07/31/2026
Lake dredging update.
I spoke with the city public works engineer today with responsibility for the dredging project of the lake between KG Rd and the Lynnhaven baseball fields. Progress has been off and on and off again.
The holdup is the vegetation in the lake. Because of the invasiveness of the Alligator W**d in the lake, the city will not accept the vegetation into the spoils pit off Oceana Blvd. This was known at the time the project was scheduled to begin, but the hangup has been finding alternate methods to dispose of not just the vegetation but also the dredged bottom material. According to the city, this is the first time that a lake has been dredged with this type and amount of invasive weeds.
The current plan is to incinerate everything that comes out of the lake - mud and all. That will be done at a facility in Chesapeake. But first, the vegetation will be harvested using equipment possessed by the city of Norfolk and used in Lakes Smith and Whitehurst. I don't know what this equipment looks like but it is described as a large waterborne tractor-like machine that moves across the lake. Virginia Beach is working to contract with Norfolk to get this done.
The lake is still at the top of the city's list and it will be done, but the details and timing are still being worked out. I was told that a 1-3 month delay is likely. In the meantime, the excavator previously sited along KG Road has gone home. I asked the city to remove the orange road signs that were left in several front yards and not repost them until work resumes.
That is all the information that I have at this time. Updates will be provided as the KGCL gets new information from the city.
