Posted on August 1, 2025
Now costing north of $40 million, the Back Bay restoration project would mitigate flooding and bring 47 acres of marsh terrace to the area in Virginia Beach.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach marsh restoration project aimed at not only bettering the environment but also protecting residents of Back Bay from flooding continues to be held up due to state permitting issues.
A standing-room-only meeting occurred Tuesday night, as people living in the Back Bay community of Virginia Beach asked city leaders if the project, now going to cost north of $40 million, was ever going to happen.
And city leaders did not have an answer.
The funding is there. However, permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission are preventing Virginia Beach from putting the project out for bid.
“Since we don’t have a permit, we can’t really go forward with some of these things,” said City Councilwoman Barbara Henley.
The project aims to mitigate flood risk. For residents, it would create 47 acres of marsh terrace, which would serve as a reduction element for wind-driven flooding. People living in the Back Bay see a lot of it in their community.
Henley said the project seems to be the only solution.
“Nothing else we seemed to be able to do can work. We looked at, well, could we open an outlet to the ocean, and they said, no, you couldn’t do that,” Henley said.
Henley said they’re going to try to appeal for more state help.
“Letting the General Assembly have an opportunity to offer some assistance seems to be a good way to go,” se said.
The reason the vote on the permit was pushed back is that city leaders knew it would be a no-vote. If they have to resubmit, it would put them years behind this project from ever happening.
In the past century, over 2,000 acres of marshland in Back Bay have been transformed into open water. Residents said the risk of flooding concerns extends to future generations.
Mark Johnson has lived in the community for decades. He said flooding is a common frustration, and this project would provide an answer.
“The pumps were going when we had 18 inches of rain in 2 weeks, and not only me, but a lot of us out here were flooded,” said Johnson.
So why is the permitting held up?
Positive signs of submerged aquatic vegetation growth, or SAV, are returning, which causes concern that if the permit is given, the construction of marsh terraces could damage the SAV.
However, several residents and members of council said it is time to act, as the growth is not promised to stick around.
“I’ve seen it come and go. I’ve seen it completely disappear, I’ve seen it turn into a mudhole. I’ve seen the fish go away, I’ve seen the fish come back,” said Johnson. “Right now, it’s in a very good state, and I don’t think disrupting the little bit of acreage that we’re talking about doing, for this particular project, is going to wreck any of the SAV that’s baywide.”
Henley said they’re going to try to appeal for more state help.
“Letting the General Assembly have an opportunity to offer some assistance seems to be a good way to go,” se said.
The reason the vote on the permit was pushed back is that city leaders knew it would be a no-vote. If they have to resubmit, it would put them years behind this project from ever happening.
In the past century, over 2,000 acres of marshland in Back Bay have been transformed into open water. Residents said the risk of flooding concerns extends to future generations.
