The Virginia coast offers a myriad of recreational opportunities, many of these requiring access to water like boating, fishing and swimming.  These activities support coastal tourism and in turn also help fuel the Commonwealth’s economy.  

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program has focused on ecotourism and created close to 60 public access sites since the program began in 1986.

With funding from NOAA, Virginia CZM has constructed kayak launches, boardwalks, observation decks, land and water trails, and interpretive signs and kiosks.

Public Access Accomplishments

One major accomplishment of Virginia CZM Program was creation of the Ecotour Guide Certification Program.

Another accomplishment has been the development of trails - on land and in the water.  Virginia CZM grants to the Department of Wildlife Resources in 1999 and 2000 designed the Coastal portion of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.  It incorporates 210 public and private sites into 18 loops--all viewable in a full-color guide.  In 2003, with CZM collaboration and funding, Accomack-Northampton PDC and Southeast Expeditions created an Eastern Shore Seaside Water Trail that gives paddlers an online, interactive portal to create their own trail map.