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Northern Neck Master Gardeners Highlighted at 2019 Water Steward Training
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At this year’s Master Gardener College Water Steward training, Northern Neck Master Gardeners made a special presentation on their successful Shoreline Evaluation Program.
By: Devon Johnson
Recently Master Gardener College Water Steward trainees learned about Northern Neck Master Gardeners’ Shoreline Evaluation Program, which provides homeowners in the Northern Neck with personalized recommendations to reduce shoreline and upland erosion and stormwater, pollutant and sediment runoff.
The training group also took a trip to a local property to see an example of a living shoreline installation and learn about practical issues related to installing such a feature. In favorable situations, a living shoreline uses vegetation to stabilize the shoreline rather than installing a stone revetment or bulkhead.
Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Water Stewards are specially trained volunteers uniquely equipped to provide education and support on water-related issues in their communities, such as stormwater management or erosion. While the challenges Water Stewards face differ across the commonwealth, the Northern Neck Shoreline Evaluation Program provides an excellent example of a program that can be applied in a variety of waterfront situations.
About the Shoreline Evaluation Program
In the early 2000s, a group of Northern Neck Master Gardeners became interested in improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay by promoting good shoreline management in their community.
After partnering with other volunteer organizations to build a demonstration living shoreline at a local museum, the group began working with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS). In 2012, after years of planning and organization, they launched the Shoreline Evaluation Program, which provides local homeowners with personalized reports on their property and recommendations for improving stormwater management, runoff, and erosion of their shoreline.
To date, the group has completed approximately 230 shoreline reports for properties in the Northern Neck. Each report involves an on-site evaluation of upland and shoreline property, an analysis of the sitespecific situation, and a soil test and nutrient management plan prepared by the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District.
Property owners receive a comprehensive written report with recommendations for
their property and a copy of Northern Neck Master Gardeners’ publication The Homeowner’s Guide to Shoreline Management.
The recommendations are based upon analyzing a shoreline property, integrating the effects of hardscape, sources of sediment and other pollutants, stormwater runoff, upland vegetation and the variables that affect shoreline erosion. Recommendations are then based on best management practices to address issues observed.
“Most of the recommendations we suggest cannot be implemented instantly. People use the report as a master plan and work on it over a period of time,” says Ian Cheyne, Northern Neck Master Gardener and leader of the Shoreline Evaluation group. “We normally suggest transformative changes-- not just planting one plant. We come up with many different things that need to be done, and when done, all work together to improve the shoreline. Most people take some action as a result of our recommendations,” he says.
Program Logistics
Northern Neck Master Gardeners who wish to volunteer for the Shoreline Evaluation Program must undergo a series of special trainings, including Water Steward training and training provided by VIMS. After receiving training, Master Gardeners work as apprentices with more experienced volunteers, assisting on site visits and in writing the shoreline reports that are provided to homeowners. This process may
Reedville Fisherman’s Museum shoreline before - Photo courtesy of Ian Cheyne
Reedville Fisherman’s Museum shoreline after installation of a living shoreline by Norfolk Master Gardeners and community groups - Photo courtesy of Ian Cheyne
take 1-2 years to get the volunteer up to speed.
Shoreline reports provide recommendations for improving upland stormwater management, pollutant and sediment runoff, and shoreline erosion. The report also includes a soil test and nutrient management plan prepared by the local Soil and Water Conservation District. For assessment of engineering-related issues (such as a failing bulkhead), property owners are referred to a shoreline engineer at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Northern Neck Master Gardeners currently aim to complete around 30 evaluations each year and property owners pay a $60 fee for their evaluation and report. The program is so popular that Northern Neck Master Gardeners must maintain a waiting list for the program.
According to Cheyne, once you factor in organization, travel time, time spent researching, and writing time, each evaluation and report takes the team of two a combined 15-20 hours to complete.
Before the Shoreline Evaluation Program officially launched in 2012, it took two years of training and organizing before offering services to homeowners. As the program has grown, Northern Neck Master gardeners have branched out to provide general
education on shoreline management to their community, and have recently begun working with homeowners’ associations.
“If you’re trying to get a project like this off the ground, it requires a long-term commitment,” says Cheyne. “Think about years not months. You need to have volunteers who are prepared and committed to that sort of a program. The group today acknowledges those efforts of the initial founders and VIMS who got the program off the ground,” he adds.
In the future, the group hopes to continue expanding its educational efforts and its work with local homeowners’ associations, possibly even training HOA representatives to implement principles of integrated shoreline management in their developments.
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For more information on the Shoreline Evaluation Program, please visit: https://shorelinennmg. weebly.com/ or the Northern Neck Master Gardener website at: http://www.nnmg.org/.
