News Flash

Nov. 15, 2018 - The James River Association and City of Hampton have received a $1,112,423 grant for the restoration or expansion of coastal marshes, wetlands, and other natural features in Hampton’s Pochin Place/Indian River Creek Stormwater Basin.

The money is part of $28.9 million in grants awarded to more than 30 projects nationwide by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NOAA, Shell Oil Company and TransRe, a global reinsurer headquartered in New York City.

In a news release, the Foundation said: “For the communities and business all along America’s coastlines, storms and floods are worsening, seas are rising, and the infrastructure that props up our economy is aging. This new fund will provide support for those communities to protect their industries and way of life.”

The application to the National Coastal Resilience Fund was a collaborative effort by the James River Association, Wetlands Watch, and staff from Hampton’s Community Development and Public Works departments.

“This is a great example of the type of results that can be achieved when there is collaboration both internally and with our partners,” said Brian Lewis, Water Resources Engineer in Hampton. “Staff aims to continue strengthening partnerships and seeking other opportunities to forward resilience.”

The money will be used to “implement three living shoreline management and green infrastructure projects on public land … to address community and habitat vulnerability to sea level rise. Project will strengthen natural systems to protect the Hampton Roads region from the impacts of flooding and storm events and enable communities to recover more quickly.”

All three projects are in or near downtown Hampton. Go online for more information and list of grant recipients.