Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

1.01

Grantee:

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Project Title:

Coastal Program Management

Project Description:

This task covers management of all aspects of the Program including wrap-up of the August 2022 Program Evaluation.  It funds the CZM Program Manager, two Coastal Planners and the Grants Coordinator/Outreach Specialist. All staff work on development, monitoring and reporting on all grants (Sections 306/306A, 309, 309 Projects of Special Merit); development and submittal of awards, reprogramming and extensions.

The Program Manager supervises all program staff and additional staff to be hired for land acquisition and habitat restoration projects (FY22 Section 310 IIJA funds).  The Manager chairs the interagency Coastal Policy Team (CPT), holding at least two meetings.  She oversees CZM Program policy development, program changes, grants, devlopment of communication/outreach materials and GIS efforts. She guides activities under Tasks 1.01 – 2, 7, 9 - Land Acquisition, and 10- Low cost Public Access Construction,  49-Marine Mammal/Sea Turtle Stranding and 72 Resilience through Ecotourism. She will  manage the second years of the Ocean Planning and Marine Debris Section 309 Strategies. She also will continue to serve on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean’s (MARCO’s) Management Board and chair MARCO’s Ocean Mapping & Data Team to oversee additions/improvements to MARCO’s Ocean Data Portal.  She will continue to serve on MARCO’s Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO), serving on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice and Ocean Conservation Work Groups and as the Lead for the Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Work Group.  The Program Manager will represent the CZM Program on the Governor’s Offshore Wind Coordination group which will meet every other Wednesday and continue to serve as a Gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. 

The Program Manager and Coastal Planners will assist with implementing the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan and serve as advisors on the Technical Advisory Committee, as needed.  The Program Manager will spend considerable time in FY22 transferring knowledge to the Planners in anticipation of her retirement in 2023 and assisting the Division Director with hiring a new Manager.

The Coastal Planners will assist with Coastal Policy Team meetings and quarterly Planning District Commission meetings. They will serve as Project Managers for all tasks not covered by the Program Manager. Both will write articles on CZM topics as needed. The Planners will manage the Coastal Virginia Shoreline Stakeholders Group and assist with performance measure reporting. They will assist in developing Program Changes for submittal to NOAA as needed and represent the Program at various meetings and conferences. One Coastal Planner will serve as liaison to the Lower Chickahominy Watershed project, continue to co-lead the Virginia Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Work Group, and ill maintain the land acquisition, public access and interpretive signage inventories.  The other Coastal Planner will specialize in coastal resilience activities (especially Tasks 91.02 and 91.03) and begin to shadow the Program Manager on regional ocean work.

The Grants Coordinator/Outreach Specialist will maintain and operate the grants database and address administrative issues with grantees. Duties include data entry and report production, reminders, applications, contracts, etc. She organizes submission of performance measures to NOAA and ensures all reporting guidelines are followed for Section A and B reports.  She works with the Outreach Coordinator to develop/disseminate program information and represents the Program at outreach events.

For CZM Section 306 and 309 grants, DEQ uses labor-tracking software to allocate costs to funding sources.  Specific, 5-digit project codes correspond to each of Virginia’s NOAA awards. This Task budget is designed to be spent within 12 months. At the end of the first 12 months, all staff positions are  paid from the next fiscal year except for the Grants Coordinator position.  Two weeks of the Grants Coordinator funding in FY 22, Task 1.01 will be extended through March 31, 2024 in order to continue reporting on this task throughout any extension of the award. One week of the Grants Coordinator’s time will be allocated to this grant in the Fall of 2023 and one week in the Spring of 2024. The Grants Coordinator’s time will be coded to DEQ Project ID 41366 when working on FY22.

Federal Funding:

$494,796

Project Contact:

Ryan Green; 804-698-4258; ryan.green@deq.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 3/31/24; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

1.02

Grantee:

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Project Title:

Virginia CZM Program Outreach & Social Marketing

Project Description:

This task funds the Virginia CZM Program Outreach Coordinator position.  The coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing targeted outreach and social marketing strategies for the Virginia CZM Program: to effectively communicate key CZM messages to the program’s various target audiences; to raise awareness and increase understanding of coastal resource issues; to encourage stewardship of Virginia’s coastal resources and change behaviors that impact these resources; and, to heighten the Virginia CZM’s visibility and unique position to coordinate solutions to cross-cutting coastal challenges.  In addition, the coordinator works with Virginia CZM Program staff and partners to produce, revise and maintain new and existing print and digital media, and to plan and deliver hosted or co-sponsored exhibits, events and training. This task also provides funds to print and distribute media such the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Magazine.

Federal Funding:

$119,020

Project Contact:

Virginia Witmer; 804-659-1912; virginia.witmer@deq.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

1.03

Grantee:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Project Title:

Coastal Management GIS Support and Coastal GEMS Maintenance

Project Description:

This task supports one quasi full-time time staff position (Coastal GIS Coordinator at 85% time) that is contracted through Virginia Commonwealth University to provide GIS support to the Virginia CZM program and the partial time of two additional VCU staff required to host and maintain the Coastal Geospatial and Educational Mapping System (Coastal GEMS), perform data/software updates, and perform grant/project management. 

Coastal Management GIS Support: The Coastal GIS Coordinator provides support to the Virginia CZM Program to ensure that GIS needs are met; that policy and planning functions have adequate GIS support; that open grants involving GIS products are properly managed and implemented; and that Virginia CZM’s Coastal GEMS remains a valuable tool to Virginia’s coastal community. This staff position will support the following activities:

• Work with VCU staff and others to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of Virginia CZM’s Coastal GEMS
• Organize Coastal GEMS training programs for state/local government users and others
• Advise CZM project managers and grantees on grants involving GIS data development, mapping, and NOAA’s data sharing policy
• Perform GIS calculations and searches and produce GIS map products, as needed by the CZM Program and its partners
• Work with CZM Program Manager, the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the College of William & Mary, and other partners on mapping related to Section 309 ocean planning efforts (Tasks 92.01-92.04)
• Participate in the Virginia State GIS Users’ Group and keep up-to-date on, or become involved in, other GIS-related developments in Virginia 

Coastal GEMS Maintenance: VCU will continue to host, maintain, and update the Coastal GEMS web mapping application and landing page. Current Coastal GEMS data layers will be edited or updated as determined by VCU/CZM staff. New Coastal GEMS data layers will be added as they are developed through Virginia CZM Program grants or are contributed from a partnering agency or organization.

Federal Funding:

$118,545

Project Contact:

Nicholas Meade; 804-659-1910; nick.meade@deq.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Project Summary:

VCU Life Sciences Staff:

• Performed Coastal Gems maintenance, including installing software/security/data updates and refreshing map services as necessary.  Uploaded data provided by Coastal GIS Coordinator to Coastal GEMS map services. 
• From October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, Coastal GEMS mapping application received 967 pageviews from 506 users, resulting in 767 sessions with an average site visit time of 1 min and 30 sec. 
  
  The Coastal GIS Coordinator:
• Acquired, processed, and packaged updated data for Coastal GEMS layers including Oyster Gardening, Public Access Sites, ES Water Trails, Conservation Lands, Private Oyster Leases, CBNERR target watershed, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, and Water Quality Assessment layers. Rebuilt GEMS story maps including: Balloons on the Beach, Deep Sea Treasures of the Mid-Atlantic, and working waterfront story maps for ANPDC, NNPDC, and MPPDC. Updated Coastal GEMS fact sheets, data library, and story maps pages as necessary. Coastal GEMS is available at: www.coastalgems.org
• Completed data/info requests from local, state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, NGO’s, and private firms.
• Worked to update Coastal VEVA including convening two (Oct 11 and Feb 1) VEVA partners meetings to discuss component model updates and worked with CZM, DWR, VIMS, and VCU staff to contract and manage updated projects.
• Worked with NOAA and VA CZM staff to determine need for, compile, and review FY23 data sharing plans.
• Participated in Eastern Shore Coastal Relocation group and created web map used to identify areas for targeted outreach
• Participated in MARCO Non-Consumptive Recreation Work Group and Ocean Mapping & Data Team and worked with MARCO Portal staff to provide VA data representing access, recreation, and conservation areas for inclusion in the Portal.
• Completed SHPO clearance for VIMS SAV restoration, Upper Mattaponi land acquisition, and DWR Eastern Shore Restoration projects, including creating archive search maps and submitting applications using DHR’s online ePIX system.
• Gave presentation, including VA CZM overview and live demo of Coastal GEMS highlighting features new to v4 to 35 participants as part of MARCO Portal instructional webinar.  A recording is available through the MARCO Portal blog here
• Created map products for VA CZM and partners including: Worked with VA CZM staff to refine ADV inventory web map including creating and updating ADV spatial data feature service, adding contextual layers, symbolizing data, and configuring pop-ups; Provided GIS support to the VA Ocean Fisheries Coordinator by creating maps of CVOW turbine array and by converting commercial fishing plotter data to GIS and creating both maps and tabular outputs; Created map layouts for VA CZM Magazine (ADV locations, offshore coral protection area, SAV restoration on VA’s Eastern Shore, Upper Mattaponi Tribe land acquisition, CZ localities which received CRS/RAFT training), a map to confirm for USGS staff that their long-term monitoring site was not within the UMIT parcel boundary, a layout of conserved lands symbolized by access type for the Eastern Shore native plant guide; maps of proposed Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe land acquisition for CZM display at Flood Resilience Reception; And created a GIS point layer of locations of historic Tribal villages of the Chickahominy Tribe georeferenced from a static map for potential inclusion on Coastal GEMS.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

2

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Project Title:

EIR & Federal Consistency

Project Description:

• Conduct federal consistency reviews of activities that can affect Virginia's coastal uses and resources pursuant to the CZMA and the federal consistency regulations.
• Periodically submit routine program changes, as needed.
• Participate in the existing program revision efforts (enforceable policies, listed activities and geographic location descriptions)
• Participate in submittal preparation for program revisions (enforceable policies, listed activities and geographic location descriptions)
• Coordinate Virginia's review of environmental documents for development of federal and state facilities and actions in Tidewater, Virginia which require federal approvals or assistance.
• Continue to update Virginia's EIR manual and federal consistency information packages as necessary to reflect legislative and policy changes.
• Provide interpretation of federal consistency requirements to federal agencies, applicants for federal permits, approvals, or funding, and consultants preparing consistency determinations or certifications. 
• Provide technical assistance to state reviewers and local government officials on the use of federal consistency and conduct group trainings (when there are opportunities to do so) at workshops sponsored by other agencies.
• Maintain and update the EIR/Federal Consistency website.
• Ensure public participation in the review of federal consistency documents to include publishing notices of consistency reviews in appropriate media such as DEQ’s website, OEIR’s program newsletter, local newspapers and holding public hearings when necessary
• Maintain files in DEQ’s Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system
• Conduct site visits as necessary.

