Saving a Chesapeake Bay Watershed Marsh for Fish, Wildlife, and People

Last year, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Ducks Unlimited wrapped up a major shoreline restoration project on Ragged Island. They received $8 million in funding from NOAA Fisheries' Office of Habitat Conservation . To protect the marsh from erosion, project partners built breakwater structures along 1.09 miles of shoreline.

On a visit to the project site in May 2026, it's clear: The restoration is working as intended. Walking along the breakwaters at low tide, you can see baby oysters growing on the reef shelves. Sand is building up behind the breakwaters, creating new marshland. Cordgrass planted on the shoreline is taking root and will one day help hold sediment in place. The water gently lapping against the shore looks clear.

The project is:

• Keeping more than 500,000 pounds of suspended sediment, 70 pounds of nitrogen, and 400 pounds of phosphorus from entering the Chesapeake Bay each year
• Creating about 2.6 acres of new marshland and 2.2 acres of oyster reef, providing habitat for fish, crabs, and other wildlife
• Protecting public access for fishing, hunting, and bird watching, and reducing flooding

"The Department of Wildlife Resources and Ducks Unlimited were an absolute joy to work with, bringing expertise and commitment to this effort," said NOAA Marine Habitat Resource Specialist Lindsey Nolan . "NOAA's investment helped turn their long-standing vision into reality. Through this project, we're helping protect vital marsh habitat and creating benefits that will extend throughout the Chesapeake Bay for decades to come."

The Problem of Sedimentation from Shoreline Erosion

For decades, wind and waves ate the shoreline of Ragged Island, a 1,500-acre brackish marsh where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Erosion and sea level rise have consumed hundreds of feet of marsh since 1937.

Huge chunks of marsh appear to have been bitten off, leaving exposed 3- to 4-foot walls of black soil topped with marsh grass. Leafless, bleached white trees killed by saltwater stand like ghosts behind the marsh grass.

The erosion causes hundreds of tons of sediment and nutrient pollution to pour into the Chesapeake Bay each year, fueling algal blooms that kill fish and other marine life.

"In the past, when I drove along the shoreline in my boat, the water looked like chocolate milk," said Department of Wildlife Resources Fisheries Biologist Chad Boyce. "Suspended sediment can cause their gills to be irritated and fish often leave these areas to seek better water quality. Turbid water also makes it difficult for predator fish like red drum to find prey."

Saltwater seeping into the marsh kills trees and other plants. The murky water along the shoreline also suppresses the growth of aquatic vegetation, which needs sunlight to grow.

"Submerged aquatic vegetation is probably the most important food resource in the Chesapeake Bay for waterfowl," says Ed Farley, manager of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited. "As the marsh goes away, really important habitat for wildlife also disappears."

The impact of sedimentation extends well beyond the James River's shoreline. Shoreline erosion in the watersheds that feed the Chesapeake Bay accounts for approximately 57 percent of all sediment entering the Bay according to the Chesapeake Bay Program.

"The Chesapeake Bay has had issues for the last 50 years with algal blooms caused by sedimentation," said David Norris, regional wildlife manager for the Department of Wildlife Resources. "Algal blooms can lead to low oxygen conditions, and cause major stress or even kill the organisms living there."

Restoring Ragged Island

In 2025, construction crews installed 62 low rock breakwaters offshore from the marsh. The structures reduce wave energy before it reaches the shoreline while allowing tides, fish, and other aquatic species to move through gaps between the rocks. Excavators placed sand behind the breakwaters, creating shallow mounds known as "tombolos" that trap sediment and build new marsh habitat over time.

The breakwaters also protect existing habitat, keeping about 260 tons of sediment and nutrients from entering the Chesapeake Bay each year.

"I've heard that the fishing's been excellent since the project's been completed," said Farley. "It's really fun to see."

"Along with the fisheries habitat in the marsh, the new oyster reefs are a mecca for fish," said Norris. "Baby fish love the structure of oyster reefs where they can get in and hide. A lot of the commercially viable fish populations will use it-red drum, croaker, flounder-along with other species."

Striped bass, river herring, blue crabs, and even endangered Atlantic sturgeon can use the habitat as it continues to grow. When submerged aquatic vegetation regrows, it will attract waterfowl like canvasback, greater scaup, and blue- and green-winged teal.

"We are also storing hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon right in this area that would have been released to the atmosphere as soon as it eroded away," said Norris. "Not only are we protecting existing carbon, but every year there's more carbon being added to the marsh."

Benefits for People

The benefits extend beyond wildlife. Fishing and hunting opportunities are increasing, and the marsh itself helps reduce flooding to nearby properties. When heavy tides or storms come in, the marsh can absorb the water, keeping it out of neighborhoods.

"I'm incredibly proud of this project, not only because of the habitat we are protecting but also because of the location," said Norris. "We're at the foot of the James River Bridge across from Newport News, Virginia. Thousands of people drive across the bridge every day and can see the work we're doing. Not only do people get to see it, but they also get to use it."

This project is one of dozens of habitat restoration efforts NOAA is funding in the Chesapeake Bay. Together, they are rebuilding habitat for fish, oysters , blue crabs, and other marine species while supporting the communities and fishing and tourism industries that rely on a healthy bay.