30 June 2006

Living Shoreline Workshop conducted at Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm

Karen Duhring, a shoreline specialist from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, David Burke of Burke Environmental Associates, and Katie Register, project director for Hull Springs Farm, mark the planting area for the saltmarsh cordgrass.

More than 40 shoreline property owners attended the “Living Shoreline” workshop held at Longwood University’s Hull Springs Farm in Erica on Saturday, June 24.  The workshop, designed for shoreline property owners along Lower Machodoc Creek, focused on techniques that can be utilized to control erosion while also preserving or restoring shoreline habitat that supports shorebirds, juvenile fish, tidal marsh, submerged aquatic vegetation, and other plant and wildlife species. 

Ten volunteers assisted with planting saltmarsh cordgrass (spartina alterniflora) along the Hull Springs Farm shoreline. Planting grass was one of the recommendations that came out of the year-long study of shoreline conditions in Lower Machodoc Creek. In order to protect the grass, a fence has been erected to keep out mute swans and geese. 

Some of the volunteers and staff members who participated in the Living Shoreline workshop were (front row) Karen Duhring, Katie Register (middle row) Sue Ferrett, Diane Hagler, Pat McMurray, Nancy Joel, Shelby Fillingame (back row) Eddie Carey, Peter von Szilassy, Craig Brann, David Burke

“Many of the volunteers who participated in the workshop are members of the newly-formed ‘Friends of Hull Springs Farm,’” said Katie Register, project director for Hull Springs Farm.  “We appreciate their dedication to this project that is vital to the health of our environment.”

Karen Duhring of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and David Burke of Burke Environmental Associates, provided an overview of living shoreline techniques and made recommendations to land owners based on shoreline surveys completed earlier in the year in Lower Machodoc Creek.

“Many shoreline property owners are worried about erosion of their shoreline, and are looking for ways to protect their shoreline while also providing high quality habitat for wildlife,” said Bobbie Burton, executive director of Hull Springs Farm and vice president for university advancement at Longwood University.  Burton provided an overview of plans for Hull Springs Farm to become a demonstration site for sustainable practices in shorelines, wetlands, riparian (streamside) buffers, forestry, and agriculture.

The finished product of the planting area buffered by fencing to protect from swans.

The workshop and the year-long Living Shorelines project at Hull Springs Farm were made possible by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation). Partners include Longwood University, Clean Virginia Waterways, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Burke Environmental Associates, Northern Neck Planning District Commission, Virginia Commonwealth University Biology Department, and the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District.

Learn more about Hull Springs Farm by visiting http://www.longwood.edu/hullspringsfarm