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                                                                                       Task 69


                                                                                       Final Product


                                    WESTMORELAND COUNTY
                                      COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
                                             1991 UPDATE



                               SHORELINE RESOURCES CHAPTER.
                                            DRAFT 9/10/91




              This draft was presented for public comment, along with the rest of the Reso-drces
              Inventory section of the draft comprehensive plan, at a public hearing before the
              Westmoreland County Planning Commission on October 2, 1991, and before the
              Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors on October 9, 1991. Drafts of the
              Policy Book and the Future Land Use Map are expected to be ready in early 1992
              with final public hearings and adoption of the comprehensive plan expected by
              May of 1992.

              This chapter was prepared with financial assistance in part from fim& from grant
              #NA90AA-H-CZ796 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended,
              administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National
              Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

              The following applies to maps 1-3 and 5-8:

                          Digital Data Source: Virginia Geographic Information System
                    Database (VirGIS).
                          Developed By: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division
                    of Soil and Water Conservation (DCR-DSWC) and Information System
                    Support Laboratory, Agricultural Engineering Department, Virginia Tech
                    (VPI&SU-ISSL).
                          Soils from USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS).
                          Land Use from National High Altitude Photography Program.
                          Slope and Erosion Index from USGS and SCS.









  Z-









                CHAPTER 2                SHORELINE RESOURCES



                      One of Westmoreland County's most valuable natural resources is the more
                than 250 miles of tidal shoreline. As population growth continues, the competition
                between the commercial seafood industry and the residential and recreational
                development industry for use of this resource win undoubtedly intensify.
                Population growth will also increase the need for open shoreline space for natural
                habitat. In as much as the use and development of shoreline resources is
                dependent upon local land use policies, this chapter has been developed as an
                informational database for the governing body to consult as it sets overall land use
                policies and as it decides individual land use cases.. It should also be consulted by
                those shoreline landowners who contemplate developing their land. This chapter
               -provides inventories of, analysis of, and maps of the following items:

                      1) Aquatic resources,
                      2) Major land use adjacent to the shoreline,
                      3) Water dependent facilities,
                      4) Public access areas, and
                      5) Shoreline erosion and accretion.

                      Where appropriate, resources for which the existing database is poor or
                noneidstence are identified and possible plans for obtaining the information are
                described.




                                             AQUATIC RESOURCES




                Surface Water

                      Westmoreland County has been blessed with over 15 square miles of good
                and high quality surface waters. These waters provide innumerable benefits,
                including recreational opportunities for boaters, skiers, wind-surfers and
                swimmers, and economic value from,commercial fisheries. Point and non-point
                pollution sources, both locally and regionally, impact the quality of surface waters
                available in the county. Overflows from the Colonial Beach Sewage Treatment
                Plant, septic system failures, irresponsible boaters dumping sewage overboard,
                erosion and sedimentation from construction activities, nutrient laden runoff from
                agricultural fields and waterfront lawns, and many other activities combine to
                have measurable impacts on water quality. Although actions are being taken to









               curb pollution from these sources, the value of surface water to the county
               warrants careful attention to its quality.


               Commercial Fisheries

                     Commercial fisheries has been a traditional industry since the founding of
               Westmoreland County. There is great concern, today, that this industry is in a
               state of serious decline from which it might never recover. A number of various
               'factors have, over the past few decades, reduced the total output from this sector,
               which is illustrated in Table 1 below. During the period from 1985 to 1989, the
               total marine resources harvested dropped from 8,214,511 pounds to 5,351,700
               pounds, a decrease of 34.9%. The value of the amount harvested, however, more
               than doubled from $1,575,041 to $3,464,796. Also, the pounds harvested in 1989
               represent a 46% decline from that of 1963 and a 44% decline from that in 1980.
               Obviously the lowering of the productivity of the county's marine resources needs
               to be studied in detail.