Federal Funding:

$202,544

Project Contact:

Bettina Rayfield; 804-659-1915; bettina.rayfield@deq.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Final Project Summary serves as Final Product.

Project Summary:

During the period of October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023, the Office of Environmental Impact Review/Federal Consistency (OEIR) reviewed 91 development projects for consistency with the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM).  This represents 45% of the total amount of projects reviewed (180) during this period.  The other projects were major state projects, State Corporation Commission reviews, or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents without a federal consistency component.  Of the projects reviewed for consistency with the Virginia CZM Program, 46 consisted of federal agency activities, 45 federal licenses and approvals, and 0 outer continental shelf projects. The 46 federal agency activities included 19 projects submitted under the residual category pursuant to the federal consistency regulation (15 CFR 930.31(c)), which consisted of federal funding to private citizens such as U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mortgage insurance projects.   In addition, Virginia completed 73 courtesy reviews for projects which were federally funded projects to state or local governments and/or intergovernmental reviews under Executive Order 12372. All federal consistency determinations and federal consistency certifications were completed within the established legal deadlines.  

Of the 180 projects reviewed under federal consistency, all except for four were found to be consistent with the enforceable policies of the CZMP.  Virginia conditionally concurred on these four projects on the basis of the Wildlife and Inland Fisheries enforceable policy.   These projects included a State Programmatic General Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers, a residential subdivision, a roadway improvement project, and a tree removal project associated with a Navy airfield.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

3

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Project Title:

Stormwater Local Assistance Fund – Fairfax County – Accotink Tributary at Danbury Forest – Stream Restoration

Project Description:

In order to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, the Virginia General Assembly created and set forth specific parameters for the administration of the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) in 2013. The purpose of the SLAF is to provide matching grants to local governments for the planning, design, and implementation of stormwater best management practices that address cost efficiency and commitments related to reducing water quality pollutant loads. In accordance with that legislation, the State Water Control Board approved guidelines for implementation of the program. The guidelines call for annual solicitation of applications, an application review and ranking process, and the authorization of a Project Funding list by the DEQ Director. One of the projects selected is proposed as this Task 3 match-only project. 

The Accotink Tributary at Danbury Forest stream restoration project will restore approximately 4,002 linear feet (LF) of an unnamed tributary of Accotink Creek in the Accotink Creek watershed using Natural Channel Design. The project is located at 5450 Danbury Forest Drive, Springfield, VA 22151. To ensure the project can be maintained by Fairfax County, the location has been verified to be within storm drainage and floodplain easements. Approximately 308.9 acres of mixed land use (residential, commercial and light industrial) drain to the project site. This project was identified by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. The existing conditions include an unstable, eroding channel, tree loss, and exposed utilities (sewer and gas). The project location is located within the Upper Accotink Creek and Accotink Creek watersheds as well as the Chesapeake Bay. There are chloride and sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)’s for Upper Accotink Creek and a fecal coliform TMDL for the Accotink Creek watershed. The restoration objectives toward the project goal of improving water quality include the following:

• Restore, stabilize, and raise the channel.
• Establish a baseflow channel for maximizing floodplain connectivity.
• Limit tree removal to the greatest extent possible.
• Maintain hyporheic connectivity between the new channel substrate and the existing streambed material and utilize the existing streambed material in-situ as an expanded and enhanced hyporheic zone. 

Calculated water quality benefits include the annual reduction of 586.27 pounds of total phosphorous (P), 1,432.78 pounds of total nitrogen (N), and 188,265.10 pounds of total suspended sediment (TSS). These benefits help achieve the reductions required by the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and support Fairfax County’s approved Chesapeake Bay TMDL Action Plan and Benthic TMDL Action Plan. The final design is complete and construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022. 

The total project cost is $3,437,600.  The state share of that cost is $1,500,000.  $1,106,535 of the state share will be used as match for the Virginia CZM award. 

Federal Funding:

$0; Match only - $1,106,535

Project Contact:

Karen Doran; 804-836-5912; karen.doran@deq.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 3/31/24; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

4

Grantee:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Project Title:

Permit Review and Compliance

Project Description:

The VA Marine Resources Commission’s Habitat Management Division manages, via a regulatory permit program, submerged bottomlands, tidal wetlands, sand dunes and beaches in order to preserve and protect Virginia’s natural resources and the habitats our saltwater fisheries depend on.

Responsibilities in implementing core permit functions are:

• Issuing permits for encroachments in, on or over State-owned submerged lands (recently approximately 2,400 applications have been processed annually and  permits are issued for encroachments over State-owned submerged lands), and
• Regulating the use of development of tidal wetlands and coastal primary sand dunes.

The goal of this effort is to eliminate unnecessary impacts to submerged lands, tidal wetlands, dunes and beaches and to maintain a permit review process based on public interest review procedures consistent with the public trust doctrine that fairly balances private use of State-owned submerged lands and the need to preserve habitat for sustainable fisheries.

Tidal wetlands and coastal primary sand dune programs may be administered by local wetlands boards if the locality has adopted the model ordinances (35 have chosen to do so); however, the VMRC retains oversight and reviews all local board decisions.  These programs protect approximately 213,000 acres of vegetated tidal wetlands and provide for the regulatory management of 10,000 miles of tidal shoreline including all primary sand dunes and beaches throughout Tidewater Virginia.The Commission’s permit review program is conducted by 8 equivalent Environmental Engineer positions. Each Environmental Engineer is assigned a specific geographic territory. They conduct application reviews, correspond with applicants and other concerned citizens, conduct site inspections, coordinate application reviews with other agencies, prepare project briefings, present contested cases to the full Commission at public hearings and draft permit documents. In addition they assist local wetlands boards with their wetland management responsibilities and attend all wetland board meetings in order to conduct the required review of wetland board actions.

The Environmental Engineers will also document losses and conversions of submerged land, wetlands and dunes/beaches associated with all proposed shoreline stabilization projects. Proposed and permitted losses, as well as habitat conversions, will be recorded within the existing VMRC permit tracking database. This was initiated for projects beginning in 2013. This is intended to track impacts associated with traditional shoreline projects as well as proposals using living shoreline techniques.

As a result of a previous survey, a comprehensive permit compliance and inspection program was developed and will continue to be implemented through this project. VMRC staff will inspect new construction projects permitted by the Commission, along with a representative sample of wetlands and dunes projects permitted by the local boards.  The goal of the program is to continue to maintain and improve permit compliance rates that have increased from approximately 50%, when this program began, to current rates of approximately 90% of projects that are in complete compliance. This also includes a goal of reducing the number of projects found to be in moderate compliance and reducing the number of projects for which compliance cannot be determined.

In addition to support for ongoing permit review responsibilities, the workload resulting from the compliance inspections and recording efforts will be offset by one Environmental Engineer position. A program support technician will assist with compliance inspections and compile data generated by the Engineers and ensure its entry into our permit tracking database.  In addition to administrative and clerical duties associated with permit review, the office service specialist will support the clerical duties associated with permit review and compliance monitoring.

Federal Funding:

$181,200

Project Contact:

Randy Owen; 757-247-2251; randy.owen@mrc.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Permit Review and Compliance Final Report Products 1-3 (PDF)

Project Summary:

The purpose of this grant project was to continue the implementation of a standardized permit compliance program for those permits issued by the Commission in the Coastal Zone. Commission staff also assessed permit compliance for wetland projects authorized in 2021. During the grant year (October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023), 459 compliance inspections were conducted by VMRC Habitat Management Division Staff. This involved 329 inspections of projects permitted by VMRC and 130 inspections of projects permitted by local wetlands boards.

While the overall data for the grant year shows that (86%) of constructed projects permitted by VMRC were found to be in compliance, only (6%) of the projects were found to be out of compliance. The remainder were in moderate compliance (5%). Although compliance could not be determined for 3% of the projects, inspections in these cases did not indicate there were any permit violations.

