The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is pleased to announce it was awarded a $5,000 Stewardship Project grant from the Wetlands Watch. The grant provides funding that will allow the Foundation to continue enhancing its managed meadow in the Chelsea section of the trail. The Stewardship grant will help purchase supplies and materials to remove invasive species that have become overgrown in the area. It will supplement the surrounding area with native plant seedings; obtain a seasonal monitoring contract and add two interpretive signs to inform trail users of the habitat conservation, storm water resilience and bioretention efforts in the meadow.

The ERT will also benefit from a $10,000 Green Infrastructure grant awarded to Weyanoke Shoreline Restoration to complete the restoration of a residential tidal shoreline on Lambert’s Creek along the trail, adjacent to the Weyanoke Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary. The goal is to continue to remove invasive plants and replant with native plants to suppress their return, stabilize the shoreline and improve site resiliency.

“We are so grateful for these opportunities to continue enhancing and beautifying the trail,” said Kindra Greene, ERT executive director. “The additional signage will also educate trail users of the efforts to stabilize our environment in response to sea level rise.”

Wetlands Watch work where land, communities and water meet to conserve nature in a changing climate. The nonprofit organization works with both a top-down approach, through state and federal policy advocacy, and a bottom-up approach, using grass roots education and activism to influence local government land use and regulatory decisions. For more information, visit wetlandswatch.org.

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s mission is to create an inclusive and resilient urban riverfront trail that connects and inspires people and businesses in the Hampton Roads region. The Elizabeth River Trail runs 10.5 miles through businesses, historic attractions and 28 neighborhoods within a five-minute walk. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University, through Downtown Norfolk and Old Dominion University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. The Foundation has completed multiple new unique and award-winning amenities, including kayak launches, play sculpture and double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park and The Glowline. Major sponsors include Sentara and the City of Norfolk. For more information, visit elizabethrivertrail.org.

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