Gloucester County has received $2,436,750 from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund to construct a living shoreline at Gloucester Point Beach Park.

In its proposal, the county stated that the project would include widening the beach, heightening dunes and installing plants and rock sills to mitigate flooding and erosion at the beach.

The beach riverward would be widened using a gapped rock-attached headland breakwater system and sand. This would increase the dune’s width and height, providing the beach with greater protection during storms.

Overall, the project details state that the system will consist of four structures which include a 64-foot extension to the existing spur at the park’s northern boundary, 80-foot and 112-foot structures on either side of the existing fishing pier and a 209-foot structure adjacent to the boat ramp at the southern boundary. Sand will be placed along the shoreline, attaching the structures and creating two stable embayments.

Gloucester County staff will manage permitting, procurement and con-struction of the project while staff from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Shoreline Studies Program staff will assist with project procurement and permitting and will conduct post-construction monitoring.

Construction of the living shoreline is slated to begin in April 2026 and last through June. The shoreline will be closely monitored by the VIMS team for 12 months after construction is completed.