Cedar Island Resilience Project Moves Forward

PARKSLEY, Va. — Federal and state regulators are reviewing a proposed coastal resilience project for Cedar Island, as local officials say new funding and renewed public attention have moved the long-planned effort back into focus on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began soliciting public comments on permits that would allow the elevation and extension of natural marsh and intertidal flats behind the island’s southern end, a measure aimed at improving coastal resiliency and reducing the risk of storm-related breaches.

The project, led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, is now estimated to cost between $17 million and $20 million. If approvals and funding remain on track, construction could begin as early as 2025.

Accomack County Administrator Mike Mason recently reported that the Cedar Island Resilience Project has received a $5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a major infusion that advances planning but still leaves a significant funding gap.

County officials say Cedar Island is among the most rapidly declining barrier islands on the Eastern Shore and stands to benefit substantially from restoration. The island lies offshore from Wachapreague and has experienced repeated erosion and storm impacts at its southern end.

Under the proposal, the western half of the island would be raised to expand and enhance marsh habitat. Native vegetation would be planted in newly graded areas and in locations where marsh no longer exists. To stabilize a historic breach, large portions of low marsh would be elevated and converted to vegetated high marsh using dredged materials.

Project plans call for approximately 5.90 acres of non-vegetated intertidal area, 7.58 acres of vegetated low marsh, 21.26 acres of vegetated high marsh, and 3.93 acres of non-vegetated high marsh. Of the total marsh constructed, 4.69 acres would be newly created from submerged lands. Hydraulically dredged material from about 87.8 acres of subaqueous bottom would be required.

While county leaders describe the federal grant as a meaningful step forward, the proposal has also drawn criticism. Oyster grower Phillip Valliant of Parksley raised concerns in an opinion piece published on ShoreDailyNews.com, questioning whether large-scale dredging is necessary and warning of potential harm to fisheries and aquaculture operations.

Valliant argued that dredging a sand bar in Wachapreague Inlet to build marsh behind Cedar Island could disrupt natural wave protection, accelerate erosion, and damage oyster leases and marine species. He said the area appears to be recovering naturally and urged closer scrutiny of environmental risks and stronger accountability as the project advances.

Public comment and regulatory review are expected to continue as the project moves through federal and state permitting, with supporters and critics alike watching closely as plans for Cedar Island’s future take shape.

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Wayne Creed

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