To date, the compliance-monitoring program has allowed evaluations of the effectiveness of our permit and monitoring procedures. As such, the monitoring program can only improve our resource management responsibilities. Therefore, permit compliance initiatives must continue to be a long-term effort if we are to ensure proper construction techniques and the protections of our valuable natural resources. This effort, combined with the improvement of our permit tracking database and use of GIS capabilities, is necessary if we are to realize the goal of making cumulative impact assessments a part of our wetlands and submerged lands permitting program.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

5

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage

Project Title:

Habitat Conservation/Locality Liaison

Project Description:

The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Natural Heritage (DCR-DNH) Locality Liaison Program works with localities, Planning District Commissions (PDCs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help protect natural heritage resources (rare plants, animals, exemplary natural communities and geologic features) by providing access to biodiversity information and DCR-DNH consultative services.  A key service is review of projects to identify and recommend mitigation for potential impacts to natural heritage resources. Certain layers displayed within Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) website-Version 2.15 (www.vanhde.org) will undergo updates in FY22, including ConservationVision models and ConserveVirginia. The Locality Liaison will include new features or functionality of the upgraded website into training. The Locality Liaison will continue to work to make it available to localities, PDCs, land trusts and others through bi-monthly training. By subscribing to the Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) website, localities and PDCs can access conservation sites and other natural heritage resource information including predicted suitable habitat layers, which are useful both for project review and for conservation planning.  Digital geospatial datasets will also continue to be available for incorporation into local GIS systems through our subscription service.  The Locality Liaison will work consultatively with locality planners to incorporate natural heritage resource concerns into local comprehensive plans and permitting processes.  The Locality Liaison will also assist localities and local conservation partners to identify habitat conservation opportunities using tools such as ConserveVirginia, Virginia ConservationVision and the Virginia Ecological Value Assessment (VEVA). An overall goal of the DCR-DNH Program is that 100% of the counties and cities throughout the Virginia Coastal Zone will have Natural Heritage information by the end of September 2023. As of February 2022, the percentage of localities with Natural Heritage information is 96% within the Coastal Zone of Virginia. DCR-DNH will continue to provide updated natural heritage information to all PDCs and interested land trusts in the coastal zone region through NHDE and/or ArcGIS shapefiles. Solar native pollinator habitat tools developed through the Virginia Pollinator Smart Program will continue to be promoted to encourage sustainable development of renewable energy projects in the coastal zone, including the development of a Virginia native seed industry.

Federal Funding:

$56,600

Project Contact:

S. Rene’ Hypes; 804-371-2708; rene.hypes@dcr.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Natural Heritage - Locality Liaison/Habitat Conservation Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

During the FY2022 grant year, the Department of Conservation and Recreation-Division of Natural Heritage (DCR-DNH) reviewed 1,298 projects for impacts to natural heritage resources in the coastal zone (38% of the projects reviewed statewide) as defined by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. During FY2022, 789 coastal projects were submitted through the NHDE, 61% of all the projects submitted for review in the coastal zone. 42 of the projects reviewed in the coastal zone were solar projects, representing a continuing trend of solar development in Virginia. Specific project highlights within this report represent the diversity of projects reviewed including a subdivision review with documented natural heritage resources in Prince William County, transmission line rebuilds in multiple counties, a subdivision review requiring coordination with another state agency in City of Chesapeake, and a proposed rail line in Fairfax County.

Coastal localities and other conservation partners participated in 9 training sessions for the Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) website (https://vanhde.org) including 31 from state agencies, 24 from local governments, 11 from consulting companies, 11 from Soil and Water Conservation Districts, 10 from land trusts, 5 from Planning District Commissions, 5 from federal agencies, one from a Virginia Indian tribe, and one from an educational institution. At the end of FY2022, there were 44 coastal localities, 8 Planning District Commissions and 18 land trusts within the coastal zone with access to NHDE, digital shapefile data, and/or a combination of these tools. This equates to 100% of coastal zone localities having Natural Heritage data, 100% of the Planning District Commissions and 78% of the Land Trusts as of September 30, 2023. The Locality Liaison and project review staff renewed or initiated 46 data licenses throughout this year within the coastal zone, including localities, consultants, land trusts, and Virginia Indian tribes. 

Presentations included an overview of DCR-DNH’s Natural Heritage Program, the Locality Assistance Program and data and functionality of the Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) website, which includes ConserveVirginia v3.0, the Predicted Suitable Habitat Summary layers and ConservationVision models. Additional information was provided about the Virginia Wetlands Catalog and the Coastal Virginia Ecological Value Assessment (VEVA), part of DEQ’s Coastal GEMS website application. Natural Heritage information was updated quarterly on the NHDE website and shapefiles including the updated information are also distributed to licensed users. The Natural Heritage Locality Liaison (Locality Liaison) also attended 5 meetings, presentations, and workshops throughout the year. 

The Locality Liaison worked with other Heritage staff and staff from the DCR-Public Communications and Marketing Office on the development of an additional NHDE public training tutorial video. The Locality Liaison also posted quarterly coastal species highlights to the Locality Assistance webpage (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/localityliaison).

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

6

Grantee:

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Project Title:

Tidal Wetlands Management Technical Support

Project Description:

This project provides technical support for management of tidal wetlands by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Center for Coastal Resources Management staff.  The proposed project addresses an identified need for an improved understanding of coastal resources and issues with respect to shoreline management.  We target shoreline decision-makers for outreach efforts and training, as well as provision of advice on the likely adverse effects of proposed actions regarding tidal shoreline resources.  We will build on previously funded projects by continually updating outreach efforts and advice to reflect the best available science. The project objectives we propose to address the issue of better-informed decision-making are:  

     1) Education/Outreach: Includes an outreach opportunity, most likely a workshop on the VIMS campus but possibly a virtual webinar series, the production and distribution of CCRM E-News and Rivers and Coast publications on current coastal management topics, and support for social media outreach via the CCRM Facebook page. Leverages activities from a funded NOAA AdSci proposal and collaboration with Kenah Consulting to engage with local Tribal members on key topics related to resiliency.

     2) Technical Guidance: Provision of advice to shoreline property owners, shoreline professionals, local government staff, state agency personnel, and NGO staff as well as input to the VIMS advisory activities coordinated by the Office of Research and Advisory Service. VIMS will participate in the newly formed CZM work group on shoreline management. This effort includes web service of historical permit records.  VIMS will continue to maintain two databases.  One for tracking the provision of technical advice and the second to track permit data and decisions. VIMS will continue to enhance the second database, as possible, by adding parameters and georeferenced location for all historical permits.

Federal Funding:

$51,300

Project Contact:

Dawn Fleming; 804-684-7380; dawnf@vims.edu;
Pamela Mason; 804-684-7158; mason@vims.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Tidal Wetlands Management Technical Support Grant Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) held a Zoom webinar August 2, 2023 to highlight tools that deliver the best available science for shoreline and resilience assessments.  A virtual format allowed for unrestricted level of participation to reach a broad audience across coastal Virginia.  Webinar participants included shoreline professionals, environmental program staff from coastal localities and state agencies, nonprofit watershed groups, and public educators including Virginia Master Naturalists and Extension Master Gardeners (N=132 attendees).  

The Rivers and Coast Summer 2023, Vol. 18 –  “Over a Half Century of Connecting Science and Management for Virginia’s Tidal Wetlands at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science” focused on the 50th Anniversary of the publication of the first Tidal Marsh Inventory by highlighting how VIMS was mandated to wetlands work (from the General Assembly and passage of the Tidal Wetlands Act in 1972), the basic research that has supported the tidal marsh and shoreline management work, the science that has evolved because of VIMS-CCRM’s original work (SLR, living shorelines, migrating marshes, shoreline best practices) and the continued importance of the work in planning and regulation in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere. VIMS-CCRM doubled the length of the report to 16 pages to cover the story of 50 years of tidal wetlands work in Virginia. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/reports/2858/. CCRM produced 4 quarterly E-newsletters distributed via email and posted online (opens range from 850 to ~1600). CCRM had over 100 facebook posts and an increase in audience of 136 to total 789.

Kenah and VIMS have each had individual conversations with the tribes while building their resilience plans. In early August, Kenah and VIMS held a meeting with several of the tribal environmental directors and representatives from NOAA. The meeting focused on consideration and discussions around the packaging and service of NOAA products to increase usefulness for tribal nation planning. Kenah collaborated on the planning and meeting invitations and managed honorariums for tribal representative participation.

CCRM continues to provide technical advice to the public, regulatory and non-regulatory authorities.  CCRM provide general advice on shorelines and marine issues via phone, email, and/or when feasible on-site, with a focus on requests that involve living shoreline suitability assessments, proposed living shoreline projects and those from more rural localities. This year CCRM responded to 66 advisory requests. CCRM continue to log permit information into the permitting database with 599 additions this year.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

7

Grantee:

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Project Title:

2022 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Distribution and Abundance Survey

Project Description:

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a critical living resource in Chesapeake Bay and on the Seaside of Virginia’s Eastern Shore that has undergone rapid and dramatic fluctuations in distribution and abundance over the last two decades, and, particularly in Chesapeake Bay, is being subjected to declines in water quality and to ever increasing pressure from recreational, commercial, and industrial demands. Because SAV is dependent on good water quality to which it responds over short time scales, it can be an important indicator of water quality.

In 2022, VIMS will continue the annual SAV survey program, begun in 1984, by mapping SAV in the shoal areas of the entire Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as well as the Seaside Bays of Virginia’s Eastern Shore from digital aerial imagery acquired during late spring to late summer. This grant does not cover costs of conducting or acquiring the aerial survey data but does cover personnel costs at VIMS to analyze the data and prepare maps.

Digital aerial photography will be acquired at a photographic scale of approximate 1:24,000, following guidelines that address tidal stage, plant growth, sun angle, turbidity, wind, atmospheric transparency, sensor operation and land features to allow for acquisition of photographs under near optimal conditions.

Ground data on species distribution and abundance will be collected by participating agencies and citizen groups from as many of the mapped segments as possible and included in the final report.

The digital aerial imagery will be evaluated for SAV signatures using all available information.  Photographs containing SAV signatures will be orthographically corrected and mosaiced by USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles using Orthobase and Imagine image processing software .

