Overview | Partners for Fish and Wildlife | Ecological Services–Virginia Field Office | Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Proposed Lake Tecumseh Weir Project

Lake Tecumseh is a shallow 261 acre lake located next to the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Water levels in the lake fluctuate due to wind-driven tides and a canal connecting the lake to Back Bay estuary. Recent studies identified Lake Tecumseh as a leading source of suspended sediment to Back Bay, a nationally significant estuary. Wind-associated wave action within the shallow lake suspends unstabilized bottom sediments and erodes shorelines. These fine sediments then drain from the lake into Asheville Bridge Canal and Back Bay Estuary. Suspended sediments negatively affect submerged aquatic vegetation, foul fish gills, and degrade waterfowl habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed the installation of low weirs between Lake Tecumseh and Asheville Bridge Canal to reduce the release of suspended sediment from the lake and improve aquatic habitat. Studies continue to assess the impact the weirs would have on flooding, water quality, fish, and wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently seeking support for the weirs from the public and the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, owner of the lake.

WHAT'S NEW HERE (Updated November 24, 2009)

Draft Boat Portage and Weir Design Drawings (1.8MB)
Corps four-week public comment period for Lake Tecumseh permit anticipated to begin in mid-December.
Original engineering study for Ashville Bridge Canal dated 1967
CNU Center for Wetland Conservation begins second year of turbidity study
Boat portage or roll over design status
The Fish and Wildlife Service applies for Corps permit to construct weirs
Hampton Roads Sanitation District Commission votes on weir project
Will phragmites close Hells Point Creek to boating?
Corps certifies lake will remain navigable waters of the United States
Data for water levels under the Sandbridge Road Bridge
Draft Weir and berm plans for Lake Tecumseh weir project (1.7MB)
New Lake Tecumseh hydrograph

PROVIDE COMMENTS: Express your opinion by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at willard_smith@fws.gov or the Army Corps of Engineers at katy.r.damico@usace.army.mil.

You may also write the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 6669 Short Lane, Gloucester, VA 23061.

*Two low weirs placed in canals connecting Lake Tecumseh to Asheville Bridge Canal would reduce the release of turbid water from the lake when winds and runoff increase.*	Boat access between Lake Tecumseh and Asheville Bridge Canal will be maintained by a boat portage, or roll over, mechanism similar to the one pictured above.	Project Goals and Accomplishments Click here to view goals for this project Project Status and History: Click here to find the current status of the project. There are no public meetings scheduled at this time. Please contact us if you would like to be notified of any changes in the project status. Slide presentation (14MB) given at the Sandbridge Civic League meeting on February 21, 2009 is available. Additional public meetings may be held at Lagomar, Ocean Lakes, and Sandbridge subdivisions. Please check back or contact us to be notified of future meeting dates if you would like to attend. Hydrology Monitoring : Hydrographs of Lake Tecumseh and Asheville Bridge Canal Aerial Photography : 1937, 1970, and recent aerials. Photo Gallery: View various pictures of Lake Tecumseh and the issues associated with wind tidal hydrology. Fish Kill of September 2008 Fish Spawning- Information on how the weirs will affect fish spawning in Lake Tecumseh