COURTHOUSE – A summer symposium series about sea level rise and flooding issues is scheduled to begin today with a discussion that will include the effects of wind-driven flooding common to southern Virginia Beach.
The initial symposium, High Winds and Rising Water, is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 25, at the Advanced Technology Center, 1800 College Crescent. William Sammler of the National Weather Service is scheduled to discuss storm and wind tide impacts, and Kurt McCoy of the U.S. Geological Survey will address tide gauge monitoring.
It’s part of a series of talks to address issues in Virginia Beach and connected waterways, and it prefaces coming studies of sea level rise and recurrent flooding here.
“It’s important the public has an understanding of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it so the public will be better able to participate when those recommendations come out,” said City Councilmember Barbara Henley, who represents the Princess Anne District.
The public is encouraged to attend the events, which are free. The discussions build upon those in the spring during the the 2018 North Landing River-Albemarle Sound Estuarine Symposium.
“I think it will give the stakeholders that actually live in these areas an idea of what information actually is available,” said Chuck Payne, a city environmental planner.
“It’s geared a little more toward the stakeholders and the residents, the people who would be affected by tidal flooding and weather events we seem to be having with increased frequency,” he added.
Other upcoming talks include the following, though some dates are tentative:
► Aquatic and Terrestrial Vegetation from 6 to 8 p.m., Aug. 22, at the Advanced Technology Center. Brian van Eerden of the Nature Conservancy will discuss the state of the forest and Chad Boyce from the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries will discuss the importance of submerged aquatic vegetation.
► Environmentally Conscious Flood Protection at 9 a.m., Sept. 5, at the Senior Resource Center, Inc., 912 Princess Anne Road. Karen Forget of Lynnhaven River Now is scheduled to discuss protecting property from the impacts of flooding.
► Stewards of the Southern Rivers Watershed from 6 to 8 p.m., either Sept. 19 or 20, at the Advanced Technology Center. Stacey Feken of Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership is scheduled to discuss the partnership and efforts in the Southern Rivers watershed. A second speaker may be scheduled.
Visit and bookmark vbgov.com/buildingasharedvision for more information and for updates. The events will be recorded for broadcast on VBTV.
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