The perimeters of all SAV beds mapped from the 2022 aerial photography will be delineated on-screen using ArcInfo geographic information system (GIS) software and stored in an ArcInfo GIS database.  A final report will include maps of all SAV beds, and areas of these beds, as well as any ground truth information submitted to VIMS.  The report will be published on the VIMS web site, as in past years.  SAV polygons will also be available on the VIMS SAV interactive web site (https://www.vims.edu/research/units/programs/sav/access/maps/index.php).

Federal Funding:

$68,000

Project Contact:

Christopher J. Patrick; 804-684-7399; cpatrick@vims.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 -12/31/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Final Project Summary constitutes Final Product.

Project Summary:

PROJECT SUMMARY:  The 2022 distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries was mapped from aerial multispectral digital imagery. These were acquired between May and November, with a resolution of 24 cm, encompassing 184 flight lines. WorldView 2 satellite imagery acquired from Maxar through the NGA Nextview program and the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) was used to augment the aerial imagery in multiple areas of the survey.  For 2022, 31,332 hectares (77,423 acres) of SAV were mapped in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, a 14% increase from the 2021 totals. 

In the Tidal Fresh Bay Zone (19 CBP segments), 7855 hectares (19,411 ac) of SAV were mapped for 2022, a 1% increase over 2021. In the Oligohaline Bay Zone (25 CBP segments), 2,904 hectares (7,175 acres) of SAV were mapped for 2022, a 14% decline from 2021.  In the Mesohaline Bay Salinity Zone (41 CBP segments), 12,697 hectares (31,376 ac) of SAV were mapped for 2021, a 30% increase from 2021. In the Polyhaline Bay Zone (8 CBP segments), SAV 7,876 hectares (19,462 ac) of SAV were mapped for 2021, a 19% increase from 2021.

In the Delmarva Peninsula Coastal Bays Zone (10 segments covering Assawoman, Isle of Wight, Sinepuxent, Chincoteague, and Southern Virginia coastal bays), 6,288 hectares (15,538 ac) of SAV were mapped for 2022, a 10% decline from the estimated coverage of SAV in this region in 2021.

The 2022 SAV report can now be viewed at: https://www.vims.edu/research/units/programs/sav/reports/2022/

and also on VIMS’ interactive map: https://www.vims.edu/research/units/programs/sav/access/maps/index.php

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

8

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage

Project Title:

Healthy Waters in the Coastal Zone

Project Description:

Funding through this grant will be used to support the implementation of the Virginia Healthy Waters Program (HWP) within the Natural Heritage Program (NHP) at the Virgnia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as it applies to advancing the identification, interpretation and conservation of the highest priority aquatic communities. Through a partnership with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), this task includes the administration and development of the HWP, informing the development of tools and products of the DCR NHP such as Element Occurences (EO’s), Stream Conservation Units (SCU’s), INteractive Stream Assessment Resource (INSTAR) data, Coastal GEMS, and ConservationVision Watershed Model, ConserveVirginia (see Extended Project Description for more details), and the support of a HWP Field Coordinator to work in the Coastal Zone of Virginia. The HWP Manager will work with both the DCR NHP and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to fully implement the HWP to achieve lasting benefits for the Commonwealth. The HWP Field Coordinator will directly work in the field with conservation agencies, land conservation organizations, and private landowners to advance conservation efforts for those aquatic resources characterized asecologically healthy aquatic resources.

The DCR will implement a contractual agreement with VCU for an Environmental Scientist/Analyst and Environmental Specialist to be retained through the VCU Life Sciences Department and the Rice Rivers Center to serve as the HWP Manager and HWP Field Coordinator. Both positions will be housed in the DCR NHP, have access to the facilities, equipment, vehicles, and expertise of DCR and continue to integrate the skills and abilities of VCU. The positions serve to liaise between DCR and VCU to promote joint, applied research, and outreach projects. For the HWP Manager, this includes the oversight of programs, projects, grants and grant budgets, providing technical support to DCR NHP and CZM, as it relates to coastal zone ecology, management, and restoration. For the HWP Field Coordinator, this includes working directly with the DCR NHP Land Conservation Section to advance land conservation efforts supporting ecologically healthy aquatic resources and build on-the-ground capacity that will lead to lasting conservation. 

Virginia has committed to a 2014 Chesapeake Bay Program goal that 100 percent of state-identified, ecologically healthy waters and watersheds remain healthy, by 2025. This goal was set by the Chesapeake Bay Program Healthy Watersheds Goal Implementation Team (GIT) and for Virginia is based on INSTAR data and the identified Healthy Watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. To achieve that goal, the development of field capacity, combined with resources from USEPA Section 319 and Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant (CBIG), will support the on-the-ground measures needed to advance those conservation actions from planning tools into tangible implementation. Such measures may include the application of agricultural or forestry best management practices to meet local TMDL WIP measures in impaired but ecologically healthy waters.

Both positions will also continue to participate in state, local, or federal work groups as needed with regard to water quality protection and restoration issues as the DCR deems necessary. In addition, the HWP Manager will prepare semiannual and annual reports and other documents and include those actions by the HWP Field Coordinator in the coastal zone.

Federal Funding:

$30,500

Project Contact:

Todd Janeski; 804-371-8984; todd.janeski@dcr.virginia.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

9

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Division of Natural Heritage

Project Title:

Public Access Construction at North Landing River Natural Area Preserve

Project Description:

North Landing River Natural Area Preserve was the first in the Commonwealth, dedicated in 1989, and the first designated to offer Public Access Facilities. The Preserve’s 3,441 acres, consisting of primarily of unique Pond Pine Woodland/Pocosin and Wind-tidal Oligohaline Marsh and Swamp, provide habitat for numerous flora, invertebrate and mammalian species. The ecosystem services, including stormwater retention, carbon sequestration, and water quality improvement, among others, cannot be overstated.

The Virginia CZM Program provided an FY1994 grant (Task 28) to DCR for construction of a boardwalk on the Preserve which was enjoyed by the public for a number of years. Originally, the Preserve allowed vehicles to gain access a half mile into the preserve to decrease distance to the river for car-top watercrafts. Without appropriate oversight, this design allowed for illegal activity and the preserve was closed. The preserve has been closed for many years due to the lack of staffing and inappropriate infrastructure. Now that additional staff have been hired by the Division of Natural Heritage, the Preserve is ripe for reopening. The purpose of this project is to reopen North Landing River Natural Area Preserve to the public for education and recreational opportunities and to better secure Natural Heritage resources.

To meet these purposes, various public access facility projects will be constructed. These include creation of a 10-car, ADA accessible parking lot visible from Blackwater Road, installation of a new walk-through gate, conversion of the existing access road into a safe foot path, and improving safety and education by developing and installing interpretive signs. The road entering the Preserve will be converted to a foot path by building up the base and hardening a section with compacted fines to allow for future ADA accessibility use. New signage and a kiosk will be installed to educate the public to the importance of the Preserve, explain rules and regulations, and assist navigation.

Although there are thousands of acres of protected lands along the North Landing River, accessibility is limited. In order for the public to value the Pocosin ecosystem and the river itself, many individuals need to see, hear, touch, and feel the resources. This project will allow just that. Additionally, it aligns with the goals of the City of Virginia Beach Department of Tourism and Recreation to improve activity to the river for primarily water-based recreational opportunities, with the Preserve lying almost evenly between two City properties on the River.

Federal Funding:

$203,603

Project Contact:

Shannon Alexander; 757-710-3428; shannon.alexander@dcr.virginia.gov

Project Status:

3/1/23 - 3/31/24; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

10

Grantee:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

Project Title:

New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve Observation Deck Rehabilitation

Project Description:

This project will rehabilitate the public observation deck at the New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve in Mathews County, Virginia. This will include the replacement of pilings and decking of the observation walkway and replacing railings. The current plan is to remove the existing educational signage during construction and repost once construction is complete; however, should funding be available, developing new signage will be considered. The walkway was built with FY1995 CZM funds (NA57OZ0561-01 and over the past ~27 years sea level rise and shoreline erosion have threatened this boardwalk. Time has also taken a toll on the now weathered observation walkway and the project will achieve a rehabilitated structure that is safe for public usage and more resilient to natural hazards. A 3-D view showing the current state of structure is available at New Point virtual pier viewer.url.

Prior to construction, MPPDC staff will develop all necessary 306A documentation. MPPDC staff will work with its legal counsel to procure a qualified construction contractor who will attain all necessary permits for the work, demolish the existing structure, and reconstruct the observation deck in compliance with all permits. The rehabilitation will occur within the exact same footprint as the current structure to minimize environmental impacts and facilitate the permitting process. Elevating the structure to mitigate flooding and sea-level rise impacts will be considered and conducted as funding allows. Materials will be purchased in compliance with the Build American Buy America Act if applicable.

Concerted efforts were made over many months to develop 306A documentation for the project so that SAC deadlines are met. The Mathews County Rotary Club has conducted fundraising activities to supplement funding for the project and has committed to providing the required local matching funds.

Federal Funding:

$153,202

Project Contact:

Curt Smith; 804 758-2311; csmith@mppdc.com

Project Status:

6/1/23 - 3/31/24; Project Pending

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

41

Grantee:

Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission

Project Title:

A-NPDC Technical Assistance Program & Coastal Resiliency Planning

Project Description:

The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC) serves two counties and 19 incorporated towns on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a 70-mile long peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay that has remained as one of the few remaining rural regions on the Atlantic seaboard despite consistent pressure from development. The region is unique for its vast wealth of coastal resources and natural-resource based economies. Around the turn of the 20^th Century in the years following the construction of a rail line that allowed for expedited shipping of agricultural and seafood products to larger urban markets, Accomack and Northampton Counties were noted as the two wealthiest agricultural counties in the nation. Following this thriving period, the region’s population and economies regressed due to challenges in environmental sustainability and geographic isolation. While many other coastal communities have flourished along the Atlantic seaboard, the Eastern Shore continues to pursue opportunities and persevere against challenges facing its rural communities. The following activities proposed for this grant year’s Technical Assistance Program have been developed in a manner that will benefit the Eastern Shore as its communities continue working towards establishing a sustainable, viable, and prosperous future.

