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Committee flags importance of extracting fossil shell at Craney Island before terminal expansion
Summary
Staff warned that a permitted fossil shell resource near Craney Island could be covered by planned expansion of a shipping terminal within the next decade; members urged exploring extraction while coordinating Army Corps permitting and funding.
VMRC staff told the advisory committee that a permitted fossil shell resource off Craney Island (Craney/Caney Island area) is at risk of becoming inaccessible if planned Army Corps work expands a shipping terminal that would cover the deposit. "What we have left at this particular spot maybe will last... maybe 10, 15, 20 years," Andrew said, urging the committee to consider staged extraction before the area is covered.
Members asked about mobilization and additional surveying to estimate long-term inventory and production potential. Staff said mobilization costs for the dredge should be similar to other locations but that permitting coordination with the Army Corps would require additional staff effort. Roger Mann (VIMS) recommended developing a multi-year buried-shell inventory and cost-return analysis with the new GIS tool to inform how quickly the resource should be captured for restoration use.
Committee direction: staff said they would explore federal funding and operational plans, and the committee encouraged prioritizing extraction where the cost-return and available placement areas justify mobilization.
