Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic's Environmental Restoration Program representatives and community leaders recently toured St. Juliens Creek Annex (SJCA) to evaluate how the environment has been changing across the installation.

The visit focused on what changes have occurred over the past year, and what still needs to be improved. The SJCA installation hasn't always been mindful of plants, clean waters, and the homes of animals, birds, insects, and sea life. With the help of the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), local communities, and the shared goal to continue to clean, protect, and restore SJCA, things continue to improve and grow.

"For the past few years, I have seen this base transform. There has been a significant change in the variety of wildlife; herons, egrets, bald eagles, kingfishers, and blue birds that were never here before, but now call this place home," said Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), Satellite Communication Project Lead Dennis Long. "When this project first started, there really wasn't much here. Everyone is doing what they can to make this a better place, and with the help, we are well on our way for this place to be very eco-friendly."

Changes along the river, such as adding plants and thousands of clam shells, have provided multiple benefits including shoreline erosion protection, nutrients for the soil, and a safe haven for fish and small animals.

"We are seeing and learning changes that provide more food, which brings more birds, insects, all kinds of sea life to include sand crabs," said Long. "It is amazing to see how nature fixes and cleans itself up to make things better for everything and everyone. Just seeing the difference in the past couple of years makes it exciting to see where this place is going to be in five years, and further in the future. It is going to be full of fish, birds and all kinds of wildlife."

With the help of the RAB and volunteers, the once overgrown areas from SJCA to Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) are continually transforming into eco-friendly environments. With the help of volunteers, donated plants and shells, they are doing their best to keep nature on track to provide vegetation for landscaping and food sources, and treating the water to ensure it is safe for sea life, animals, birds, and eventually people.

"Keeping the water safe is vital to the environment and our personnel. We continue to monitor, sample, and test the water frequently to make sure the levels and conditions remain favorable," said Robert Bray, NAVFAC MIDLANT Engineer.

Testing and removing contaminants from the soil surrounding plants and water is another way of protecting the area from contamination runoff that may be in the water surrounding the installation.

"We put a lot of effort into keeping this project going. What we are doing here at St. Juliens Creek Annex is being put into place at our other installations. In one way or another, we are all connected, especially by the waterways and a contamination can affect us in many ways," said Bray. "This type of project keeps us well connected with the community."

For the past 20 years, NNSY and the Elizabeth River Project have been working together. "We have a lot of shipyard employees volunteer and help retain that partnership while improving the land and water that connect us," said Matt Peppers, Code 106 Innovation Branch Head. "What we do really does have an effect because we are now seeing the changes in wildlife and plant life on and off the installations. It is constantly improving."

Inspections of water and vegetation are performed by NNSY employees, city members, and Elizabeth River Project members to ensure safety and environmental growth up and down the river continue.

"It is encouraging to hear people want to be included and remain involved with the environmental project, whether it is for two years or 20 years," said Bray. "Having continued support of the community helps strengthen the relationship and team involvement that makes this a better place across the waterways."

Twice a year environmental teams meet up for a site visit and conference to discuss their annual accomplishments and their upcoming environmental goals that will improve the waterways and wetlands that connect the communities together.

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