The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) region covers 13 member localities, with 11 situated within the coastal zone.  These coastal zone localities are home to approximately  2.1 million people and include the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, and Vienna, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William. 

In addition to numerous historic sites, the region’s proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it an important destination for innovation, businesses, and job opportunities.  However, the fast pace of economic and associated residential development has caused the region to place increasing degrees of stress on the natural environment.

Virginia CZM has partnered with the NVRC on a variety of efforts to use natural infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of growth and development while supporting resiliency planning as the large population adapts to the effects of climate change.

Other areas of continued Virginia CZM support include addressing water quality, promoting native plants, and prevention and removal of land-based marine debris.

What Role Has Virginia CZM Played in the Region? 

Water Quality

Dating back to 2006, Virginia CZM has funded the administration of the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners’ Regional Social Marketing Campaign) - known as “Only Rain Down the Drain” - which uses advertisements, publications, and a website to inform citizens how they can help reduce stormwater pollution. 

Resilience

The region is further inland than other coastal planning district commissions, and somewhat less susceptible to storm surges.  However, the challenge of addressing climate change still looms large.  Sea level rise threatens critical shoreline infrastructure.  Urban “heat islands” in the region are created by hard, dark man-made surfaces without natural canopy shading.  Riverine flooding is an issue, as is the potential contamination of drinking water sources by excess road salt used during winter months.  These challenges all pose threats to human and environmental health.  Loss of wildlife habitat to rapid development is also a concern.

Starting in 2008, Virginia CZM provided funding to NVRC and its localities to begin resilience planning efforts, including sustainable shoreline management and conservation corridors.  From 2016 to the present, Virginia CZM has funded creation of a Resilience Collaborative and capacity for NVRC staff to participate in the state’s Coastal Resilience Master Plan.

Native Plants and Green Infrastructure

From 2011 to 2016, Virginia CZM provided funding to launch and begin implementation of the Plant NOVA Natives campaign, part of the Plant Virginia Natives Initiative, to promote use of native plants by homeowners, businesses, and municipalities. 

Funding also  assessed how better to manage increased stormwater runoff from developments using “green infrastructure” e.g. natural habitats.  In 2015, NVRC developed a set of common definitions for managed natural landscapes, noxious weeds, turf grass, and native plants to be used in local weed ordinances.  NVRC staff also developed a resolution that recognizes the essential value and importance of Virginia native plants in a managed natural landscape.  The resolution also acknowledges that managed natural landscape means a planned, intentional and maintained planting of native grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs or trees, including but not limited to rain gardens, meadow vegetation, and ornamental plantings.

In 2018, Fairfax Country adopted a comprehensive plan amendment that requires public facilities to use “natural landscaping” i.e. native plants. The language included several references to the Plant NOVA Natives Campaign.

Marine Debris

In 2017, Virginia CZM funded the Little Hunting Creek project.  This project studied sources of land-based marine debris in the Hybla Valley commercial and residential area of Fairfax County, and proposed solutions to the flow of trash into Little Hunting Creek. Following the conclusion of the project, a trash interceptor was installed in the creek as a mitigative measure.  Other options continue to be pursued.

NVRC Projects Funded by Virginia CZM

The table below lists NVRC projects funded by Virginia CZM since fiscal year 2008.  This list does not include annual Coastal Technical Assistance grants from Virginia CZM to NVRC.  Virginia CZM funds are typically matched 50/50, but the table below only includes federal funds provided by Virginia CZM. Any Project Names that are linked in the table below will take you to the Project List for that fiscal year where you can open the Task Number at the bottom of the page to find more information on the corresponding project.