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Saturday, November 21st, 2009 |
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Virginia Beach is proud to be named a "Blue Wave Beach"
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(Virginia Beach, Va., January, 2004)After investing $22.5 million to Virginia Beach and adding 3.5 million cubic yards of sand, Virginia Beach is recognized nationally for its sand replenishment efforts by the Clean Beaches Council and the American Coastal Coalition.
As part of a $125 million Erosion Control and Hurricane Protection Project, 2001’s expansion, dubbed “Big Beach,” enlarged a 6-mile long piece of shoreline to a width of 300 to 400 feet – wider than the length of a football field! This was the last major portion of the project, preceded by rebuilding the famous Boardwalk into a longer, wider, concrete structure capable of acting as a seawall and drainage system in most storms.
On May 8, 2002 the American Coastal Coalition (ACC) presented the first annual “Top Five Restored Beaches in America” awards during the organization’s Summit 2002 conference in Washington D.C. The Coalition honored beaches for several characteristics important to successful beach restoration projects, including innovative partnering and project management to achieve goals, durability of the restoration, and environmental and economic impact. Virginia Beach was recognized for both its restoration efforts, as well as it’s success in overcoming major obstacles, including the need to better inform the public of the project merits and construction schedule.
Virginia Beach was applauded by the Clean Beaches Council when its national press conference announced the 2002 list of beaches officially certified for public safety and environmental health. Considered a “good housekeeping stamp of approval,” the Blue Wave Campaign helps the beach-going public identify well-managed beaches when planning vacations. In addition, Virginia Beach was chosen as the broadcast site for the annual Blue Wave Campaign. More information can be found at www.cleanbeaches.org/bluewave.
Phill Roehrs, a coastal engineer for the city, summed it all up by saying “Not only was this project beneficial to locals and visitors, but overall, it created a healthier beach environment and ecosystem. These awards and certifications only reinforce what residents and loyal vacationers of Virginia Beach have known for a long time.”
Located in the southeastern corner of the state where Virginia meets the sea, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of Washington, D.C. by car, and within a day’s drive or less from one-third of the U.S. population.
This article provided by the VBPressroom.
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