"Study Investigates Chesapeake Bay Storm-Surge Wall"

"The scientists want to be very clear: They are not saying we should build a storm-surge barrier across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

But they do want to know what would happen if we did. How would water move? What would happen to the ecosystem? Would it reduce storm flooding in cities such as Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Washington and Baltimore?

A team led by scientists at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is working on a study to understand the consequences of constructing a roughly 24-mile-long series of floodgates across the bay.

In theory, the structure would follow the route of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel between Virginia Beach and the southern tip of the Eastern Shore. It would open and close as necessary."

Aaron Applegate reports for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot July 17, 2014.