                     One cause of the decline in shellfish harvest is the amount of productive
               shellfish beds that have been condemned by the Health Department. Table 2 lists
               those areas that have been condemned either permanently or seasonally. During
               the 9 year period from 1978 to 1987, 314 acres of shellfish growing- area were
               condemned. This is an increase in the acres of dosed beds of 12%. In addition to
               shellfish bed closures there are other causes for the decline in the productivity of
               the county's marine resources. Other reasons include the increase in recreational
               boaters. While these boaters bring their own economic bonuses, their presence can
               result in economic loss to watermen. There are also environmental problems which
               result in a lower productivity of the marine resources. All told however, the
               National Marine Fisheries Service reports that in 1989, $3,464,796 worth of finfish
               and shellfish were harvested from the waters in and around Westmoreland
               County. Even though these commercial fisheries resources appear to be in a state
               of declining productivity, they are still important in the local economy.






               Wetlands

                     Wetlands provide numerous environmental and economic benefits including,
               but not limited to, ground water discharge and recharge, flood control,. shoreline
               erosion control, water quality improvement, wildlife refuge and fish spawning
               areas. Westmoreland County has a relative abundance of wetland areas. The Tidal
               Marsh Inventory, which was prepared by the Virginia, Institute of Marine Science,










                    Tabl e 1
                     Finfish      and Shellfish            Harvest, in Pounds
                     Source:      National Marine Fisheries Service,
                                Statistical Data, 1989





                         Species                           1963                 1980                1985               1989

                         Alewives                          3,970,700              144,700               47,500                100

                         Bluefish                             19,700              149,300               78,600              1,800

                         Carp                                 14,000                2,000               11,000              4,300

                         Catfish & Bullhead                   36,200               72,000                 600             19,000

                         Croaker                                1,500                    --               500                 500

                         Drum, Black                          19,500                     --           157,100                 100

                         Eels                                 29,300               61,500                 100             108,600

                         Flounder                                   --             17,100               2,600               1,400

                         Menhaden                          2,873,600            7,238,900           6,136,600          2,887,600

                         Sea Trout                              5,800             151,700               2,500             -,6,400

                         Shad                                 78,700                1,500                    --               300

                         Spot                                 66,300                2,000                 700             16,000

                         Striped Bass                         362,100             139,500             115,300

                         White Perch                          37,600               38,600               2,900                 800

                         Yellow Per@h                               --                   --                  --               100

                         Other Rnfish                         40,000                   900                                28,200

                         Total FInfish                     7,5552000            8,019,500           6,556,000          3,075,20

                         Crabs, Hard                       1,020,400              556,600           1,025,500          1,335,800

                         Crabs, Peeler                            n/a              18,100               6,100             14,500

                         Crabs,other                          19,800                7,900               13,000              8,500
                         Oyster, Public           1           606,000,1           427,500             238,000             515,700
                                                                                                                                 U

                         Oyster, Private                                          454,500             375,901
                                                              671,700                                                     402,000
                         Total Shellfish                   2,31817001           1,464,600           1,658,501T         2,276,5001

                         Total FInfish and                 9,873,700            9,484,300           8,214,501          5,351,70
                         Shellfish                         -                                                                  .00


                   locates over 2500 acres of tidal wetlands. These wetlands are shown on "Map 1,
                                                                            3








                                                     Tabl e 2
                                                     Shellfish Condemr2ations
                   Wetlands" in Appendix             Source: State Department: of Health
                   A of this chapter. The
                   Westmoreland County
                   Wetlands Board is                     Area                           Closed Acres       Closed Acres
                   charged with                                                          1978              1987
                   regulating the use of                 Monroe Creek                                413               426
                   these wetlands.                       Yecomico River                                63              128
                   Activities in tidal
                   wetlands, as defined by               Monroe Bay, and                            1095               1095
                   the ï¿½62.1-13.1, et. seq.,               Mattox Creek
                   of the Code of Virginia,              Nomini and Currioman Bays                   599               568'
                   require a permit from                 Lower Machodoc                               87               120
                   this board.
                                                         Rosier Creek                                113               119
                            In addition to               Gardner Creek                                 0                   0
                   the tidal wetlands,                   Bonum. Creek                                  0               127
                   there are potentially
                   tens of thousands of                  Jackson Creek                                 0                 24
                   acres of yet to be                    Cabin Point Creek                             0                 77
                   quantified nontidal
                   wetlands. Hydric soils                Popes Creek                                 262               262
                   are often used as an                  Total Acres Closed In                      2632              2
                   indicator of areas                     Westmoreland County
                   which may constitute
                   wetlands. Those areas
                   of the county which
                   contain hydric soils, and therefore may be wetlands, are shown on "Map 2, Hydric
                   Soils" in Appendix A of this chapter. This map indicates approximately 20,000
                   acres of hydric soils.

