Anchor QEA Opens Southeast Virginia Office to Expand Coastal Infrastructure and Resilience Services

Norfolk, Va. — Anchor QEA has a long history of public- and private-sector projects in the Hampton Roads region, and the firm now has a physical presence here. Located in Norfolk, the new office strengthens the firm’s ability to serve federal, state, municipal, industrial, and nonprofit clients across coastal Virginia.

Norfolk sits at the center of one of the nation’s most strategically important coastal areas, with major port operations, ship repair facilities, and extensive maritime and industrial infrastructure. The region also faces increasing shoreline change, recurrent tidal flooding, and shifting ground conditions that place added pressure on critical facilities and natural systems.

Leading the Norfolk office is Josef Rieger, Senior Managing Professional Scientist. Rieger has more than 20 years of experience delivering restoration and infrastructure resilience initiatives across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic.

Before joining Anchor QEA, Rieger served as Environmental Resilience Program Manager with NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, securing more than $8 million in funding for living shorelines, reforestation, and stormwater projects across 13 states. He previously spent more than 2 decades with the Elizabeth River Project, directing more than 100 oyster reef, shoreline restoration, and sediment remediation efforts.

“Hampton Roads has been a powerhouse for a long time,” said Rieger. “It’s the most northern ice-free harbor on the East Coast, allowing ships to reliably get in and out year-round. It also has some of the deepest channels in the United States. Local governments in the area are forward-thinking about these practices, so there’s a lot of work happening around sediment remediation, thin-layer placement, and nature-based shoreline systems. Anchor QEA’s Norfolk presence will bring the next level of innovative approaches to the region.”

Anchor QEA has supported projects in coastal Virginia for years, including the Wayne Creek Island thin-layer placement pilot project that raises the elevation of an eroding marsh in the Lafayette River to help buffer nearby homes from waves and flooding. The Norfolk office formalizes this commitment and allows the firm to build stronger local partnerships and pursue expanded opportunities across the region.

Joining the new office is Alex Laplace, Staff Scientist. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Laplace completed distinguished thesis research focused on modeling thin-layer placement of dredged material on vulnerable Chesapeake Bay salt marshes.

The Norfolk office will focus on expanding Anchor QEA’s work in several areas, including the following:

• • Infrastructure protection and mission-readiness support for federal clients
  • Sediment remediation and contaminated site cleanup
  • Thin-layer placement and beneficial reuse of dredged material
  • Living shorelines and hybrid gray-green infrastructure
  • Support for industrial, port, and maritime sector clients

   

  Anchor QEA Norfolk
  225 W 25th Street, Suite 420
  Norfolk, Virginia 23508

  You can reach Josef Rieger at jrieger@anchorqea.com.

  About Anchor QEA
  Anchor QEA’s mission is to transform our environment and communities, with integrity and vibe. Headquartered in Seattle, the firm has 29 offices in the United States and Canada. Services include environmental engineering, sciences, analytics, planning, and management for public and private clients.

  For more information or images, reach out to connect@anchorqea.com.