Last updated Saturday, January 23, 2010

Chesapeake Beach Sand Replenishment

"The Chesapeake Beach Civic League neither supports nor opposes a sand replenishment program on Chesapeake Beach. The role of the CBCL regarding sand replenishment is to be a conduit for information from the city to the residents or to assist residents in seeking answers to their questions" (November 15, 2007, meeting minutes).
Damage on the 5000 Block of Ocean View Ave Photo
Damage on the 5000 Block of Ocean View Ave

Damage to Alexander's on the Bay Photo
Damage to Alexander's on the Bay

(November 21, 2009 Update)
After three days of punishing weather from the November Nor'easter, several homes, businesses, and city streets suffered severe damage, as shown in the photos on this page and on the November Nor'easter page. Prior sand replenishment on our beach would have moderated and likely prevented the damage to bayfront properties and to the roadway at Guy Ave and Ocean View Ave!

If you did not witness the ferocity of the bay during either Hurricane Isabel or the November 2009 Nor'easter, you might wonder how much damage they could really cause or whether the beach has really shrunken much due to those two storms. The photos below display before and after views of a backyard on the 5000 block of Lauderdale Ave:
Before: c. 2000 photo of a backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave prior to Hurricane Isabel and the November 2009 Nor'easter
Before: c. 2000 photo of a backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave prior to Hurricane Isabel and the November 2009 Nor'easter

After: November 2009 photo of the same backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave showing the damage
After: November 2009 photo of the same backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave showing the damage done by Hurricane Isabel and the November 2009 Nor'easter. It is hard to match the photos up because the sand dune is gone; the flowers, bushes, and trees are gone; the granite-terraced hillside is gone; the limestone stairs to the left of the patio are gone, and most of the limestone patio is gone. You can, however, match up the large grey granite edgers in the foreground and the light grey flagstone pavers with the ones shown in the "before" photo.

After: Another November 2009 photo of the same backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave showing the damage
After: Another November 2009 photo of the same backyard on the 5000 Block of Lauderdale Ave from a different angle showing the damage done by Hurricane Isabel and the November 2009 Nor'easter.

Efforts are underway to have the City of Virginia Beach replenish sand along Chesapeake Beach to stop the further destruction of private homes and businesses and public roadways. The first step is for bayfront property owners to grant an easement to the city for the sand replenishment.

Select the following link to read more about these efforts for obtaining sand replenishment in Chesapeake Beach which were detailed by The Virginian Pilot: Storm Fans Effort to Replenish Sand.

Chesapeake Beach property owners, if you want to help stop the decline of the beach and the destruction of the homes and businesses along the bayfront in Chesapeake Beach, please contact Sarah Houck at (757) 334-0321 or Stephen Michaels at (757) 567-2120 and discuss beach sand replenishment and property easements.



(November 15, 2007 Update)
Sand Replenishment.

Chesapeake Beach Residents:

You may have received a blue flyer regarding “Restoring and Maintaining Chesapeake Beach.” THIS FLYER IS NEITHER ENDORSED BY THE CHESAPEAKE BEACH CIVIC LEAGUE (CBCL) NOR BEING DISTRIBUTED BY THE CBCL. The Sand Committee referenced in the flyer is NOT affiliated with the CBCL.

The CBCL decided not to take a position on this issue. Therefore, the CBCL neither supports nor opposes a sand replenishment program. The role of the CBCL regarding sand replenishment is to be a conduit for information from the city to the residents or to assist residents in seeking answers to their questions (November 15, 2007, meeting minutes).

The city's position on its ability to replenish the sand and who would pay for the sand replenishment is detailed in the following informational handout: City of VA Beach FAQ Sheet.