NORFOLK—Gov. Ralph Northam visited the Elizabeth River Project’s Learning Barge on Thursday, November 19, where he celebrated the restoration of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River and announced $10 million in new funding to support future oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay.
This spending commitment marks the first time that capital funds, which are typically reserved for infrastructure projects, have been explicitly used to restore Virginia’s natural resources.
“Virginia has made tremendous progress in improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, reviving oyster habitats, and building a legacy of environmental stewardship,” said Gov. Northam. “This investment is a recognition that our natural assets are just as important as roads and buildings. The new funding stream…