Technical assistance to localities will continue to be a key component of A-NPDC staff efforts under this grant. During this grant year, A-NPDC will offer coastal management training opportunities for local government staff, coordinate public education efforts, and continue to staff the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee. The Ground Water Committee, which has successfully managed the region’s EPA-designated sole source aquifers since 1990, are working to ensure a productive and sustainable future for Eastern Shore residents and the natural environment. In an effort to support locality and regional beautification and education of litter prevention, A-NPDC staff will continue work with local government and nonprofit partners to donate a large mesh statue for collecting marine debris. Staff will hire a contractor (to be selected) to construct the mesh statue and move forward with locality partners to donate the statue at a designated location where the statue will be housed to collect marine debris. The intention is to bring awareness to the impact and the amount of marine debris throughout the Eastern Shore region. As a mecca for outdoor recreation and ecotourism, it is critical to keep the Eastern Shore clean and beautiful where our outdoor assets are a major economic driver for the region.

A-NPDC staff – with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) – will continue facilitation of the Climate Adaptation Working Group (CAWG), whose mission is to provide educational outreach and develop planning tools to assist local governments and residents. CAWG strives to coordinate efforts among local, state, and federal representatives of government, aquaculture, agriculture, and community organizations to better plan and mitigate risks associated with climate change and sea level rise. Resiliency efforts will be addressed through this working group to maintain current project status and priority needs in the Coastal Zone Management/Wetlands Watch Resiliency Project Database; building a list of critical assets; and supporting state efforts with coastal resilience planning.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Jessica Steelman; 757-787-2936 x114; jsteelman@a-npdc.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Accomack-Northampton PDC Technical Assistance Program & Coastal Resiliency Planning Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission provided regional four trainings to address critical facets of the Coastal Zone Management Program this grant year:

1. 2023 Master Gardener’s Groundwater 101 Training
2. Virginia Water Trails How To: NAI Region 2 Conference
3. Local Resources & Best Practices for Flood Management: Master Naturalists Panel
4. Resilience & The Eastern Shore

In addition to the training opportunities, Planning District Commission staff responded to technical assistance requests from localities and residents. Specific examples of technical assistance provided include: grant seeking for Onancock Bayside Community, providing hours of operation and accepted waste items to residents for disposal at the Shore’s Household Hazardous Waste Center, grant seeking for the Brinkley Nature Preserve in Northampton County, and liaising between residents and municipalities as needed.

The Planning District Commission engaged in the following specific areas related to coastal management, navigable waterways, groundwater preservation, and resilience planning:

• Eastern Shore Regional Navigable Waterways Committee Coordination: Navigable waterways are crucial to the economic viability of the Eastern Shore. The region's unique coastal characteristics and challenges require ongoing dredging efforts and the beneficial use of dredged material to maintain safe and reliable access to its waterways. www.esvaplan.org.
• Sponsorship of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee: As Virginia’s sole source aquifer region, the Eastern Shore relies on groundwater for its public water supply. The Planning District Commission’s Groundwater Committee has focused on education, monitoring, and preservation of this critical resource. www.esvaplan.org.
• Resilience Planning: The Planning District Commission is committed to building resilience against climate impacts. Collaboration with the Climate Adaptation Working Group (CAWG) and participation on the Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee contribute to regional capacity building and sustainability planning. www.esvaplan.org.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

42

Grantee:

Crater Planning District Commission

Project Title:

Crater PDC Technical Assistance Program/ Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience in Virginia’s Coastal Zone

Project Description:

This grant proposal includes the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program’s (CZM) Annual Technical Assistance Program products and year three products of the three-year CZM Resiliency Focal Area (RFA) Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience in Virginia’s Coastal Zone project. 

Technical Assistance Program

The Technical Assistance (TA) Program will focus on Coordination, Training, and Issue Analysis/Special Projects through the following activities.

• Crater Planning District Commission (PDC) staff will work with the Commission’s established Environmental Resources Management Task Force comprised of the planning directors of the Crater Planning District, to both share information and coordinate on implementing this TA program. 
• The Commission staff will assist tidewater communities within its region with environmental impact reviews, provide technical assistance, coordination, training, and staff support to the Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR). 
• Crater PDC staff will continue work under this proposal in concert with FOLAR. Staff will continue looking into developing an invasive plant task force as a volunteer initiative along the Appomattox Regional Trail (ART) that could become the catalyst for positive environmental change by supporting reforestation efforts to preserve the native tree canopy, protecting it from invasive vines, preventing the spread of invasive underbrush, and replanting or restoring native habitat.

Community Resilience (Year 3 of 3)

The purpose of this project is to improve regional capacity at the PDC level for resilience planning; to support local, regional, and state efforts; and to develop and implement new projects and policies.  Collaboration with the other seven coastal zone PDCs streamlines the development of procedures and products and will lead to synergic results for the most efficient and effective use of funds. Since resilience means different things to different communities and regions, this scope includes common tasks across PDCs (4 base tasks) and allows for PDCs to focus on local priority concerns (PDC-specific tasks). In general, each task will be worked on in each year to initiate, fully develop, and implement the tasks. Crater PDC will focus on the four basic tasks: 

1. Support the regional resiliency stakeholder group and conduct at least two (2) annual stakeholder meetings. Through this task, work to identify regional resiliency needs, such as data gaps, local capacity, etc., and establish regional resilience priorities (such as identifying areas to protect/relocate/adapt, natural resource protection, planning for migration of flora and fauna, etc.) and potential projects. 
2. Support the development of the CZM resilience database by providing feedback on structure, usability, and procedures based on local and regional needs, project priorities, and a list of regional projects and data on those projects. 
3. Participate in development of state level resilience planning initiatives by attending meetings and providing information to state entities.

Work to catalog and develop GIS-based maps on critical infrastructure (buildings as point data + natural assets as polygons using layers from Coastal GEMS) within the region.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Andrew Franzyshen; 804-861-1666; afranzyshen@craterpdc.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Crater Planning District Commission Technical Assistance Program FY22 Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

Product #1: EIR Comments – Crater PDC submitted 12 EIRs to DEQ staff and increased cooperation with involved localities.

Product #2: Report on Coastal Meetings – Crater Staff hosted 10 virtual meetings of the Environmental Resource Management Task Force (ERMTF). Dates, agendas, and minutes are available online at https://craterpdc.org/our-works/environment/environment-meeting-resources. Crater Staff have also been approached by Hopewell to conduct a review of their Comprehensive Plan and ordinances related to coastal issues. Coordination with regional roundtables and wastewater authorities is ongoing through ERMTF meetings.

Product #3: Coastal Training – Crater Staff provided 4 CZM trainings through the ERMTF meetings. On 1/25/23, Heather Mackey discussed the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act regulation updates, including the resiliency assessment, mature trees language, and updates to the Bay Program website, followed by a group discussion on how this would affect Crater localities. On 2/22/23 the James River Association and Petersburg staff gave a training on the process required from pre-planning to implementation of chronic flooding reduction projects in EJ communities, followed by a Q&A and group discussion of obstacles and opportunities in the region. On 4/26/23, Tyler Meader of DCR gave a presentation on the Natural Heritage Data Explorer and how it can be used for long-range resilience planning, including an explanation of layers and data sources and methods, specific looks at the Crater region, and the project review service that DCR provides, followed by Q&A and a roundtable discussion. On 8/30/23 Karen Firehock, director of the UVA Green Infrastructure Center, gave a presentation on concepts and specific methods to achieve green infrastructure implementation at the rural and urban levels and how to achieve CZM resilience and habitat protection goals in the Crater region, followed by Q&A and a roundtable discussion.

Product #4: Friends of the Lower Appomattox River (FOLAR) Report – Crater Staff have been in discussion with FOLAR on how to best serve their mission through ancillary assistance and GIS mapping efforts, especially through mapping sources of stream litter and upgrades to their blueway trail. Volunteer stream cleanup days occurred 4/15/23 and 9/9/23, with Crater Staff attending to help coordinate volunteers at the sites in Dinwiddie and Petersburg. The cleanups were used as on-the-ground strategy development for tracking and preventing stream litter, resulting in conversations with litter prevention organizations and a simple map tracking problem trash spots. Talks on how to coordinate FOLAR’s programmatic needs with the Clean Virginia Waterways and Marine Debris Strategy, and how best Crater can partner with future river initiatives, are ongoing.

Product #5: Benefits Accrued – Crater PDC Staff have catalogued benefits and projects spurred by CZM grants. The development of FOLAR into a full-fledged nonprofit organization remains the star example, but the final report provides a list of other benefits.

