Deedee Morrison Sculpture
City of Norfolk Public Art Program - Norfolk, VA 2021
10’H x 5’W
Corten, stainless steel and resin
This is a story of the majesty and vulnerability of the Elizabeth River watershed and all coastal wetlands. Among the most productive ecosystems in the world, and once presumed dead, this watershed has taught us about the intricate connection of its flora and wildlife to our daily actions. As our knowledge grows, we celebrate the return of valuable species. We are now called upon to join the hardworking forces of this wetland to ensure generations to come may both marvel and understand its enduring worth.
The center panel is a polyurethane cast resin panel of the entire Elizabeth River watershed which is 64,000 square miles. The adjacent Corten and hand-forged stainless steel panels incorporate several of the local wetland species that are working for us on the frontlines every day.
The Elizabeth River watershed encompasses 250 square miles and includes the cities of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. It is part of an extremely productive and complex ecosystem that ultimately drains into the James River. Everywhere you look there is water - and this water is the economic lifeblood of the region. The estuarine emergent wetlands or tidal marsh is the intricate coastal ecosystem between all this water and the land that you are standing on - and historically much of the land that Norfolk was built on. These tidal wetlands play a critical role in Norfolk’s natural environment and healthy ecosystems. They protect our shores from erosion, reduce the impacts of floods by storing water, absorb pollutants, and improve overall water quality. Wetlands are also among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs in that they store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
The physical processes that drive the watershed ecosystem sustain the many habitats and organisms found there. Even the smallest creatures play a vital role in the overall health and production of this vast area. The entire watershed filter sediments and pollutants while supporting birds, mammals, and fish. Small fish and crabs find shelter and food among lush beds of underwater grasses. Unnoticed by the naked eye, phytoplankton and microzooplankton drift with the currents, becoming food for copepods and small fish. Clams and oysters pump water through their gills, filtering out both plankton and sediment. During the fall and winter, waterfowl by the thousands descend, feeding in wetlands and shallow waters. Bald eagles and osprey, perched high above the water, feed perch, menhaden, and other small fish to their young. The spectrum of aquatic environments, from freshwater to seawater, creates a unique ecosystem abundant with life.
Our wetlands are one of the most valued ecological resources in Virginia - but in the last 75 years an estimated 60 percent of our natural tidal wetlands have been drained or filled for agriculture, industrial facilities, roads/ports, and urban/suburban development. The cost to the health of the river has been significant - the Elizabeth River was once presumed dead as one of the most polluted rivers on the Chesapeake Bay. Slowly this has begun to change, as a result of government, business, and community environmental stewardship and partnerships. Twenty-two wetlands have been restored since 1995 and recently the area has celebrated the return of seahorses, river otters, and oysters. Everyone benefits from the healthy Chesapeake Bay.
Rising seas and localized land subsidence have led to Norfolk having the highest rate of relative sea-level rise on the East Coast. While global sea levels have risen 5–8 inches over the last century, in Norfolk, the sea level has risen over 14 inches since 1930. Each of us individually directly affects this watershed by adding waste, consuming resources, and changing the character of the land, water, and air that surround it. However, through the choices, we make every day, and a commitment to learn and understand the importance of this invaluable natural resource in our everyday lives - we can lessen our negative impacts on the Elizabeth River wetland’s health and contribute to its long-term health and wellbeing.