Dear Friends and Supporters,
We’ve just received an important update from Smith Point Marina, which was sent to the Rappahannock Record and the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors following the recent coastal storm.
This update confirms what many of us have feared — the south jetty wall has overtopped, shoaling is coming from two directions and the situation is worsening. Your continued support is critical as we push for immediate action.
-------
📰 November 3, 2025 Message from Smith Point Marina
(Shared with permission — email originally sent to the Rappahannock Record, the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, and the County Planner)
Good Morning,
Here is an up-to-date status of the Little Wicomico River Jetties. The picture is from November 1, 2025.
Coastal flooding and storm winds from October 20–28 have caused overtopping and a possible breach in the South wall of the Little Wicomico River Jetties. This has happened on a smaller scale two other times this year and it exacerbates the already critical blockage of the mouth of the jetties by many years of silting.
While dredging of this Federal Project dating from the 1930s has been requested from Federal and local officials and an online petition of almost 1,000 homeowners on the river has been signed, there is currently no funding designated to ameliorate the situation.
With overtopping of the south wall for a length of over 100 feet, and the scouring of the adjacent beaches, the probability of a permanent breach and additional silting exists. Jetty repair is expected to cost additional money over what has been previously envisioned.
The jetties were installed following major hurricanes in the 1930s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and until 2007 were routinely dredged by them. It has been recognized for some years that the rise in Chesapeake Bay levels has combined with subsidence of the almost 90-year-old Jetty Rock Walls to make them more vulnerable to overtopping — but this is the first documented example of overtopping caused by a storm which did not exceed Nor’easter strength. A stronger or longer storm could result in permanent displacement of the existing rock structure in the future and cause eventual repair costs to increase greatly.
The result of this is the jetty channel is now being filled in from two directions and the closing of the river is being hastened. Boaters should be aware of the hazards of trying to enter or exit the river under these circumstances.
--------
⚓ A Message from Sandy Maynard
Dredge the Little Wicomico River Jetty, VA
💙 Here’s How You Can Help Today
This update underscores why your voices matter so much right now. Northumberland County and the Northern Neck Planning District Commission have identified potential dredge material sites and are working to finalize the permit — key steps toward state and federal approval for the project to compete for funding in early 2026.
✅ As of this post we are at 1,057 Signatures! Numbers matter! Please keep them coming. Remember every adult member of your household can sign. Sign & Share the Petition—No donation is necessary
👉 https://www.change.org/p/dredge-the-little-wicomico-river-jetty-virginia
✅ Tell Your Story
Have you seen shoaling, grounding, or safety issues near the jetty? Share your experience in the petition comments or email DredgeLWJettyVA@gmail.com — real stories are what get officials’ attention.
✅ Spread the Word
Forward this update to friends, neighbors, watermen, marinas, or local groups who care about our Chesapeake Bay waterways.
Let’s work together to protect this historic connection to the Chesapeake Bay — for the mariners, watermen, oyster growers, boaters, and rescue crews serving the Chesapeake Bay who depend on it today, and for the generations who follow.
With appreciation,
Sandra (“Sandy”) Maynard
for Dredge the Little Wicomico River Jetty, VA
📧 DredgeLWJettyVA@gmail.com
Photo courtesy of Smith Point Marina