By Mahogany Waldon, Director of University Communications
June 5th marks World Environment Day, a global initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to raise awareness and action for environmental protection. The day is a platform for individuals, communities, and governments to come together and address environmental challenges.
Along the banks of the Hampton River, where salt marshes meet academia and tradition flows as deep as the tides, a powerful rhythm has taken hold. Waders squish in the silt, gloved hands pass block after block, and the morning June sun glints off the water as herons stalk the shallows. This is not just a shoreline — it’s a living classroom, a sanctuary in the making, and a bold step in environmental restoration led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). This organization has been a valued partner of Hampton University’s Department of Marine and Environmental Science (MES) for over a decade.
Since May 8, community members, scientists, and volunteers have been knee-deep in one of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s most ambitious projects to date: the Pine Cone Harbor Living Shoreline Project. This undertaking marks the longest continuous shoreline CBF has ever installed — a stunning 1,078 linear feet.
But this isn’t your typical research expedition with clipboards and microscopes. This is about sweat, sun, and the satisfying heft of 30-pound blocks known as oyster castles. These rugged, interlocking concrete blocks are the foundation of future oyster reefs — structures that will stabilize the shoreline, filter the bay’s waters, and provide critical habitat for crabs, shrimp, and fish.
On any given day, the project site looks more like a choreographed dance than a construction zone. Kati Grigsby, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Restoration Coordinator, described the team’s daisy chain formation: “We had people spaced out from the marsh to the waterline, passing block after block. It was muddy. It was hard work. But it was beautiful to see everyone in rhythm, with a shared purpose.”
Decked in darkened sunglasses, safety gloves, and knee-high utility boots, the volunteer crew included bay enthusiasts, local environmentalists, and members of the university’s faculty, including Marine and Environmental Sciences Department Chair Dr. Deidre Gibson. As they moved through knee-deep marsh muck, great herons glided overhead, white pelicans circled, and blue crabs scuttled out of the way — a living testament to the vibrancy of the bay and the urgency of the work.
“Oyster reefs are somewhat of a silver bullet,” said Dr. Joey Reustle, MES assistant professor and CBF volunteer. “They do it all — filter water, protect shorelines, and create ecosystems. And the Chesapeake Bay region is leading the world in restoration efforts like this.”
Hampton University’s Department of Marine and Environmental Science, founded in 1978, is no stranger to bold action. Over the last two decades, with key support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the department has flourished as a hub for student and faculty research in living marine resources.
“We have some of the best shoreline in the region for this work along our campus,” said Dr. Gibson. “And Hampton University has become a catalyst for training marine scientists of color who are not only ready for the field but also changing the face of environmental science.”
That commitment to excellence will soon reach new depths: Hampton is preparing to launch its MES master’s program this fall, joining an elite group of only two other HBCUs offering graduate education in marine and environmental sciences. The other two institutions are the University of the Virgin Islands and Savannah State University.
“Since 2015, Hampton University and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation have cultivated a powerful partnership rooted in restoration, research, and real-world impact. Through our initial collaboration on a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant, our students gained invaluable field experience—collecting data, monitoring oyster populations, and engaging directly in hands-on environmental science,” said Dr. Gibson.
“These early efforts laid a strong foundation for continued collaboration, from advanced data collection using HYCAT technology to volunteer support for living shoreline installations along the Hampton River. Today, this work continues to evolve into a living shoreline classroom right here on our campus—an innovative space where research, restoration, and education converge to benefit our students and our coastal environment.”
The Pine Cone Harbor project is more than a feat of environmental engineering — it’s a symbol of Hampton’s unwavering dedication to protecting natural resources, empowering Black scholars in science, and serving as a leader in coastal resilience.
And in the shimmering morning light on the banks of the Hampton River, where castle after oyster castle now stands — mud-caked, interlocked, and defiant against erosion — it’s clear: this is what legacy looks like. This is what environmental leadership feels like.
