The Mathews Land Conservancy launched its 2026 lecture series last Wednesday with a presentation on the Middle Peninsula Dredge Program. Lewie Lawrence, managing director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission and executive director of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority spoke to approximately 40 people, including property owners, business owners, municipality leadership, county employees, and representatives of several waterway/waterman organizations in the program, which was held at Williams Wharf Landing. Lawrence provided an update on the Middle Peninsula Dredge Program, sharing the past, present and future of this initiative focused on improving navigation and preserving the local waterway ecosystem. He shared that Virginia maritime legislation and zoning is based on the premise that the waterways are maritime highways, and traffic is critical to the local economy. There are 17 federally recognized navigable channels, and 120 shallow draft cha...