A simple wall to stop shore erosion; difficult challenges protecting Chesapeake Bay watershed
Plus, James City Chesapeake Bay Board’s Waltrip finishes 3 decades of environmental management and protection
Earlier this month, the James City County Chesapeake Bay Board voted unanimously to approve a retaining wall exception for a residential property on Skiffes Creek. While the decision is routine on its surface, it reflects a complex regulatory framework meant to protect the Bay from stormwater runoff and eroding land. Because development within the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) is heavily restricted, the applicants were required to seek a formal special exception at the board meeting on February 11 for the retaining wall, which the applicants and county determined were necessary to stabilize slopes, manage water flow, and prevent further soil from entering the Bay ecosystem.
The majority of the 2-acre property sits within a protected buffer, and a county watershed planner confirmed that an actively eroding slope was putting soil and sediment at ongoing risk of entering the local watershed. A representative of the contractor hired by the applicant to build the retaining wall confirmed the erosion and outlined the proposed solution. “It is eroding, and part of the reason for the new retaining wall is to help keep the soil there at the front of the existing timber wall, as well as drainage for the back of it,” said David Soto of the Structures Group. He explained that the wall will reach a maximum height of five feet seven inches, and will be fitted with a face drain and gravel base drain to manage water flow and prevent premature failure.
Soto also noted that construction would stop seven to eight feet from existing tree centers to protect root systems, consistent with tree preservation provisions. Under county mitigation requirements, the 100 square feet of disturbance created by the project obligates the planting of six shrubs, though the applicants proposed 21 significantly more. The board’s approval included several conditions, including securing all required permits, posting a $2,000 surety bond to ensure the plantings are completed, and beginning construction no later than February 11, 2027.
Recent reports on Bay health
Efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay have been underway for decades, driven by a regional partnership among states and federal agencies committed to reversing long-term environmental decline. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, first signed in 1983, stands as the cornerstone of that effort and has been updated several times to reflect new science, policy priorities, and restoration targets. The most recent revision, completed in December 2025, organizes restoration around four goals: Clean Water, Thriving Habitat, Healthy Landscapes, and Engaged Communities, each with concrete targets for reducing pollution, restoring key habitats, protecting additional land, and expanding public engagement. It is against this backdrop of sustained, coordinated action that the 2025 data reports offer their most important insights.
Nutrient pollution is especially harmful because it fuels algal blooms that block sunlight and deplete oxygen levels, contributing to seasonal low-oxygen “dead zones” that can stress or kill fish, crabs, and other aquatic life. Together, the reports confirm that mitigation efforts are producing measurable reductions in pollution, but that progress within the Bay itself remains gradual, requiring continued land stewardship, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation.
Two assessments released in late 2025 confirm that nonpoint source pollution remains the primary driver of water quality problems in the Chesapeake Bay, a 64,000-square-mile watershed spanning six states and the District of Columbia. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science released its 2025 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card, and the U.S. Geological Survey issued a status report on pollution trends. Unlike pollution from a single identifiable source, nonpoint source pollution is carried by rainfall and snowmelt across fields, developments, and disturbed land, picking up fertilizers, sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants before depositing them into streams and rivers.
The UMCES 2025 Report Card reflects these ongoing pressures. The Bay received an overall grade of C, a decline from the previous year, which researchers attributed largely to extreme weather in 2024 and heavy downpours that increased runoff of fertilizer, soil, and debris. Long-term trends, however, show improvement since the 1980s, with dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, and nitrogen all showing positive trajectories. Water clarity and algae levels remain areas of concern.
A report from September 2025 by the USGS presents a similarly mixed outlook. Monitoring data show that the total amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment entering the Bay are declining, evidence that conservation practices, wastewater upgrades, and stormwater controls are working. However, overall water quality conditions within the Bay have remained relatively unchanged, as legacy nutrients stored in soils and sediments, along with increasingly intense rainfall, continue to slow visible recovery.
In response to continued need to minimize the impacts of pollution on the Bay, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) launched a $20 million pay-for-outcomes pilot program. Recipients of the State grans will be paid based on the actual pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution they successfully remove or prevent from entering the watershed. Project funded by the DEQ range from agricultural land conversions and septic system upgrades, to oyster reef restorations and ammonia filtration technologies. Together, these projects are projected to remove approximately 580,000 pounds of nitrogen at an average cost of $32.73 per pound.
Honoring Larry T. Waltrip for 3 decades of service to the Chesapeake Bay
The meeting closed with a moment of special privilege honoring the retirement of Larry T. Waltrip, who represented the Berkeley District and whose appointed term was set to expire February 28, 2026. Waltrip had served continuously on the Wetlands Board since September 6, 1994, and on the Chesapeake Bay Board since January 1, 2004 — a combined 31-year tenure of public service. A joint proclamation signed by Chesapeake Bay Board Chairman Charles Roadley and Wetlands Board Chairman Michael O’Brien recognized his dedication, leadership, and the fair and impartial decisions that, according to the proclamation, fostered and maintained exceptional public access to both regulatory boards. Fellow members described him as a vital voice of wisdom for newer board members navigating complex environmental regulations.
In his final remarks, Waltrip expressed gratitude to his colleagues and county staff. “I’d like to thank the members of the board, all of James City County’s people that make this happen,” he said. “I feel good about it. I’m very honored that I have been able to serve on the board and maybe make a little bit of difference in the outcome for our residents. I just want to say thank you — any way I can ever help you all, even though I’m retiring from this, I’m still here if you need me. Thank you very much.”
Thank you Mr. Waltrip!
The writer used AI tools and these sources:
“Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Shows Mixed Results” - U.S. Geological Survey
Video - Chesapeake Bay & Wetlands Board Meetings – February 11, 2026
Agenda - Chesapeake Bay & Wetlands Board Meetings – February 11, 2026
James City County 2016 Skiffes Creek Watershed Water Quality Report
EPA - Basic Information about Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
“Old chemicals and new concerns” - Chesapeake Bay Program
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) website
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