COMMISSION ACTIONS February 24, 2026

** APPROVAL OF AGENDA. THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA 7 TO 0.

1. MINUTES of previous meeting. THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 2025 COMMISSION MEETING 5 TO 0 WITH ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER HEDLEY ABSTAINING.

2. PERMITS (Projects over $1,000,000 with no objections and with staff recommendation for approval). THE COMMISSION VOTED TO APPROVE ITEMS 2A THROUGH 2F 7 TO 0.

3. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. NONE.

4. CLOSED MEETING FOR CONSULTATION WITH, OR BRIEFING BY, COUNSEL. NONE.

5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Nathan Everett, commercial waterman, asked the Commission for an extension of the period where commercial harvesters are allowed to take striped bass over 28 inches due to the economic impact of ice on the striped bass gill net fishery. Mr. Everett also made a request for commercial striped bass tags to be distributed earlier so the season can start January 1. Mr. JC Hudgins spoke on behalf of the Virginia Waterman's Association in support of Mr. Everett's request. The Commission did not make any motions regarding this request.

6. RECOMMENDATION Recommendation from the Commercial Fishing Advisory Board. THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FUND THE 2026 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OFFSHORE OCEAN PLANNING COORDINATION PROJECT TOTALING $175,262 FROM THE MARINE FISHING IMPROVEMENT FUND.

7. DISCUSSION Waterways Maintenance Fund. THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT THE VIRGINIA WATERWAY MAINTENANCE FUND GUIDANCE DOCUMENT.

8. DISCUSSION WMF Application: Emergency Maintenance Dredging of the Little Wicomico River. THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FUND THE EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE DREDGING OF THE LITTLE WICOMICO RIVER FOR 2.6 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE VIRGINIA WATERWAY MAINTENANCE FUND GRANT PROGRAM.

9. ROANOKE CEMENT COMPANY, VMRC #25-1129, requests authorization to construct a new 55-foot by 4-foot clear-span pedestrian footbridge placed a minimum of three (3) feet above Catawba Creek situated north of Interstate-81 and east of Catawba Road as part of the Roanoke Cement Company - Pedestrian Bridge project in Botetourt County. This project is protested by a nearby property owner. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED

10. ACCOMACK COUNTY, VMRC #24-2360, requests authorization to dredge approximately 90,000 cubic yards of sand from a subtidal shoal in Wachapreague Inlet and hydraulically pump the material north for the creation of approximately 205,000 square feet of tidal wetlands as part of a coastal resiliency initiative on Cedar Island, situated along Burtons Bay in Accomack County. This project is protested. THE COMMISSION VOTED 5 TO 1 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED WITH ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER HAND VOTING AGAINST APPROVAL AND ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER WHITE ABSTAINING.

11. TERESA JEPSON, VMRC #25-1712, requests authorization to construct a 16-foot by 18-foot open-sided gazebo on a statutorily authorized private pier along the Barn Creek shoreline at 1012 Gum Thicket Road in Mathews County. The project is protested by an adjacent property owner. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

12. SOUTH BAY SHORE, LLC, VMRC #25-1862, requests authorization to construct a 20-foot by 34-foot open-sided boathouse over an existing boat lift, and a 20-foot by 20-foot open-sided gazebo roof adjacent to a previously statutorily authorized private pier serving 1047 South Bay Shore Drive, situated along Little Neck Creek in the City of Virginia Beach. This project is protested by an adjacent property owner. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

13. STEVEN GREER, VMRC #25-1015, requests authorization to construct a 17-foot by 37-foot open-sided boathouse on a statutorily authorized private pier situated along Chisman Creek at 202 Cheadle Loop Road in York County. This project is protested by an adjacent property owner. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

14. SHELLFISH Joshua H. Webb Oyster Planting Ground Application #2021-068. Requests authorization to lease approximately 12 acres of oyster planting ground within the North Inlet in Accomack County. THE COMMISSION VOTED 6 TO 1 TO ASSIGN THE LEASE AS SURVEYED.

