Virginia Updates Shoreline Inventory Maps and Management Model

RICHMOND, Va. — Five coastal localities in Virginia now have updated maps detailing tidal shoreline conditions and features as part of the ongoing Virginia Shoreline and Tidal Marsh Inventory, a project that has been in progress since the 1970s. The inventory is updated on a locality-by-locality basis, providing critical data for shoreline management and conservation efforts.

Check out the new Data Here

The latest Shoreline Inventory Maps include a range of shoreline features, such as different types of living shorelines, bulkheads, revetments, docks, boat ramps, marinas, tidal marshes, and marsh migration corridors projected under two feet and four feet of sea level rise. The updated maps aim to support coastal resilience planning and habitat protection initiatives.

In addition to the updated maps, officials have introduced a new version of the Shoreline Management Model (SMM v.6.0), which provides enhanced recommendations based on mapped conditions and available data. This model identifies potentially suitable areas for oyster-based living shoreline structures by analyzing site salinity, substrate, wave energy, and bathymetry. Other new parameters have been incorporated to refine and improve shoreline management recommendations.

The updated maps and models are expected to assist policymakers, environmental organizations, and property owners in making informed decisions to protect and sustain Virginia’s coastal resources amid ongoing climate challenges.