PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 9, 2025
CONTACT:
Ryan Walsh
Senior Coastal Restoration Manager
rwalsh@thejamesriver.org
The James River Association Breaks Ground on Living Shoreline Project in Hampton
This new project will help protect the shoreline and reduce erosion at the Pine Harbor Condo Complex
(Hampton, VA) Thanks to funding through the Virginia Environmental Endowment’s James River Water Quality Improvement Program, the James River Association (JRA) broke ground on a new Living Shoreline project at Pinecone Harbor Condo Complex this week. Living Shorelines are natural buffers, often comprised of native plants and grasses, coir logs, and oyster castles, that stabilize riverbanks and reduce the amount of pollutants, such as sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus, that would otherwise run into the river.
The Living Shoreline project will protect 505 linear feet of shoreline, prevent up to two feet of annual erosion, and create vital habitat for native wildlife, especially oysters. JRA’s Living Shoreline at Pine Cone Harbour will build on a neighboring shoreline installed earlier this year by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Both projects will transform the community as nearly continuous living shorelines surround the property. By leveraging funding for these projects, residents are helping build a healthier river and will experience improved resiliency – an essential task as Hampton Roads continues to face rising sea levels.
This project marks the 44th Living Shoreline installed through the James River Living Shoreline Cost Share Program, totaling 7,527 linear feet of restored shoreline. Over the past four years, JRA and its partners at the Elizabeth River Project have built these natural buffers along the tidal James River and key tributaries – including the Elizabeth and Warwick Rivers – thanks to funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment. This investment directly improves the health of the James River and strengthens the resilience of the communities that depend on it.
Funding is still available to property owners through the James River Living Shoreline Cost Share Program, thanks to additional grant funding acquired by JRA from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Residents in Hampton Roads are encouraged to reach out to JRA to determine their eligibility and apply to bring this type of natural buffer to their property. JRA will cover 75% of the total cost of the project and coordinate three years of maintenance to ensure the shoreline successfully establishes and thrives.
For more information and to determine if a property is eligible for the program, visit: https://www.jamesrivershorelines.org/
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ABOUT THE JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: The James River Association is a member-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to serve as a guardian and voice for the James River. Throughout the James River’s 10,000 square mile watershed, the James River Association works toward its vision of a fully healthy James River supporting thriving communities. The James River Association believes that “when you change the James, the James changes you”. With offices in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Scottsville, the James River Association is committed to protecting the James River and connecting people to it. For more information visit www.thejamesriver.org.