VIRGINIA BEACH
An ecological project involving Back Bay and Lake Tecumseh is in jeopardy after its government sponsor pulled out, citing numerous concerns and questions from neighbors, sportsmen and boaters.
The $200,000 project was intended to permanently separate the two bodies of water in southern Virginia Beach by building two weirs, or small dikes, which experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe would help restore the area to its natural, marshy state.
But the local sponsor of the proposed work, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, which owns Lake Tecumseh, said it was surprised to learn that it did not also own the property where the weirs were to be built.
The Fish and Wildlife Service owns the land.
Ted Henifin, executive director of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, said Wednesday that the local agency also did not know that about 34 homes in north Sandbridge would have lost water access to the Back Bay system under the plan, and that the homeowners were not notified of the proposed project beforehand.
After learning these facts at a meeting Monday at the local office of U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, a Republican who represents the area, Henifin said "t he project took on a whole different flavor than we originally were led to believe."
"At that point," he added, "we decided to drop our support and withdraw our application" for a federal permit needed before construction could begin.
Residents who live along a chain of canals and coves between Lake Tecumseh and Ash ville Bridge Creek, which connects with Back Bay, were pleased with the decision.
"We need to do the right thing for the environment, but let's get real," said David Comer, a resident of the Ocean Lakes neighborhood, whose home abuts one of the man-made canals. "We need to find some compromises with the people who live out here - and at least tell them what's going on."
Bridgett Costanzo, a program coordinator with the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the federal agency still supports the project and hopes to complete it.
"We're looking at our options now to make it happen," she said Wednesday. "We're passionate about this project."
One option, Costanzo said, could be installing roller wheels atop the weirs so boats can slide between the lake and the canal.
Federal wildlife officials have been trying to win approval for the weirs for nearly eight years. They say the work will curb pollutants and sediments from washing into Back Bay, make water levels in Lake Tecumseh more predictable, and restore hydrology to the area, which has been altered by suburban development.
The canals are all man-made, as is Ash ville Bridge Creek, wildlife officials say, projects intended to provide more boating privileges without much concern for environmental impact.
But Mark Malbon, who has lived near Lake Tecumseh for 40 years, said he is not convinced the work would help the environment. He questions the wisdom of conducting "basically an experiment" while hampering people from enjoying the lake and its many canals.
State Del. Terrie L. Suit, R-Virginia Beach, who organized Monday's meeting with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District and other stakeholders, said she wants a more open, fairer process.
"If people bought a home with water access, and suddenly that goes away," Suit said, "I'll be opposed to it. I mean, that's just not right."
Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com
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Boat Portage Device Would Retain Navigation Rights
The Service has never wanted to restrict public use. Their initial design included a device to allow boats to portage over the weir which their Widgeon Lane contact thought acceptable. The Service plans to continue to study various components of the lake. To their credit they spent tens of thousands of dollars on meaningful and necessary studies, most of which were rejected by the opponents of this project. The weirs would establish minimum water levels on the lake preventing it from draining completely and they would be submerged 50% of the time so flow in and out of the lake would not be completely blocked. Thus, fish, water, and boat exchange between the lake and the canal would still be possible. Visit the lake at low water. Walk the shoreline and observe the silt crusted on the tree trunks and exposed tree roots from the receding shoreline. Check out the breach forming in the berm and the silt bar at the mouth of the lake. The truth is this is a good project and it makes sense.
LAKE TECUMSEH WEIR PROJECT NOT STUDIED
Various folks reading this article have made the assumption that the residents of Scopus Marsh, Ashville Bridge Creek, Hells Point Creek, and Lake Tecumseh are against seeing Back Bay remain healthly. I believe I am speaking for most of the residents affected by this project, "we are 100% in favor of seeing Back Bay remain healthly", however, we remain opposed to the probject for several reasons:
- This project has been planned for nearly 8 years, and not a single sediment movement study has been completed by any agency, including US Fish and Wildlife.
- This project has been planned for nearly 8 years, and not a single fisheries or fish habitat study has been completed by any agency, including US Fish and Wildlife.
- By US Fish and Wildlife's own admission, they beleive the amount of sediment coming out of Lake Tecumseh is probably small compared to the rest of the creeks. This is only an obse
I once swam and ate fish and crab caught at Back Bay
Growing up in Princess Ann Plaza and Carriage Hill sub-divisions of Virginia Beach, my family would go to Sandbridge and Back Bay for swimming, fishing and crabbing on Saturday for relaxation and dinner. Yes, one could actually catch eatable fish and crabs of a decent size for dinner. Since the 60’s the health of Back Bay and regional waters have deteriorated over the years and this is one of many projects needed to restore the Bay's health.
To “protect” the home owner’s property value at the expense of the water shed is unacceptable. However, compromises may prevail. An example I offer a lock. Would it be possible to build the weirs and create a manually operated lock to transit from the canal to the bay? This would allow the limited homeowners access to the bay while enhancing the environment of the bay.
Let the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bring back family times and tradition for all.
If developement changed the hydrology,
If developement changed the hydrology, make the developers pay to restore it!
LAKE TECUMSEH WEIR PROJECT
The previous comment isn't reasonable. The folks that live on that man-made canal, that leads to Back Bay, have enjoyed its use for many years. The folks that live on the canal in Sandbridge that access Ashville Bridge Creek and Back Bay via Lake Tecumseh have enjoyed that access for at least 40 years. I wonder if the previous commenter would feel differently if it was his access being taken away. He certainly adds no value to an already difficult situation for residents and the Fish & Wildlife Service.
R/ DAVE COMER
Kudos to Congresswoman Drake and Delegate Suit!
Good job Congresswoman Drake and Delegate Suit! It is very nice to see our federal and state representatives WORKING TOGETHER to reign in a powerful federal agency (fish & wildlife) and a unaccountable regional organization (HRSD) that appear to have little or no regard for the citizens their secret plans will adversely impact. Nice job to our elected representatives that did the right thing and put the brakes on this 'experiment' until the property owners along the canals have had a chance to weigh in and have their voices heard – and their interests in their homes and investment properties protected.
Who cares ??
Who cares about the home owners that live along a MAN MADE body of water. They just do not want the thing filled in because then they can not ask about 200K more for their home. I say fill it in then tell all the winers to keep quiet.