along 1.09 miles of shoreline in 2025, creating 2.6 acres of new marsh and 2.2 acres of oyster reef. This effort helps cut hundreds of tons of sediment and nutrients from entering the Chesapeake Bay annually. Continued growth is expected to boost fish habitats and provide crucial climate protection benefits for the region.