Product #6: Resilience Planning: Resiliency Coordination – Crater Staff have substantially increased locality representation to the ERMTF group, including more varied interdepartmental staff, including transportation, health, public works, and emergency management planners. Resiliency Priorities – through stakeholder roundtables, Crater PDC is continually refining the definition of resilience in the region and which projects matter the most for meeting locality and CZM program goals, from renewable energy to clean air to water resource and endangered species protection. This is enhanced through participation in the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT) implementation meetings currently underway in Petersburg and Hopewell. A resilience data call spreadsheet was produced to determine data gaps and needs in the region. Database Support – in conjunction with the previous topic, resilience needs were collated and projects identified and submitted for inclusion in the Coastal Resilience Master Plan (CRMP) database. State Planning Support – Crater Staff have attended meetings of the Coastal Policy Team, the Coastal Resilience TAC, and the quarterly Coastal PDC group. Critical Infrastructure Mapping – Crater Staff are currently performing this analysis and others on an as-needed basis for Crater region localities, and determining what needs are crucial beyond what was completed for the recent Hazard Mitigation Plan update. At-risk bridges and culverts in floodplains have been mapped.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

43

Grantee:

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

Project Title:

Hampton Roads Coastal Resources Management Technical Assistance Program

Project Description:

Technical Assistance (TA)

The HRPDC staff will assist the seventeen (17) member local governments of the Hampton Roads Planning District, other public entities, and non-governmental organizations and entities on coastal and other environmental issues, including coastal resilience. This project is a continuation of activities undertaken by the HRPDC through the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) over the last twenty plus years. The HRPDC staff will perform the following general coastal resources management tasks:

1. Environmental Impact Review

   This includes review and comment on EIA/EIS and Federal Consistency Determinations/Certifications affecting Hampton Roads, including coordination of local responses if needed.

2. Public Information, Education, and Training

   This includes maintaining CZM-related information on the HRPDC website. Presentations to governmental and non-governmental organizations will be made on request. This component also covers monthly status reports and/or briefings to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, the Regional Environmental Committee, and the Coastal Resiliency Committee. The HRPDC will also conduct or host at least four (4) training programs or activities for local government staff. Generally, while meetings and training activities are targeted toward serving local government staff, most are also open or available to the public. 

3. Regional Coordination Process

   The regional coordination process involves all seventeen (17) member local governments, associated towns, five (5) Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, and several state and federal agencies. It addresses core elements of the CZM, Chesapeake Bay Program, and other state and federal programs. This component includes participation by the HRPDC staff in the Coastal PDC Committee, Coastal Policy Team, Chesapeake Bay Program, and other state and federal environmental initiatives. The Regional Coordination Process is integral to all program components, linking them into a comprehensive environmental planning program.

4. Regional Special Projects/Technical Studies

   This includes the development of policy and technical analysis or projects related to environmental and coastal issues. Specific studies will be determined in cooperation with local governments, with an emphasis on water quality, Chesapeake Bay related issues, and coastal resiliency.

5. Technical Assistance
   This includes providing information, data, and technical assistance, including GIS data provision and similar tasks, to help localities or other entities (including state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations) with comprehensive planning, ordinance updates, or other technical needs related to coastal resources management.

Resiliency Focal Area (RFA)

HRPDC will continue efforts to enhance local and regional resilience through coordination with local, state, and federal government entities, development of policy and analysis products, and provision of technical assistance to Hampton Roads localities. The HRPDC has been working on resilience initiatives for over ten years, several of which were supported by CZM. Other regional efforts, including the creation of the HRPDC’s Coastal Resilience program, have been supported through local contributions and agreements. Tasks supported through this grant will include continuation of the region’s coastal resilience coordination process, contribution to CZM and statewide resilience efforts, including the Coastal Zone Resilience Projects Database and other state level resilience initiatives, and assistance to local governments on resilience issues.

To the degree feasible, the HRPDC will document program measures consistent with the NOAA Performance Measurement System. This will include numbers of individuals participating in the various educational components and discussion of local ordinances, plans, policies, and acquisitions being considered.

Federal Funding:

$99,000

Project Contact:

Benjamin McFarlane; 757-420-8300; bmcfarlane@hrpdcva.gov

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Hampton Roads Coastal Resources Management Technical Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2022 Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

This report describes the technical assistance program conducted by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) during FY2022 through its Coastal Resources Management Technical Assistance Program. This program encompasses environmental impact review (EIR), participation in state and federal programs, coordination of regional environmental programs addressing environmental issues, public information and education, and technical assistance to Hampton Roads localities, including support for various resiliency initiatives. It describes the various products generated and used in assisting the region’s seventeen (17) local governments, supporting the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (Virginia CZM), and working with the other Planning District Commissions (PDCs) in the Coastal Zone.

Product #1: EIR/ESI and Federal Consistency Review – Comments were provided on one (1) federal consistency determination.

Product #2: Public Information, Education, and Training – HRPDC staff maintained information on its website and provided regular briefings to local elected officials, local governing bodies, and to professional and civic organizations. HRPDC provided or helped to provide nine (9) training opportunities for local government staff.

Product #3: Regional Coordination Process – HRPDC staff facilitates regional advisory committees addressing a variety of coastal and environmental issues. During this grant period, the Regional Environmental Committee met eleven (11) times. HRPDC staff also represented the region on several state and federal technical advisory committees. HRPDC staff continued to participate in the Coastal PDC Committee and Coastal Policy Team (CPT).

Product #4: Regional Technical Studies and Special Projects - HRPDC staff completed three (3) studies and projects: updates to FishSwimPlay.com, development of online GIS tools covering the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), and completion of a proposal for acquiring LiDAR data. HRPDC staff also continued to support the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative (LCWC). Technical Assistance: HRPDC staff assisted local government staff, consultants, businesses, and citizen environmental organizations on environmental and planning issues on request.

Product #5: Benefits Accrued from Prior CZM Grants – As a result of the coastal resiliency work the HRPDC staff has completed with CZM support, the HRPDC applied for and began implementation of two (2) CFCP projects.

Product #6: Regional Resiliency Coordination – During this grant period, the Coastal Resiliency Committee met four (4) times.

Product #7: Regional Resilience Technical Assistance – HRPDC staff maintained and updated regional resilience data products and coordinated with Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) staff on related efforts. The HRPDC supported the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan (VCRMP) update process by participating on the VCRMP Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and several subcommittees, the TAC and its subcommittees, and providing feedback on plan products. HRPDC identified several regional resilience priorities, including state funding, better state coordination, regional resilient design standards, and expanding the regional roadway flooding network.

This report will be made available online at the HRPDC’s website: https://www.hrpdcva.gov.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

44

Grantee:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

Project Title:

MPPDC Technical Assistance Program

Project Description:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission’s (MPPDC) Coastal Resources Technical Assistance (TA) Program provides the necessary administrative framework to assist rural coastal local governments across the Middle Peninsula to advance coastal management. Through the coordination of localities, and sharing of coastal zone management tools and techniques, the MPPDC focuses on balancing economic development with protecting coastal resources. MPPDC staff will build upon previous planning activities and will continue to promote coastal resilience solutions at the local level and support coastal resilience planning at the state level, which is critical to maintaining and preserving the Commonwealth’s coastal resources. At the local level, the Fight the Flood (FTF) program (https://fightthefloodva.com/) supports resiliency planning activities, coordination, outreach, and implementation of various flood mitigation projects. This approach is a systematic/programmatic solution driven program that protects local government’s tax base, structures, coastal lands, habitat, and water quality. As the MPPDC Coastal TA program has provided the basis for the Middle Peninsula FTF program, MPPDC staff will look to conduct an information audit of the FTF website to make sure all information is current and relevant since the program’s launch in spring 2020. MPPDC staff will also provide ongoing technical assistance, training, and coordination to member local governments and will serve as a liaison to various state and federal agency partners for coastal resource management and resiliency.

Finally, MPPDC staff will develop a new methodology for conducting community flood inundation assessments and strategic alternatives analysis that will focus on a specific community/area facing long-term inundation from sea-level rise and recognizes that action (absent Federal or State mandates) will be required of individuals to mitigate in a fragmented, disjointed, and incremental process at the private property parcel level. MPPDC staff will move beyond the current scientific maps illustrating areas to be flooded under the heading of “if you do nothing, this is what your community will look like in 2100.” Based on local stakeholder feedback, MPPDC staff understands that relocation isn’t a practical or realistic option, especially in the short term nor is waiting for a State or Federal Government to mandate a mitigation strategy, which may or may not suit local community needs or adequately informs such communities of all risks (environmental, economic, sociological, etc.). MPPDC staff and local stakeholders recognize that the threat is active and real, and each property owner will respond differently and inconsistently with their respective neighbors. The methodology process will be different than past efforts undertaken by MPPDC staff with CZM funding support. For the federal FY22 grant, the work program will consist of five (5) distinct products: 

• Coastal Management Analysis and Policy Support (TA-1)
• Local and State Planning Coordination (TA-2)
• Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (MP CBPAA) Work Plan & Support for Online Facility Reservation system (TA-3)
• Benefits Accrued from Ongoing and Prior CZM Grants (TA-4)
• Enhancing Regional Resiliency and State Level Resiliency Support (Resiliency Focal Area – 1)
  • Continue to develop the Fight the Flood Program
  • Support for the Commonwealth’s Resiliency Planning efforts
  • Submit projects to both the CZM & DCR Master Plan resilience databases
  • Community Flood Inundation Assessment and Strategic Alternatives Analysis Pilot

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Lewis Lawrence; 804-758-2311; llawrence@mppdc.com

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission CZM Technical Assistance and Resilience Program (PDF)

Project Summary:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) staff the created and implemented adaptive management techniques, enhanced communication between local, regional, and state stakeholders, and informed planning decisions by local, regional, and state coastal managers. The TA Program provides the MPPDC with the necessary administrative framework to assist rural Middle Peninsula coastal localities (i.e., staff, elected officials, and community level groups) in the enhancement of coastal zone management tools and techniques that balance economic development while protecting coastal resources.

