The team of VHB and Coastal Design & Construction, Inc. led efforts to repair and stabilize approximately three miles of York River shoreline within Colonial National Historical Park (COLO), addressing the severe erosion that was threatening significant archeological sites and natural resources in the park and the integrity of the Colonial Parkway. This scenic parkway, a 23-mile corridor linking Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and attracts millions of annual visitors.
An integrated team of VHB coastal engineers and scientists developed a shoreline stabilization design that incorporated multiple stabilization strategies, including revetment rebuilds, nature based living shoreline design, pocket beaches, and marsh fringes to protect and enhance eroding natural habitats. To meet rigid funding deadlines, the team developed a two-part regulatory strategy that gained permit approvals in an exceptionally tight timeframe.
Funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the newly constructed $11.2 million shoreline stabilization effort at COLO is expected to reduce the park’s deferred maintenance and facility repair costs by $8.2 million, create over 140 jobs, and contribute $31.4 million to the national economy. The measures taken by the project team have enhanced the shoreline's stability and resilience, protecting it from further erosion and facilitating ongoing public enjoyment of the area.
