Help Your Coast | Virginia DEQ

Restore Oyster Reefs and Seagrass Beds to Our Coastal Waters

Become an oyster gardener ---

VA CZM Oyster Gardening page --- download the Virginia Oyster Gardening Guide to learn how.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Oyster Gardening - https://www.cbf.org/how-we-save-the-bay/programs-initiatives/virginia/oyster-restoration/oyster-gardening/

Tidewater Oyster Gardeners Association --- ally with fellow oyster gardeners - these associations provide great support, information and opportunities to cooperate with other oyster gardeners.

Learn more about oysters and efforts to restore oyster reefs ---

Virginia CZM Program Oyster Restoration

Virginia Seaside Heritage Program ---

Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Oyster webpage

Learn more about eelgrass and efforts to restore this important coastal habitat ---

Virginia CZM Program Seagrass Restoration

VIMS Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) webpage

Create a Living Shoreline

Help Protect Habitat and Open Space - Put Conservation Easements on Your Property!

Plant Native Trees and Shrubs and Flowers for Wildlife Habitat and Riparian Buffers

Plant Virginia Natives --- Planting natives and increasing native vegetation is a great way to practice coastal stewardship, protect wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and save time and money. Regional native plant guides are available for Northern Virginia, the Eastern Shore, the Central Rappahannock area, the Northern Neck, Southeast Virginia (including the Hampton Roads region) and the Northern Piedmont. View and download the guides at www.PlantVirginiaNatives.org.

Is this plant native to where I live? - check quickly and easily on the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora

Learn how to create wildlife habitat in your backyard - download a guide - visit the Department of Wildlife Resources Habitat at Home webpage

Virginia Dept. of Forestry forest conservation webpage

Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage Native Plants webpage

Virginia Native Plant Society

Help Control Invasive Plant Species

Increase Your Knowledge of Virginia's Maritime History and Help Protect these Resources

Discover Virginia Archaeology Month --- Every October, Virginia Archaeology Month highlights the importance of our unique archaeological resources to tourism, to education, and to understanding the past. Events range from exhibits, lecture series, and tours, to special hands-on children’s programs and take place at libraries, museums, historical societies, and on active archaeological sites. For further information, including suggestions for hosting activities, visit the Virginia Dept. of Historic Resources website, and join in the fun and fascination of Virginia archaeology.

Support wildlife watching and other forms of ecotourism

Explore Virginia Water Trails --- explore Virginia Water Trails website to discover world-class ecotourism destinations across rural coastal Virginia on the Eastern Shore, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

Traverse the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail --- Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail maps and trail descriptions are available on-line

Visit your closest State Park --- Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks

Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources

Take a dolphin or whale-watching trip and Learn more about our marine animal populations --- Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

Be a Virginia Ecotourist --- Look for excursions and guides who demonstrate that they help protect our natural resources - Tips for Responsible Wildlife Viewing. Check out these lists of certified guides.

Become a Volunteer Citizen Water Quality Monitor

Virginia Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Program --- Hundreds of Virginians volunteer their time to monitor the quality of Virginia's waterways. Becoming a volunteer monitor is easy. No special background is needed and any age group can participate. An existing organization working in your local watershed is a good place to start. Local organizations can usually provide the training and equipment needed. To find out if there is an existing program in your local watershed, contact the Virginia Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Program at (804) 698-4000 or toll free in Virginia (800) 592-5482.

Become a Chesapeake Steward

VoiCeS (Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards) --- This 8 week adult education course, offered by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, includes a series of in-depth volunteer training classes. Following this training, participants are asked to perform a minimum 40 hours of volunteer service for a Bay-related project over the subsequent six months. Successful graduates will receive CBF’s designation as a “Chesapeake Steward.” The course is free with a materials fee and advanced registration is required.

Alert Officials to Fish Kills, Oil and Toxic Chemical Spills

Identify Common Wildlife in Your Area

Use Your Water Wisely!

Learn About Septic System Placement and Maintenance

Participate in Environmental Education

Join the Virginia Association for Environmental Education on-line to learn what this statewide environmental education initiative offers and what membership can do for your organization.

Discover, Learn and Teach more about the ocean and our coastal resources ---

'BRIDGE' website --- on-line marine education materials.

NOAA National Ocean Service Education Page --- educational resources on oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation.

Project WET

Project WILD --- Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources

College of Exploration --- a not-for-profit educational organization which designs, develops, delivers, and evaluates education programs, workshops, courses, events and collaborative learning environments for learners of all ages, with a particular emphasis on Web-based courses and workshops for educators, teachers, and students.

Virginia's Water Resources: A Tool For Teachers --- Clean Virginia Waterways - includes a new curriculum packet 'Virginia's Water Resources: A Tool for Teachers' and a great listing of web links to other environmental education resources.

Join the Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association --- The goal of the Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association is to improve education about all aspects of marine and aquatic environments.

Participate in Recycling and Litter/Trash Removal

Learn more about marine debris issues in Virginia

Participate in a cleanup ---

International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) - Virginia Campaign - http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/GetInvolvedPage.html --- Every September and October, volunteers across Virginia gather along our shorelines to pick up trash. Using 'International Coastal Cleanup Data Cards' from the Ocean Conservancy, they also help collect valuable information about the amounts, types and sources of debris found along Virginia's waterways. Participate in a clean-up near you or organize a clean-up in your area. Visit the Clean Virginia Waterways website (Virginia ICC Coordinator) for a list of registered sites or to register a new cleanup site.

Annual Clean the Bay Day event

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Live in the Hampton Roads Area? - Check out the many 'green' activities and programs available to you. - Go to AskHRGreen

Increase Your Knowledge of Our Ocean Resources

Ocean planning in Virginia and in the Mid-Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal --- an online toolkit and resource center of ocean resources and human use information such as fishing grounds, recreational areas, shipping lanes, habitat areas, and energy sites, and more.

The Ocean Project --- an international network of aquariums, zoos, museums, and conservation organizations working to create an understanding among their visitors and members of the significance of the oceans and the role each person plays in conserving our ocean planet for the future.

Ocean Conservancy

NASA Oceanography Website --- NASA Oceanography describes why NASA studies the ocean.

Participate in Local Environmental Festivals

Recycle Your Oil and Antifreeze/Dispose of Pesticides and Household Chemicals Properly

Help Reduce and Prevent Pollution

Volunteer at a Virginia State Park