                            On September 12, 1990, Westmoreland County adopted the Chesapeake Bay
                   Preservation Area Overlay District, in accordance with the requirements of the
                   Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. Activities in some of the nontidal wetlands and
                   -all of the tidal wetlands in the county are regulated under these zoning
                   requirements. The wetlands so protected are shown on "Map 3, Resource
                   Protection Areas" in Appendix A of this chapter.




                                 MAJOR IAND USES ADJACENT TO THE SHORELM

                           The: major land uses adjacent to the shoreline can be categorized into the
                   following four groups:









                       1) Residential
                       2) Recreational
                       3) Commercial
                       4) Agricultural/Forested/Other

                The general use of the shoreline by these groups are shown on "Map 4, Shoreline
                Land Uses" in Appendix A of this chapter. The coulity has begun to develop a
                specific existing land use map using its new computer mapping resources. This
                process will probably take 12 months to complete. At that time, the more spbcific
                map, with its. quantifiable data, should be adopted into this plan. Until then,
                though, the general land use map must be used.


                Residential Use

                       Much of the tidal shoreline has been developed into residential subdivisions,
                although most have not yet reached full build-out. It is this shoreline residential
                development which accounts for almost all of the growth in the county and this
                growth is projected to continue at about the same rate - 10% per decade. Some
                portion of this growth will naturally occur in the existing subdivisions. However,
                this growth will generate pressure to convert less intensive shoreline uses, such as
                agricultural and forested lands, to residential uses. The Future Land Use Plan
                should note this development pressure and plan for it.


                Recreational Use

                       Those areas shown as Recreational Uses include around 20 marinas both
                large and small, Colonial Beach's public beaches, Westmoreland State Park,
                George Washington@s Birthplace National Monument, and Stratford Hall. The
                many marinas throughout the county provide a means for those citizens who do
                not own waterfront. property to access and use the Potomac River and its many
                tributaries. As of the writing of this chapter, the Ragged Point Marina is in the
                process of obtaining permits to expand. It has already been issued a Special
                Exception Permit by the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors to expand its
                facilities from 115 wet slips to 400 wet slips and to construct 400 dry storage slips.
                If this project is completed, Ragged Point Marina will be one of the largest
                marinas between Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, VA.

                       Westmoreland State Park is an important resource. It attracts tourists to
                the area, provides water access, and it is an important open space reserve which
                will only become more and more valuable as the county grows and as the shoreline
                develops. Likewise, Stratford Hall, although privately owned, is an extremely
                important component of the county's tourism industry, and it as also an important


                                                          5








               open space reserve. Finally, George Washington's Birthplace, is another large
               tourist attraction which is a public owner of a large segment of the shoreline.


               Commercial Use

                     The county's shoreline is dotted with small, individual commercial fisheries
               facilities, and a few conglomerations of commercial fishing facilities. As was stated
               earlier in this chapter, commercial fisheries are a large part of the local economy.
               On the land use scale, though, the are a very small user of the shoreline. In
               addition, the seafood industry is, and has been for several centuries, a unique and
               important part of the local culture.


