Board approves extension for VMRC permit 21-0584 to allow Navy shoreline work on funded reaches

A King George County board approved an extension for VMRC permit number 21-0584 on a motion and voice vote during its meeting. The permit concerns the Navy’s shoreline-stabilization work described in the transcript as "NSF Dahlgren shoreline stabilization." The board approved the request after a public hearing and staff discussion.

Lisa Doseman of the Department of the Navy told the board the project was permitted in 2021 but the Navy only recently obtained funding to construct three of eight reaches. "We recently obtained funding to actually construct some of the reaches," Doseman said, and asked the board to allow an extension to 2028 so the funded reaches can be built. She estimated work on the currently funded reaches would take "2 to 3 years." Doseman said the agency uses an internal priority list and selects reaches where erosion most threatens infrastructure, such as roads, and that the initial funded reaches are along the Potomac, beginning at Gamboa Creek and including reaches at Pumpkin Neck.

A resident, Al Hales of 7115 Kitchen Point Road, spoke in support of the project and living-shoreline approaches, saying he had installed 300 feet of living shoreline on his property and offering to demonstrate living-shoreline techniques to neighbors. "I reviewed the application. I didn't really have any issues or concerns with it," Hales said.

Doseman said the funded work is a mix of living shoreline and armoring depending on site conditions: "in some areas, there is armoring," she said, and in the specific reach discussed, "it's mostly living shoreline, and then we have some bank stabilization because the beach is stable." She also confirmed the current funding addresses only three of eight reaches, with additional funding slated in future years.

On the motion to approve VMRC permit 21-0584 for the Navy project, a board member moved to approve the application and the motion was seconded; the board approved the motion by voice vote and the public hearing was closed.

The board also discussed how the Navy would provide updates while work proceeds; staff and members agreed to arrange photo updates and on-site visits where possible. The board set follow-up procedural items for bylaws review and reconvening but made no other formal conditions on the permit approval.

Votes at a glance: the extension for VMRC permit 21-0584 was approved by voice vote during the meeting. The board also approved procedural motions including election of officers and setting a reconvening date for bylaws review (see timeline).