6th Annual Back Bay Forum

Our 6th Back Bay Forum was held on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at The Advanced Technology Center at the Virginia Beach TCC Campus. Presentations were conducted throughout the day on research within the Back Bay watershed, on the state of the Back Bay, and on what we can do to improve water quality. There were opportunities for all participants to identify action needed for the health of the Back Bay system. Scroll down to see the list of presentations.

Special thanks to our primary Forum sponsor, The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program. Other generous sponsors included Farm Fresh, and Building Logics.

The Back Bay Restoration Workshop was funded, in part, by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality through Grant #NAO5NOS4191180 of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended.

“Update on Canada Geese and Other Waterfowl in Back Bay”, Gary Costanzo, Migratory Game Bird Manager, VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries

“Back Bay Phragmites Action Committee: Battling an Invasive Species”, Jared Brandwein, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Manager

“Native Plants in the Back Bay Landscape”, Vickie Shufer, Naturalist and Publisher of Nature Guides

“Improving Water Quality with Plants - (Phytoremediation)” - Laurie Fox, Hampton Roads Agricultural Extension Research Center

“Riparian Buffers for Better Water Quality” – Bob Kerr, Kerr Environmental Services, Inc.

“Living Shorelines: A Natural Approach to Shoreline Stabilization” – Karen Duhring, VIMS Wetlands Program

“Status of the Fish Population in Back Bay in the Last Two Years” Chad Boyce, District Fish Biologist, VA Dept of Game & Inland Fisheries

“SAV Status in Back Bay and Hands-on Identification Workshop” - Liz Noble, Elizabeth City State University

“Green Ribbon Committee Announcement” – Peter Schmidt & Barry Frankenfield, Co-Chairmen of the Green Ribbon Committee

“Green Roofs for Healthy Watersheds” – Mike Perry, Building Logics

“Green Infrastructure in Hampton Roads” – Eric Walberg, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC)

“Nawney Creek is Impaired by Bacteria – What Can Be Done?” – TMDL Panel: MapTech, HRPDC, VA Beach City Staff