15. DISCUSSION Request for approval of the 2026 Oyster Replenishment and Restoration Plan (ORP) and the associated Procurements Procedures. THE COMMISSION VOTED 6-0-1 TO APPROVE THE 2026 OYSTER REPLENISHMENT AND RESTORATION PLAN (ORP) AND THE ASSOCIATED PROCUREMENTS PROCEDURES.

16. EMERGENCY REGULATION Proposal to adopt emergency amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-720, "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest" to adjust the 2025-2026 public oyster harvest seasons and areas. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7-0 TO EXTEND THE OYSTER SEASON BY EMERGENCY REGULATION IN AREA 8 IN THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AND THE POCOMOKE AND TANGIER SOUNDS BY TWO WEEKS. THE CLOSURE FOR BOTH AREAS WILL BE MARCH 15, 2026.

17. DISCUSSION Update and information on the 2026 speckled trout cold stun event.

18. DISCUSSION License Status Requests JEFFREY WEST (008996) - THE COMMISSION VOTED 6 TO 1 TO REINSTATE HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2025 COMMERCIAL FISHING LICENSE, OYSTER USER FEE, AND CRAB POT LICENSES. LELAND WITHROW (010337) - THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO REINSTATE HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2025 OYSTER USER FEE. NATHANIEL EVERETT (009293) - THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO REINSTATE HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 2026 SHRIMP TRAWL LICENSE.

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A. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, VMRC #25-1137, requests authorization to hydraulically renourish the existing beach within Public Works Cove situated along the Chesapeake Bay within the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story in Virginia Beach. Approximately 120,000 cubic yards of sand, dredged per cycle from near shore areas adjacent to Utah Beach, will be placed channelward of mean low water along the shoreline. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

B. DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES, VMRC #25-2392, requests authorization to expand and raise the existing riprap breakwaters, previously installed under VMRC permit #24-0055 along the shoreline of the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area, to include additional landward sand nourishment and wetlands plantings, danger marker piles, and oyster reef defender structures - situated along the James River in Isle of Wight County. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous Permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

C. FAIRWINDS LANDING, LLC, VMRC #25-1778, requests authorization to construct a 200-foot by 17-foot commercial floating dock with an 80-foot aluminum gangway adjacent to property leased from Norfolk Southern (500 Orapax Street) situated along the Main Stem of the Elizabeth River in the City of Norfolk. Staff recommends approval including a royalty of $7,200.00 for the encroachment of 3,600 square feet of state-owned submerged lands at a rate of $2.00 / square foot. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous Permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

D. DOMINION TERMINAL ASSOCIATES, VMRC #25-0415, requests authorization to hydraulically or mechanically maintenance dredge up to 80,000 cubic yards of state-owned submerged bottom on an as-needed basis to maintain depths of -57 feet at mean low water as previously authorized by VMRC permit #20-0320, adjacent to Dominion Terminal Associates Pier 11 (600 Harbor Road) along the James River in Newport News. Dredged material will be transported via barge to Craney Island rehandling basin or Shirley Plantation. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

E. NANCY LONGEST, VMRC #25-2377, requests authorization to extend an existing timber groin 20 feet landward and to construct an 8-foot spur on the channelward end adjacent to 155 Point Breeze Lane, situated along the Rappahannock River in Essex County. Staff recommends approval with an encroachment royalty of $8.00 for the encroachment of 8 square feet of state-owned submerged bottom at a rate of $1.00 per square foot. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous and Wetlands permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.

F. NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY, VMRC #25-2262, requests authorization to conduct bridge repairs on an existing railroad crossing of the Pamunkey River between New Kent County and King William County by installing 14 Helper Bent structures, as part of the Bridge NSR F-164.50 Rehabilitation Project. Staff recommends approval of the project with a time of year restriction of February 15 through June 30 for the protection of anadromous fish spawning runs, and the use of ramp-up procedures and cushion blocks for piling driving activities to protect native fish populations. This project requires a VMRC Subaqueous and Wetlands Permit. THE COMMISSION VOTED 7 TO 0 TO APPROVE THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED.