DoD Chesapeake Bay Program

Fort Indiantown Gap’s (PA) conservation unit controlled and treated invasive species, such as mile-a-minute weed, Ailanthus, Japanese barberry, and Japanese stilt grass, which displaces native species and decrease the ability of their habitat to support fauna. With thorough research, the unit has identified chemicals (herbicide mix) that effectively treat these species. It maintains a database that is used to track their occurrences and treatments over time with the following treatment factors in consideration: sensitivity of the area, specific training needs, fauna of concern, and species threat level. A near-term recommended management action is to have an invasive species removal/eradication best management practice put in place. Invasive species management helps create a durable, safe, and realistic training environment for Army personnel and maintains resilient native ecosystems and wildlife habitat.

Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico (VA) installed two new wave attenuation structures (WAS) through the Navy Environmental Restoration Program at two Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remediation sites that discharge into the Potomac River. The sediment and vegetation along the shorelines were slowly eroding and causing a loss of habitat. The WAS now provide enhancements in shoreline structures and wetland plants that prevent erosion and restore valuable aquatic habitat. Additionally, this work included shoreline trash collection, sand replenishment, and the planting of 130 common three-square (Schoenoplectus pungens) and 130 soft-stem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) on 2-foot centers over approximately 1,040 square feet. This benefits the Chesapeake Bay by preventing the migration of pollution into the Potomac River.

99th Readiness Division (RD) Maryland (MD) planted two pollinator gardens at the entrance of the 1SG Adam S. Brandt United States Army Reserve Center, which is less than 1 mile from Curtis Creek (feeding into the Chesapeake Bay). This area was previously covered with a monoculture of lawn grass. In the gardens, a diverse wildflower seed mix (e.g., black-eyed Susans and sweet alyssum) was planted to maximize pollinator habitat diversity. Several months later, a variety of flowers in different shapes, sizes, and colors were blooming and attracting monarch butterflies. The gardens also provide shelter and food resources for other native pollinators, such as bees, moths, wasps, and beetles, which all play important roles in the larger Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

Fort Walker (VA) partnered with The Conservation Fund and Virginia Outdoors Foundation to acquire conservation easements and conserve 373 acres of land on the Gouldin Farm property. The land is located approximately 2 miles from the northeastern boundary of Fort Walker and falls within Fort Walker’s ACUB highest priority zone. This property is located approximately 1 mile south of a growing high density residential area and these conservation easements will greatly limit any additional encroachment in the future and protect the on-going military training mission at the installation. The acquisition also maintains undeveloped lands along the scenic Rappahannock River and directly contributes to the restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Board, Inc., is constructing 4,870 linear feet of living shoreline at NAS Patuxent River (MD) to safeguard two key Navy helicopter landing zones and the habitat for the at-risk Northern Diamondback Terrapin along the Patuxent River. The construction is expected to be complete by summer 2025. The areas neighboring the installation are vulnerable to sea level rise and strong wave energy that have exposed the shoreline and accelerated erosion. In fact, about 31.5 acres have already been lost to erosion, and sea level rise is predicted to be about 18 inches within the next 30 years. This 2023 project funds nature based solutions along 1,200 feet of shoreline and includes creating offshore breakwaters, restoring inland marsh habitat, and regrading steep cliff banks. REPI funds of $2.4M and partner contributions of $2.7M are being used to implement this project.

NSA South Potomac – Dahlgren (VA) partnered with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation and the Trust for Public Land to purchase conservation easements to preserve key parcels of land totaling 442.9 acres. The parcels located along the Potomac River corridor are critical to the long-term viability of the Potomac River Test Range. The range is a one-of-a-kind testing environment that extends more than 50 miles southeast from Dahlgren to the mouth of the river at the Chesapeake Bay. This project limits incompatible development and preserves the existing mosaic of agricultural fields, forest, and waterbodies that make up the property. It also creates buffers and green belts around installations and their ranges to slow urban sprawl while aligning with state and local land conservation goals.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana (VA) along with the DoD CBP, hosted a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) event at the NAS Oceana Air Show in September 2023. More than 6,000 5th-grade students from the cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, along with civilians and veteran families, attended. The event provided static environmental literature and interactive exhibits that highlighted the importance of recycling and proper waste disposal. Also, through a hands-on watershed model called an Enviroscape, students discovered how different land uses, including residential, industrial, and agricultural activities, can contribute to stormwater pollution. The contributing teams look forward to continuing this engagement in 2024.

Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall – Fort Lesley J. McNair (VA) held two base-wide cleanup events in SY2023 (September 2022 and April 2023). The semi-annual cleanup efforts are installation-wide and include the outside areas within 50 feet of buildings, barracks, and commercial spaces to remove unserviceable equipment using recycling locations when possible, and dispose hazardous materials, trash, and debris from around the installation. Each 5-day event engaged enlisted personnel, civilian employees, and residents of the installation who represented all directorates, supporting units, and partners who cleaned up the areas around their buildings and pre-assigned designated areas. In September 2022, 100 pounds of hazardous waste and 50 pounds of non-hazardous waste was removed from the installation. In April 2023, 50 pounds of hazardous waste and 15 pounds of non-hazardous waste was removed.

Marine Corps Base Quantico (VA) along with the Quantico Gardening Club, Conservation Volunteer Program, Single Marine Program, and Quantico High School JROTC, held an environmental educational event for local students on-base. The students helped install a rain garden with pollinator plants and learned how the garden will help meet the installation’s MS4 requirements and create a healthier Chesapeake Bay. Native species such as stonecrop sedum, common black-eyed Susan, and purple coneflower were planted. These gardens create homes for crucial pollinators such as bees and butterflies and demonstrate how practices that support pollinators align with Quantico’s environmental objectives by nurturing a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem.

Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (VA) initiated construction of a dry detention pond in an unutilized open field to treat approximately one acre of impervious land including a combat support facility. The 0.4-acre pond was built in the center of the base and will also treat runoff from the adjacent golf course. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater Design Specifications were used to design the pond and provide guidelines for vegetation management. Floating, submerged, and emergent aquatic vegetation will work in concert to remove nutrients and sediment in the base’s stormwater runoff. In addition to water quality management, the pond was designed to mitigate the potential for flooding that could impact critical assets or impede mission operations.

Fort Belvoir (VA), in partnership with Aerospace Data Facility – East (ADF-E), installed three dry detention ponds and three proprietary stormwater treatment devices (jellyfish filter systems), also known as manufactured treatment devices. Together, the efforts of the ADF-Efunded project treated 3.65 acres of impervious land. This system removes floatables, oils, total suspended solids, and particulate-bound pollutants like phosphorous, nitrogen, metals, and hydrocarbons, which in essence pretreats stormwater runoff prior to flowing into the dry detention ponds. The dry detention ponds provide further treatment by allowing particles and pollutants to settle and by reducing peak flow rates. This initiative contributes to the improvement of the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality and restoration of its ecosystem.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Eustis) (VA) converted 3.4 acres of turf land to a mixed-use open land consisting of native wildflower/grass blends and fire tolerant long leaf pine and hardwood species. The project included ten locations, 21 sites total, throughout the installation where old infrastructure was removed, fallow land occurred, or training areas were no longer in use. Turf areas were being routinely mowed, were unused, or were not maintained, and invasive species were becoming dominant. After full restoration, these sites now serve as valuable greenspace, and provide erosion/runoff control that improves water quality. The restored sites also include non-water quality benefits such as: realistic military training, bird/ wildlife watching, monarch butterfly conservation, and other outdoor recreational activities.