The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries is one of the most important and productive estuarine systems in the world, providing economic and social benefits to the citizens of Cape Charles and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The health of the Bay is vital to maintaining the Town of Cape Charles’ economy and the welfare of its citizens.
The Chesapeake Bay has been degraded significantly by many sources of pollution, including non-point source pollution from land uses and development. Existing high-quality waters are worthy of protection from degradation to guard against further pollution. Certain lands that are proximate to shorelines have intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform. Other lands have severe development constraints from flooding, erosion, and soil limitations. With proper management, they offer significant ecological benefits by providing water quality maintenance and pollution control, as well as flood and shoreline erosion control. These lands together, designated by the Town Council of Cape Charles as Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas (CBPA), need to be protected from destruction and damage in order to protect the quality of life in Cape Charles and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Chesapeake Bay Preservation
- Town of Cape Charles Resource Protection Area (RPA) Guidance for Sight Lines
- Cape Charles CBPA Map
- Cape Charles Resource Protection Area (RPA) Map
- Cape Charles Map-Draft January 2020
- Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation Riparian Buffers Modification & Mitigation Guidance Manual
- Virginia DCR & DEQ Riparian Buffers Guidance Manual - Appendix A thru C - Plant Lists
- Eastern Shore Native Plant Guide dated December 2016
- Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act Adaptation Measure Checklist
- Resiliency Assessment Final Checklist for Town of Cape Charles Staff