Middle Peninsula localities rely annually on MPPDC staff to provide professional and technical coastal zone management planning assistance on national, regional, and local coastal issues, and associated policy and legislation. For the Federal FY22 grant, there were five tasks outlined and completed under the work program:

Coastal Management Analysis and Policy Support. MPPDC staff provided coastal management support to local government elected officials, chief administrative officers of local governments, local planning staff, local planning commissions, and wetlands board staff.

Local and State Planning Coordination. MPPDC staff attended, convened, and participated in various monthly and quarterly meetings with local government planners, government administrators, and other appropriate government and NGO committees to assist with improved coastal planning. Also, MPPDC staff provided five (5) trainings throughout the year.

Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (MPCBPAA) Work Plan & Support for Online Facility Reservation System. MPPDC staff assisted the MPCBPAA in the implementation of their annual work plan. Three (3) meetings were held throughout the year.

Benefits Accrued from Ongoing and Prior CZM Grants. MPPDC contracted with Consociate Media to develop an ongoing strategic outreach and awareness initiative to inform localities and stakeholders of the PDC and MPCBPAA’s work and the benefits of CZM funding.

Enhancing Regional Resiliency & State Level Resiliency. MPPDC staff continued to enhance the Middle Peninsula Fight the Flood (FTF) program with upgrades to the database and website to ultimately encourage citizens to register for the program and connect them with contractors offering resiliency or mitigation solutions and financial incentives. During this project period, MPPDC staff submitted 45 resiliency grant applications requesting more than $73.3 million to various funding agencies.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

45

Grantee:

Northern Neck Planning District Commission

Project Title:

Northern Neck Planning District Commission Technical Assistance and Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience

Project Description:

NNPDC staff will assist the four (4) member local governments of the Northern Neck Planning District on coastal and other environmental issues, including coastal resilience. This project is a continuation of activities undertaken by the NNPDC through the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) over the last 20+ years. NNPDC staff will:

Technical Assistance

1. Provide support to local governments, planning commissions, local planning staff, as well as the Northern Neck Land Conservancy (NNLC), the Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR), the Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District (NNSWCD), and other regional environmental organizations. NNPDC will provide technical assistance when needed to local governments, GIS analysis of land development proposals, land conversion and land use plans, as well as maps of wetlands, aerial photographs, elevation and/or topographic features.
2. Support local planning, staff education, training, and coordination through quarterly Coastal Managers Meetings and four (4) local government Training Sessions. Meetings and Training Sessions will invite staff from local governments and planning organizations to include Land Use and Zoning Administrators, Planners and other stakeholders. Training sessions will be targeted to assist localities in better managing coastal resources and improving water quality, and may be conducted by Federal, State or Not for Profit entities.
3. Continue to manage the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for home elevations through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). NNPDC assists homeowners to mitigate future storm damage to homes in low-lying or flood-prone areas. This program enhances resiliency for small coastal communities in the Northern Neck.
4. Continue to update the Northern Neck Green website (NNKgreen.org), a regional portal designed as the go-to place for all topics environmentally relevant to the Northern Neck, maintained with the active participation and contribution from many of the region’s organizations dedicated to sustainably maximizing the enjoyment and use of our air, land, and water. Coordination with stakeholders and efforts to increase traffic to the site will continue.
5. Coordinate with stakeholders to revise and update the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and address resiliency in the HMP by incorporating the outcomes of the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT), Regional Resiliency Coordination, Regional Resiliency Priorities, and the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan (VCRMP).
6. Report benefits that have accrued during the grant period and previous CZM grants.
   
   Resilience Focal Area
7. Assist the ten (10) local governments of the Northern Neck Planning District on issues related to ecosystem and community resilience as part of a special Section 306 funded, 3-year Resilience Focal Area (RFA) project in collaboration with the other seven coastal PDCs. This project is a continuation of activities undertaken by the NNPDC under year two of the RFA. NNPDC staff will 1) Provide regional resiliency coordination to support local governments on resiliency. 2) Aid local governments in developing regional resilience priorities and to address resilience capacity building needs. (3) Provide support to the ongoing CZM resilience database effort. 4) Provide support to state efforts in developing and implementing resilience through participation in advisory groups and through input on state plans and programs.
8. Coordinate with local stakeholders to begin to assess and address economic and business resilience in the Northern Neck. Stakeholders will include local economic development associations, business associations, and industry leaders. Products will include the initiation of a workgroup, workshops for businesses, and a report on the dissemination of toolkits and resources to stakeholders and assessment findings.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Brianna Heath; 804-333-1900 x21; bheath@nnpdc17.state.va.us

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Northern Neck Planning District Commission Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program Technical Assistance Grant FY 22, Task 45 Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

Product 1: NNPDC staff provided planning and technical support to local governments through assessment of coastal issues, convening stakeholders, planning initiatives and projects, identification of funding, grant writing, and project management. Additional continued support was provided to the Friends of the Rappahannock, Northern Neck Land Conservancy, Northern Neck Soil and Water Conservation District, and other environmental and conservation groups in the region. NNPDC staff provided GIS maps for the CRMP database bulk upload that was requested for regional projects. NNPDC staff also provided support and planning coordination for localities. Planning coordination included plan review for several localities in the process of updating their comprehensive plans to ensure continuity with regional objectives. NNPDC staff continue to facilitate planning continuity in areas that directly impact the management of coastal resources including utility scale solar, shoreline management, stormwater management, wastewater management, tourism, and economic development.

Product 2: NNPDC staff convened regular meetings of local government land use staff, and when requested, provided training opportunities through these regular meetings or special events. Specifically, NNPDC staff provided hazard mitigation training to local stakeholders through the Northern Neck 2023 HMP Update Working Group and Public Input Meeting held on 10/7/22. The outcome of the meeting was an understanding of the HAZUS model for risk assessment and the level of risk for each individual hazard. Additionally, NNPDC staff coordinated with DEQ staff to provide ESC/SWM training to local staff specific to rural “opt-out” localities on 2/28/23. The outcome of the meeting was an understanding of local roles in ESC/SWM permitting authority and greater coordination between DEQ and locality staff. Additionally, NNPDC staff convened a meeting of local land use staff to coordinate with VDH the transfer of CBPA septic pump-out authority on 3/27/23. The outcome of the meeting was VDH understanding of local authority over pump-outs and a sharing of data regarding past pump-outs, residential addresses, and past compliance. Finally, NNPDC staff have participated in CRMP TAC meetings for updates to the CRMP and the creation of the FPMP (12/1/22, 3/16/23). NNPDC staff coordinated with the Northern Neck Land Conservancy to host a training on how land easements and land use policies intersect and interact on 8/15/23. The outcome of the training was an understanding of land easement contracts, how parcel information is recorded, and a conversation on how locality land use staff and the Northern Neck Land Conservancy can better communicate and share information and records. Additionally, the Northern Neck Land Conservancy had the opportunity to mention that there are old but forgotten Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between them and the localities. The NNPDC staff will continue to coordinate between the parties to help foster in updated MOUs for the region. NNPDC staff has also been active in all possible activities of the Rappahannock River Basin Commission’s Technical Committee, the Potomac Watershed Roundtable, quarterly coastal PDC meetings, and Virginia Coastal Policy Team meetings.

Product 3: NNPDC staff administered the Northern Neck Flood Hazard Mitigation Program to elevate homes out of the floodplain. One home elevation in Lewisetta is nearly completed, only needing plumbing and electrical work to be finished. There are currently five pending applications for additional homes in the Northern Neck and Essex County in the Middle Peninsula. NNPDC staff continues to provide information about the program for homeowners interested in elevating their homes.

Product 4: NNPDC staff acted as network administrator for the Northern Neck Green website (https://www.nnkgreen.org/) and provided technical information to contributing partners to maintain the site, generate new content, and post events.

Product 5: NNPDC staff have completed the multi-year process of updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan by identifying areas of progress, gaps in planning, and hazards of increased frequency. During this update, NNPDC staff utilized the outcomes and local implementation teams from the RAFT to identify areas of resilience and capacity building to be included in the HMP for each locality and as a region. NNPDC staff applied to and were awarded a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant to conduct the regional HMP update. NNPDC staff applied to and were awarded a Community Flood Preparedness Fund grant to incorporate resilience into the HMP. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation approved the use of the NNPDC Regional HMP for use as the Regional Resilience Plan as well. The localities can still create a stand-alone Resilience Plan if they choose to do so.

Product 6: NNPDC staff tracked measurable benefits accrued from previous grant products that have served as a foundation for additional projects.  The initial funding of projects which developed the region’s first water trails has resulted in the expansion of the Northern Neck Water Trail Network and a plan to improve public access and public access facilities.  The Virginia Water Trails initiative has resulted in a 4-PDC Memorandum of Understanding to sustain the website https://virginiawatertrails.org/ beyond the term of the grant. The momentum created by this project has been amplified by the Northern Neck Tourism Commission pursuing a DRIVE Outdoor grant opportunity through Virginia Tourism Corporation. Additionally, two counties, Lancaster and Northumberland are expanding public access sites and facilities, adding sites and amenities to the Virginia Water Trails network.

Product 7: NNPDC staff continues to advance ecosystem and community resilience by building off the outcomes of the Northern Neck RAFT, through the HMP maintenance and update, and through local stakeholder meetings. NNPDC staff continues to provide technical assistance and coordination to local governments on resiliency through local stakeholder groups, dubbed “implementation teams”, some of whom meet regularly to advance locally and regionally developed resilience priorities. The regional HMP lays out the resilience priorities for each locality within the Northern Neck and ranks their priority level as high, medium, or low. Through conversations with local governments, NNPDC prepared and submitted regional priorities into the VCRMP database. NNPDC staff continues to provide technical assistance and coordination to local governments on resiliency. However, with a change in personnel within the NNPDC staff, some of the momentum slowed in order for the new Environmental Planner to onboard and become familiar with the region’s needs. The RAFT implementation team meetings (replacing the semiannual stakeholder meetings) were held before staff turnover, allowing for individual conversations to be held between the stakeholders and the new Environmental Planner to assess needs and discuss future coordination possibilities during the second half of the fiscal year. NNPDC staff also continues to support the VCRMP database effort and is active in the new Phase 2 TAC - “Project Prioritization” subcommittee, which met August 17, 2023.