Water Steward training is one of three advanced training options available to Virginia Master Gardeners. Advanced training is offered each year at Master Gardener College on a rotating schedule. Training to become a Tree Steward or Land Steward is also available. Master Gardener College 2020 will feature Land Steward training.•
Recently Master Gardener College Water Steward trainees learned about Northern Neck Master Gardeners’ Shoreline Evaluation Program, which provides homeowners in the Northern Neck with personalized recommendations to reduce shoreline and upland erosion and stormwater, pollutant and sediment runoff.
The training group also took a trip to a local property to see an example of a living shoreline installation and learn about practical issues related to installing such a feature. In favorable situations, a living shoreline uses vegetation to stabilize the shoreline rather than installing a stone revetment or bulkhead.
Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Water Stewards are specially trained volunteers uniquely equipped to provide education and support on water-related issues in their communities, such as stormwater management or erosion. While the challenges Water Stewards face differ across the commonwealth, the Northern Neck Shoreline Evaluation Program provides an excellent example of a program that can be applied in a variety of waterfront situations.
About the Shoreline Evaluation Program
In the early 2000s, a group of Northern Neck Master Gardeners became interested in improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay by promoting good shoreline management in their community.
After partnering with other volunteer organizations to build a demonstration living shoreline at a local museum, the group began working with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS). In 2012, after years of planning and organization, they launched the Shoreline Evaluation Program, which provides local homeowners with personalized reports on their property and recommendations for improving stormwater management, runoff, and erosion of their shoreline.
To date, the group has completed approximately 230 shoreline reports for properties in the Northern Neck. Each report involves an on-site evaluation of upland and shoreline property, an analysis of the sitespecific situation, and a soil test and nutrient management plan prepared by the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District.
Property owners receive a comprehensive written report with recommendations for
their property and a copy of Northern Neck Master Gardeners’ publication The Homeowner’s Guide to Shoreline Management.
The recommendations are based upon analyzing a shoreline property, integrating the effects of hardscape, sources of sediment and other pollutants, stormwater runoff, upland vegetation and the variables that affect shoreline erosion. Recommendations are then based on best management practices to address issues observed.
“Most of the recommendations we suggest cannot be implemented instantly. People use the report as a master plan and work on it over a period of time,” says Ian Cheyne, Northern Neck Master Gardener and leader of the Shoreline Evaluation group. “We normally suggest transformative changes-- not just planting one plant. We come up with many different things that need to be done, and when done, all work together to improve the shoreline. Most people take some action as a result of our recommendations,” he says.
Program Logistics
Northern Neck Master Gardeners who wish to volunteer for the Shoreline Evaluation Program must undergo a series of special trainings, including Water Steward training and training provided by VIMS. After receiving training, Master Gardeners work as apprentices with more experienced volunteers, assisting on site visits and in writing the shoreline reports that are provided to homeowners. This process may
take 1-2 years to get the volunteer up to speed.
Shoreline reports provide recommendations for improving upland stormwater management, pollutant and sediment runoff, and shoreline erosion. The report also includes a soil test and nutrient management plan prepared by the local Soil and Water Conservation District. For assessment of engineering-related issues (such as a failing bulkhead), property owners are referred to a shoreline engineer at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Northern Neck Master Gardeners currently aim to complete around 30 evaluations each year and property owners pay a $60 fee for their evaluation and report. The program is so popular that Northern Neck Master Gardeners must maintain a waiting list for the program.
According to Cheyne, once you factor in organization, travel time, time spent researching, and writing time, each evaluation and report takes the team of two a combined 15-20 hours to complete.
Before the Shoreline Evaluation Program officially launched in 2012, it took two years of training and organizing before offering services to homeowners. As the program has grown, Northern Neck Master gardeners have branched out to provide general
education on shoreline management to their community, and have recently begun working with homeowners’ associations.
“If you’re trying to get a project like this off the ground, it requires a long-term commitment,” says Cheyne. “Think about years not months. You need to have volunteers who are prepared and committed to that sort of a program. The group today acknowledges those efforts of the initial founders and VIMS who got the program off the ground,” he adds.
In the future, the group hopes to continue expanding its educational efforts and its work with local homeowners’ associations, possibly even training HOA representatives to implement principles of integrated shoreline management in their developments.
For more information on the Shoreline Evaluation Program, please visit: https://shorelinennmg. weebly.com/ or the Northern Neck Master Gardener website at: http://www.nnmg.org/.
Water Steward training is one of three advanced training options available to Virginia Master Gardeners. Advanced training is offered each year at Master Gardener College on a rotating schedule. Training to become a Tree Steward or Land Steward is also available. Master Gardener College 2020 will feature Land Steward training.•
