Governor Abigail Spanberger visited Tangier Island, Virginia's last inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay, to discuss state conservation efforts and hear directly from local leaders about challenges facing the community. The visit coincided with a quarterly meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, an interstate advisory body focused on restoring and protecting the nation's largest estuary.
During the visit, the governor toured the island with Mayor Ooker Eskridge, visited the Tangier History Museum, and dined at Lorraine's Restaurant. She was accompanied by Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova, Marine Resources Commissioner Joe Grist, and a bipartisan group of state lawmakers.
Virginia's 2026-2027 biennial budget, signed in June, includes record funding for Agricultural Best Management Practices to protect water quality and improve soil health. The state previously signed bipartisan legislation addressing rising sea levels, protecting residents from PFAS in drinking water, and establishing the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund, which provides funding to local governments to prepare for flooding and other environmental disasters.