Project Description
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (refuge), located in southeastern Virginia Beach, VA, was established in 1938 as a wintering and breeding area for migrating waterfowl and other migratory birds. Today the refuge consists of over 9,000 acres of marsh, woodland, beach/dune, and scrub/shrub habitats and supports a high diversity of waterfowl species through approximately 900 acres of managed fresh-water impoundments and improving water quality in Back Bay.
The refuge impoundments include 10 pools with two storage pools, water control structures and a water pump that allows water levels to be altered throughout the year, and enables waters to be exchanged between Back Bay and the refuge. Habitat management techniques include discing, root raking, mowing, burning, invasive species control and water level manipulations to provide optimum feeding and resting habitat for waterfowl and other birds as they migrate along this stretch of the Atlantic Flyway.
Needed waterfowl impoundment rehabilitation includes dike improvements, woody vegetation removal, and submerged aquatic vegetation restoration. Over time, the dikes surrounding the pools have eroded due to wave action and, in shallow areas, woody vegetation has encroached, outcompeting valuable waterfowl foods. Currently, C Pool, the northernmost impoundment, is in need of 4,400 feet of regrading and erosion control measures (pavers/stone) to prevent washing out of the road and complete loss of the impoundment, which would in turn adversely impact the entire impoundment system. Shallow portions of C and B Pools are also experiencing woody encroachment and are in need of clearing to encourage waterfowl food production. Several other pools are further in need of submerged aquatic vegetation planting/restoration to improve the availability of this valuable food source for visiting waterfowl.
Restoration Land Ownership
Fish and Wildlife Service
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service