Guinea Marsh Islands

This site, reachable by water access only, contains nearly 190 acres of wetlands and marshland zoned as a conservation district in the Mobjack Bay near the mouth of the York River. The primary parcel, a portion of “Great Island,” contains about 90 acres. This site also includes four smaller islands that collectively contain nearly 100 additional acres of wetland and marshland. Nearby, eelgrass meadows support a variety of marine life, including fish, turtles, and crabs.

These islands are critical for storm surge protection for the communities behind them, since they shield against the fetch coming in from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The area of Gloucester County near the islands is primarily mixed residential properties, with a clustering of residential homes in small subdivisions.