Workers deploy a carbon barge as part of the process of replacing contaminated sediment at the bottom of Paradise Creek in Portsmouth.

Coastal Virginia Conservancy has completed the first of three phases of its sediment restoration project in Paradise Creek, situated on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth.

The achievement marks a milestone of restoring 26 acres to date in the 20-year effort to revitalize the ecological health of the region’s waterways and coastal lands, the conservancy said in a news release.

Paradise Creek, once marred by the remnants of past industrial activities, is undergoing a transformation thanks to the efforts of CVC.

Contaminants such as organic oils and PBCs, a waste product of industrial activity, had accumulated in the creek’s sediment, posing threats to the local wildlife.

Over the course of the first restoration phase, 5 million pounds of contaminated “hot spot” sediment were removed from the creek bed. Clean sand was backfilled in, and a contaminate-absorbing activated carbon material was placed over the entire 16.8-acre project area, the release said.

Monitoring efforts following the completion of the project have revealed a 60% reduction in contamination levels.

“The successful completion of this first phase of the sediment restoration project in Paradise Creek represents a colossal step forward in our mission to conserve and restore the marine and wildlife habitat, natural beauty and ecological health of our waterways,” conservancy board chair Mary Ann Saunders said in the release.

Saunders also issued a call to action, inviting community members to support Coastal Virginia Conservancy’s ongoing conservation efforts, which include 1,200 acres to date.

The CVC’s mission is conserving land, restoring water quality and fostering public access to open spaces and waterways throughout the region.