               AgriculturaI/Forestry/Other

                     Agriculture and forestry are the largest aerial land uses in the county. They
               are also a significant portion of the shoreline lands uses. As the county continues
               to grow, though, these are the uses which will face, the most pressure for
               conversion to residential use. Such conversion has good and bad aspects. For
               instance, as forested land is converted to residential use, much wildlife habitat is
               lost. The value of the lost habitat is, however, dependent on site specific
               conditions. On the other hand, there are some agricultural uses where the
               shoreline faces severe erosion problems. The value of the agricultural use,
               however, may not be enough to justify the cost of shoreline protecti'on. If such land
               is converted to a residential use the value of the land may then be enough to
               justify the cost. such is the case with the Church Point Subdivision on the
               Potomac River. As an agricultural use, the land eroded some number of feet per
               year. Once it was developed as a subdivision, though, the entire shoreline was
               hardened with rip-rap revetment. The conversion of land from agricultural or
               forested land to residential uses does warrant the careful consideration by the
               Board of Supervisors on a case by case basis.




                                     WATER DEPENDENT FACELITEES

                     Water dependent facilities are defined in Section 74 of the Zoning
               Ordinance as:

                     it a development of land that cannot be located outside of the Resource
                     Protection Area and must be located on the Shoreline by reason of the
                     intrinsic nature of its operation. These facilities include, but are not limited
                     to (i) ports; (ii) the intake and outfall structures of power plants, water








                      treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, and storm sewers; (iii) marinas
                      and other boat docking structures; (iv) beaches and other public water
                      oriented recreation areas; and (v) fisheries or other marine resources
                      facilities."


                      From the discussion in the previous section, then, the water dependent uses
               are the recreational and commercial fisheries uses.!Mese two uses, however,
               represent the smallest portions of the shoreline. 'The location of the maJor water
               dependent uses are shown on "Map 5, Water Dependent Uses" in Appendix A of
               this chapter. As the specific land use map is developed, a map showing the
               locations of specific water dependent uses should be developed and adopted into
               this plan.


                                           PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS

                      The inventory of public access sites in Westmoreland County is small but
               significant. It includes:,

                      1) Colonial Beach's Public Beaches
                      2) George Washington@s Birthplace National Monument
                      3) Westmoreland State Park
                      4) Colonial Beach Landing
                      5) Currioman Landing
                      6) Branson Cove Landing
                      7) Bonums Landing
                      8) Smith Mount Landing

                      The first three of these public access sites were described above in the
               section on land uses adjacent to the shoreline. The other five sites are small public
               areas available to launch boats and are rather undeveloped otherwise. These sites
               are all very valuable to the many citizens who do not own waterfront property. All
               of these sites are shown on "Map 6, Public Access Sites" in Appendix A of this
               chapter.

                      The Department of Conservation and Recreation is currently preparing the
               Chesapeake Bay Area Public Access Plan in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay
               Agreement. Once this report if published it should be reviewed to determine if
               portions of it should be adopted into this CoTprehensive Plan.










                                          SHORELM EROSION

                     Most of the county's shoreline faces some degree of shoreline erosion. Those
              areas facing the greatest threat of erosion are shown on "Map 7, Shoreline
              Erosion" in Appendix A of this Chapter. In as much as shoreline erosion presents
              environmental problems and degrades water quality, development. along the
              shoreline, especially in the severely eroding areas, warrants careful consideration
              of impacts to erosion.                                                      I

                     The Virginia Institute of Maxine Sciences is currently preparing a more
              detailed study of shoreline erosion. As the results of this study which pertain to
              Westmoreland County become available, they should be considered for inclusion
              into this plan.




                                     Li   SH ORCLINE LAKll@ Uce-S

                                                         RES I v3erArr),
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                    Map 5, WATER DEPENDENT USES



                                            0 Major Water Dependent Facilities





                  Map 6, PUBLIC ACCESS SITES

                           Town of Colonial Becrh. Public Beaches
                           Calorial Beach Landing

               ANN&,.
                  j               George Washington's Birthplace National Monument
                                      Westmoreland State Park
                                                  Curnoman Londing


                                                                       Brarson Coya Landing

                    L



                                                                               Bont-ms Landing
                   Smith  Mount
                   Landing





                    Map 7, SHORELINE EROSION
                                               Erosion Rcke > 2 feet per year









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