Elizabeth River Project

Help Us Spot and Protect River Otters!

River otters are making a comeback on the Elizabeth River—but they need your help!

Once a rare sight on our urban, degraded river, these playful creatures have become symbols of hope for our ongoing restoration efforts. Their return has inspired the Elizabeth River Project to launch Otter Spotter, a community science initiative in collaboration with the River Otter Ecology Project —a national organization dedicated to understanding and protecting otters.

Our Goal: Raise $2,500 through Give Local 757 to support Otter Spotter, including trail cameras that will help track otter movements throughout the river.

With recent wildlife rescues caring for orphaned otters, monitoring these animals is more important than ever. By tracking their behavior and habitat use, we can better understand how to protect them and ensure their survival in our recovering river ecosystem.

Join us in making a difference—every dollar brings us closer to safeguarding river otters for future generations!

We Need Our River. Our River Needs Us.

By the 1990s, the Elizabeth River had been left for dead. Decades of unchecked pollution had rendered it lifeless, and in the eyes of many, hopeless. But then Hampton Roads’ people, businesses, governments and schools came together to Do Something Beautiful. They joined together to turn the tide of history and bring new life to the Elizabeth River. The most beautiful thing? You can Do Something Beautiful, too. Learn More about the Elizabeth River Project.

Who We Are

As a local environmental non-profit, our mission is to restore the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships.