SHORELINE PROJECT LAUNCHED!
The Shoreline Evaluation Project (SEP) went live on July 1st! This new program will assist coastal homeowners in their shoreline protection efforts to mitigate the effects of erosion on their shoreline frontage, addressing both upland and waterfront sources.
Program Partnerships – To create this program the Colonial SWCD has partnered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension James City County Williamsburg Master Gardeners (CSWCD/VCEMG) to offer this Shoreline Evaluation Program (SEP) to shorefront property owners throughout the greater Williamsburg region.
Each participating property owner receives a detailed report, soil sampling, a nutrient management plan for turf areas, and a Homeowner’s Guide which includes information and contacts to help them prepare for the possibility of remediation activities.
Following Northern Neck’s model – The SEP was originally developed by the Northern Neck Master Gardener unit, which has provided training and resources. In fact, this CSWCD/VCEMG program is modeled after Northern Neck’s well-established shoreline evaluation project method. Northern Neck has shared its expertise in the preparation of this July 1 launch of the CSWCD/VCEMG joint public project. This included the Water Stewards training for the last year, both with a nine-lecture series on Living Shorelines by William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and practice evaluations of Northern Neck, James City, and Gloucester properties. 
Conservation efforts of shorefront properties, according to the CSWCD’s website, present a unique opportunity to prevent sediment loss through erosion and pollutants often carried in stormwater runoff from flowing directly into the adjacent body of water. With just over 1,000 miles of shoreline in the Colonial SWCD service area, there is immense potential for improving water quality locally and in the greater Chesapeake Bay.
If you are interested in more information about the Shoreline Evaluation Project, please visit this website which includes the application that can be downloaded and mailed to the CSWCD office. Please address any questions about this or the Water Steward program to Gary Streb, [email protected], or Ginny Cranford at [email protected].