Northern Neck Water Trails: Currioman Bay Experience

This article by Guest Blogger Northern Neck Planning District Commission Environmental Planner Stuart McKenzie is part of an ongoing initiative by the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Access Authority, the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program and the Northern Neck Tourism Commission to promote the ten (and counting) Northern Neck Water Trails.

Heading downhill on Currrioman Road past several sorghum fields, the road narrows to one lane and you can smell the salt in the air. Currioman Landing is medium sized boat ramp facility located on Currioman Bay off the Potomac River near the mouth of Nomini Creek in Westmoreland County.  There was only one truck with an empty trailer when we arrived. The Currioman Landing boat ramp is concrete and sufficiently rough to allow the launching a canoe without worrying about slipping on algae. (See photo #1)

Photo 1:  Currioman Landing Boat Ramp

There is a nice little inlet with a sandbar that juts out to protect the Currioman boat ramp from the wind and waves. (See photo #2)

Photo 2: Protective inlet near boat ramp

Make note of the sandbar once you have paddled out into Currioman Bay, for a landmark to guide your return trip. Another useful landmark is a white house on the hill a few hundred yards downstream of the boat ramp.  Noting the appearance of these landmarks upon departing should lead to easy navigating back to the ramp.

When rounding the corner of the sandbar, the wind and waves became apparent. The wind was blowing from the Northeast, about 5-8 knots. As mentioned in the Currioman Bay Water Trail Guide, Currioman Bay is not very well protected from wind and waves (see Photo #3),

Photo 3: Currioman Bay

so this paddling trail is recommended for the more experienced (novice, or expert) paddler. The waves were manageable (no water was splashing into the canoe), and we headed into the wind, paddling the width of Currioman Bay to seek shelter from the wind near the shore of Hollis Marsh (Sharkstooth Island). NOTE: Sharks Tooth Island is privately owned and there is a permit and fee that must be paid to access the island, see

http://www.colonial-beach-virginia-attractions.com/sharks-tooth-island.html.

Paddling into the wind is not easy work, and is not very speedy, but we decided that paddling into the wind was best, as that way, on the return trip we would be going with the wind in a following sea making an easy to return to Currioman Landing with minimal effort. We did not land on Hollis Marsh, but instead skirted the island’s near shore (See photo #4 & #5).

Photo 4: Shark's Tooth Island in Currioman Bay

Photo 5:  Protected shore on Shark's Tooth Island in Currioman Bay

Photo 6: Comb jellyfish or Ctenophora

Next to the sandy shore, I noticed a comb jellyfish (See Photo #6), and remarked that this type of jellyfish does not sting (humans at least). The comb jellyfish moves by moving small hairs, called cilia that line the exterior of their bodies. There are often thousands of them in the waters of the Northern Neck, and you might not even see them unless you have polarized sunglasses that allow you to see past the water surface. We noticed a lot of sea grass (see Photo #7) on Hollis (Sharkstooth Island), and determined it was Phragmites. Phragmites is an invasive plant that spreads rapidly and crowds out native wetland vegetation. For more information on Phragmites, see http://www.fws.gov/GOMCP/pdfs/phragmitesQA_factsheet.pdf .

Photo 7: Phragmites

I cast a 4” chartreuse Gulp swimming mullet on a 3/8 oz. jighead a few times along the shoreline, and got a few nibbles, but was unable to catch any fish. The nibbles might have been small perch whose mouths were too small to swallow the bait, or my imagination. 

The sun was getting low in the horizon so we headed back. The wind provided most of the power, but we paddled to keep the canoe lined up with our destination. Here is a view of the sandbar from Currioman Bay that will guide you to Currioman Landing (see photo #8).

Photo 8: Use sandbar as point of reference on return to Currioman Landing

Press Release on Tourism Marketing Grant for Northern Neck

Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of the Lieutenant Governor

For Immediate Release:

September 28, 2010

Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Contact: Ibbie Hedrick

Phone: 804-786-2078

Email: Ibbie.Hedrick@ltgov.virginia.gov

Virginia Tourism Corporation

Contact: Tamra Talmadge-Anderson

Phone: 804-545-5573

Email: ttanderson@virginia.org

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING ANNOUNCES TOURISM MARKETING GRANT FOR NORTHERN NECK

-Regional partnership secures $7,500 grant to promote area to visitors-

Richmond, VA - Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling traveled to Montross today to announce a $7,500 tourism marketing grant to help fund an advertising and outreach campaign to promote the Northern Neck as a tourism destination.  The grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation is designed to assist local and regional tourism entities to leverage local marketing dollars.  The successful grant application was a partnership between the Northern Neck Tourism Commission, Westmoreland County, Richmond County, Northumberland County and Lancaster County.  The local partners provided a $15,000 match for the grant, making a total of $22,500 available to market the Northern Neck to potential visitors.

“Tourism is a proven revenue producer in Virginia. This grant will help the Northern Neck region increase its tourism revenue and give it greater exposure to prospective visitors.” said Lieutenant Governor Bolling.  “I congratulate the local organizations on their successful partnership for the benefit of the region.”

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program is designed to stimulate new tourism marketing through partnerships and to extend the “Virginia is for Lovers” brand.  The objective of this program is to leverage limited marketing dollars, resulting in increased visitor spending.  A minimum of three entities must partner financially to apply.  Partners may consist of Virginia towns, cities, counties, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, other local or regional destination marketing organizations, private businesses, museums, attractions, cultural events, and other not-for-profit entities.  In total, VTC awards approximately $1 million annually - matched and leveraged on average three to one by partner dollars - to more than 80 communities across the Commonwealth.

“Our agency is proud to support local and regional partnerships like this that will bring greater attention to the Northern Neck and its many tourism destinations.” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.  “This grant is a positive step to help the region market itself to prospective visitors.”

The Northern Neck is one of the most historic regions in Virginia and is the birthplace of George Washington, James Monroe and Robert E. Lee. The waters of the Potomac River, Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay provide a haven for boaters and water enthusiasts and have supported a fishing industry for generations. Colonial architecture, small town charm, Bed & Breakfast inns, wineries, historic sites, marinas and retail shops are among the valuable assets that attract visitors to the area. The marketing grant will help support advertising and outreach through magazines as well as participation in the VTC Consumer Travel Program.

Tourism generates $19.2 billion in revenue for Virginia, supports 210,000 jobs and provides $1.28 billion in state and local taxes for communities.

For more information about the Northern Neck area and travel and tourism in Virginia, visit www.northernneck.org andwww.Virginia.org or call 1-800-VISITVA to request a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

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