I know many of you are very interested in the progress of the proposed salt marsh restoration project at Pleasure House Point. In our initial statement on this project, we made a commitment to remove as many of the transplantable trees as possible; to work on a plan to protect the diamondback terrapin; and to monitor runoff into Pleasure House Creek throughout the project. At this time, I would like to update you on the progress that has been made in all three of those areas.
To get equipment to the 12-acre site where the excavation and restoration work will take place, an access road must be built. This will impact some more mature trees than those in the construction area. The access road has been adjusted to avoid some live oak trees that would have been removed.
The students from the Environmental Studies Academy did some excellent work identifying the trees with a 2 inch or larger diameter in the construction area. They found 5,200 trees and identified 78% of them as loblolly pines. The other 22% are a variety of species.
LRNow and City staff worked together to identify trees that were good candidates for transplanting. Over six shifts on three different days, 62 volunteers came out to help dig up and pot the trees that could be transplanted. The 650 trees that are now being cared for and will be transplanted in restoration sites throughout the city including all of the following species: red cedar, black cherry, southern magnolia, sassafras, various oaks including live oaks, wax myrtle, yaupon holly, and Baccharis. We appreciate the tremendous work of the volunteers and are thrilled that many of them took advantage of the opportunity to take a tree home for transplanting in their own yard. In addition to the trees, 225 grasses were also removed and will be transplanted in restoration projects in the city.
We have also helped to coordinate an excellent and knowledgeable committee to develop a plan for a barrier to keep diamondback terrapin out of the construction area. We consulted with a professor from the College of William and Mary, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources staff, and the Wetlands Institute in New Jersey to develop a plan for a barrier to prevent diamondback terrapin from entering the excavation and construction area. This barrier system has been used effectively on the Eastern Shore and on the New Jersey shore to keep terrapin off roadways and safe from cars. We have confidence in this system but will also be monitoring it regularly throughout the construction period.
As you know, there is a very healthy oyster population in Pleasure House Creek including on the 11-acre reef that was completed only three years ago by LRNow and CBF. We are committed to protecting the oysters in the creek from any sediment runoff from this construction. We will soon have a page on our website devoted to water quality monitoring in Pleasure House Creek including current, or baseline, monitoring of water clarity, also called turbidity. Throughout the construction period, we will monitor turbidity and post those results for you to see on our website.
There are still a few questions for which we are seeking answers including the plans for the trees that are removed and the plans for the sand and other dredge material that is excavated from the site. We are working on getting answers to those questions and will continue to keep you informed as the project progresses.
Thanks again to everyone who came out to help remove the transplantable trees and grasses.