The Goodwin Islands are a 315 ha (780 acres) archipelago of uninhabited salt marsh islands off the coast of York County, Virginia, at the mouth of the York River in Chesapeake Bay.[1] They are owned by the College of William & Mary and are managed on the college's behalf by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.[2] The sole means of transportation to the Goodwin Islands is by boat, with permission being required to perform certain activities.[2]

Goodwin Islands
Image of the Goodwin Islands
Goodwin Islands is located in Virginia
Goodwin Islands
Goodwin Islands
Goodwin Islands is located in the United States
Goodwin Islands
Goodwin Islands
Geography
LocationYork River east of Seaford
Coordinates37°13′00″N 076°24′00″W / 37.21667°N 76.40000°W / 37.21667; -76.40000 (Goodwin Islands)
Area1.21 sq mi (3.1 km2)
Administration
United States
StateVirginia
CountyYork County

The islands and their surrounding waters are home to many birds and fish, such as the mummichog.[3] Primary ecological community groups are situated on the islands, such as tidal meso-polyhaline marshes, maritime dune grasslands, salt scrub, and maritime upland forest.[2] Salt marsh vegetation throughout the island primarily consists of salt marsh cordgrass and salt meadow hay.[2] Shrub vegetation is dominant at forested wet land ridges.[2] The upland ridges of the largest island in the archipelago are home to oak and pine tree species.[2] Tides in the waters of the Goodwin Islands are semi-diurnal.[2]

Climate change has posed a significant threat to the islands, with shoreline erosion from storms frequently occurring and impacting local species.[1] A water monitoring program and a biological monitoring program have been active since 1997.[2]

The Goodwin Islands are observed to harbor prehistoric and historic resources; however, an official archaeological survey has not been conducted.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fisheries, NOAA (2023-10-23). "Monitoring Island Health in the Chesapeake Bay | NOAA Fisheries". NOAA. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Goodwin Islands". Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  3. ^ Ayers, Lisa Ann, "Finfish Communities of Two Intertidal Marshes of the Goodwin Islands, York River, Virginia" (1995). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1539617679.