Product 8: NNPDC staff continues to advance economic resilience through coordination of local economic planning initiatives through the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership. Specifically, NNPDC staff sits on the steering committee for ODU’s Coastal Virginia Adaptation and Resilience Consortium (COVA A&R) that was created by ODU’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR) through the GoVA project. NNPDC staff also participates in the Regional Resilience Equity Workgroup developed through the RAFT process. Specifically, NNPDC staff participates in meetings as a member of the Core Regional Resilience Equity Workgroup, the Affordable Housing and Shelters subgroup, the Transit subgroup, and is a co-lead of the Economic Development and Living Wages subgroup. Additionally, NNPDC staff coordinated with ICAR to host the Small Business Resilience Training for the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck at Rappahannock Community College. The training presented the self-assessment guide and walked participants through an assessment of their comprehensive business resilience. Lastly, the “Coastal Virginia Small Business Assessment & Guide” was made accessible to small business owners by placing the guide on NNPDC’s website. Business outreach and technical support is communicated to local businesses on an ongoing basis by regular referrals to the University of Mary Washington Small Business Development Center (UMW-SBDC), who also disseminates the Self-Assessment Guide and offers business planning assistance and counseling at no cost. Although based in Fredericksburg, this office covers the Northern Neck with both virtual and on-site meetings.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

46

Grantee:

Northern Virginia Regional Commission

Project Title:

NVRC Coastal Resources Technical Assistance Program and Resiliency Focal Area

Project Description:

This proposal consists of two sections: a Technical Assistance (TA) Program and Resiliency Focal Area (RFA): Utilizing PDC’s to Advance Ecosystem & Community Resilience in Virginia’s Coastal Zone. 

TA Program: TA grants have allowed NVRC to promote coordination among all government agencies in the region, which administer enforceable laws, regulations and policies to protect our coastal resources. NVRC proposes the following efforts to continue the promotion of sustainable resource management:

1. Local Coordination & Training: NVRC will convene four (4) workshops or meetings, including at least four (4) trainings on topics of local interest and/or that promote collaborative measures for discussing or addressing CZM interests. Topics may include shoreline management, rain gardens, climate change adaptation, new policies and procedures, living shorelines, green infrastructure planning, stormwater best management practices, etc. NVRC will also participate in ongoing local and regional forums, including the Potomac Watershed Roundtable and the Northern Virginia Salt Management Strategy. NVRC will continue to review and respond to environmental impact statements and reviews for consistency with local, regional, and state interests. NVRC will also participate in the newly-formed Coastal Virginia Shoreline Stakeholders Group (CVSSG) to discuss the future of coastal shoreline planning, regulations, funding, and other applicable topics as they arise.
2. Special Project: Since 2003, NVRC has managed the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners (CWP) Regional Social Marketing Campaign. TA funds will continue to support the overall administration of this project, including acquisition of leveraged funding from partners, development of social media content, website content and promotional materials, and procurement of contractual services such as social media management, cable advertising and post campaign surveys. An annual survey will be conducted through online polls to better understand the level of awareness of Northern Virginians on pollution-causing behaviors and to what degree the campaign messages encourages them change their behaviors. 
3. Benefits Accrued from prior CZM grants: TA grants provide an opportunity to leverage the efforts and funds of multiple partners that extend the impact of the investment. NVRC will track and report the amount of funds leveraged by our partners during this grant period. 

RFA - Utilizing Planning District Commissions to Advance Ecosystem & Community Resilience in Virginia’s Coastal Zone: The second goal of this proposal is to improve the long-term capacity for community resilience planning and support local, regional, and state efforts to develop and implement new projects and policies. NVRC proposes the following efforts as actions within CZM’s overall 3-year RFA strategy:

1. Regional Coordination for Resilience Planning: NVRC will continue to coordinate the Northern Virginia Climate Resiliency Team (NVCRT), a working group of stakeholders from across the region that meets quarterly to share information on best practices and increase local capacity around critical infrastructure. Continued coordination of the NVCRT will also allow NVRC to provide support to the localities to further develop and add additional projects to the Coastal Resilience Database (http://bit.ly/VACoastalDatabase) and other databases as needed.
2. Identification of Local Needs in the Northern Virginia Region: The VCRMP was published at the end of 2021, but a continuing effort (colloquially known as Phase II) was developed to account for pluvial (rainfall-induced flooding) hazards, fluvial (riverine flooding) hazards, and SLR-exacerbated landscape changes and their impact on flood hazards. NVRC will continue to assist the state’s effort to identify pluvial and fluvial data and mapping product needs for the region.
3. Identification of Local Critical Infrastructure: During the VCRMP development, a number of critical infrastructure facilities within NVRC were included in a state-level mapping application component, but the list was deemed incomplete by localities. NVRC proposes to work with the NVCRT to develop a more detailed inventory.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Normand Goulet; 703-642-4634; ngoulet@novaregion.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Northern Virginia Regional Commission Coastal Resources Technical Assistance Program & Resiliency Focal Area Annual Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

NOVA Coastal Resources TA Program: The Virginia CZM Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program allows NVRC to support and advance local, regional, and state coastal resources management efforts through participation and coordination of meetings, trainings, and workshops. In FY22, NVRC staff conducted locally relevant training events focusing on litter monitoring, building resilient public spaces and housing developments, and flood mitigation planning. NVRC staff also led, took part in, or provided general technical assistance for the following meetings: semi—annual Virginia Coastal Policy Team meetings, quarterly Coastal Planning District Commission meetings, quarterly Coastal VA Community Rating System (CRS) Workgroup meetings, quarterly Potomac Watershed Roundtable meetings, Fairfax Trees Community of Practice meetings, a Coastal Virginia Shoreline Stakeholders Group (CVSSG) meeting, and a Northern Virginia Salt Management Strategy meeting. NVRC Staff also responded to 2 Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement (EA/EIS) requests over the project period.

Regional Stormwater Education Campaign: NVRC staff continued coordination of the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners (NVCWP) program, which aims to address stormwater pollution and source water protection in the region through an annual Regional Stormwater Education Campaign. In FY22, the NVCWP campaign utilized a combination of social media, tv advertisements, the onlyrain.org website, and local events to engage and educate Northern Virginia residents around stormwater pollution. The campaign also incorporated several new social marketing strategies, including updated infographics and fact sheets, refreshed social media content, and the addition of Instagram and Threads to expand the campaign’s reach. NVRC hosted three meetings over the year to collaborate with partners on priority water quality issues, social marketing strategies, and other relevant campaign topics.

Over the course of the campaign year, the NVCWP ran tv advertisements on 44 English and Spanish language networks for a total of 865,060 impressions, or views. The campaign also continued to utilize Facebook and Twitter as key social media platforms with 387 posts, 20,858 post engagements, and 6,987 post link clicks on the NVCWP Facebook page and 393 tweets, 1,093 tweet engagements, and 116 link clicks on the NVCWP Twitter page. Since it was created in December 2022, the Instagram account has gained 140 followers and created 79 posts. Following the campaign, the NVCWP conducted an annual online survey of approximately 500 Northern Virginia residents to better understand their stormwater-related knowledge and behaviors over time. The NVCWP’s annual campaign summary and survey results can be found on their website: www.onlyrain.org/_files/ugd/200411_6f72e05098ad4e66bed6e87c62e078a1.pdf.

Resilience Focal Area: To support and advance regional resilience efforts, NVRC has convened regional stakeholders to support local and regional resilience planning for over five years. In FY22, NVRC staff continued these efforts through the Resilience Focal Area, including coordination of the NOVA Flood Mitigation and Resilience Workgroup. NVRC staff held a total of four meetings for the workgroup which focused on sharing best practices and ongoing programming, such as new research and mapping projects, as well as identifying critical infrastructure priorities. In conjunction with the workgroup and other relevant stakeholders, NVRC developed an ArcGIS mapping application to highlight critical infrastructure for the region with a focus on key community resources and green infrastructure. Data from the mapping exercise will be used to educate the public on critical infrastructure and conduct future analyses on critical infrastructure impacts from key climate hazards, including sea level rise, precipitation, and extreme heat. The application is available through ArcGIS Online: https://arcg.is/1vjLfX.

NVRC staff also continued to take part in the planning and development of the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan (VCRMP), including participation in the Technical Advisory Committee and Research, Data, and Innovation Subcommittee. To contribute to the updated VCRMP project database, NVRC submitted 59 resilience projects and 10 capacity building initiatives on behalf of Northern Virginia jurisdictions.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

47

Grantee:

George Washington Regional Commission

Project Title:

George Washington Regional Commission Technical Assistance and Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience

Project Description:

This grant proposal includes annual Technical Assistance (TA) and the third year of the three-year Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience Focal Area (RFA). 

Technical Assistance (TA)

This project offers three components to provide TA and planning support to the local governments of the GWRC service area, including the following: 

1. Training and Coordination within GWRC, with the other coastal PDCs, and with the CZM Coastal Policy Team (CPT) will continue. The GWRC Regional Environmental Managers Technical Committee (Committee) includes local environmental planners, stormwater program managers/staff and/or planning directors, development review personnel, Rappahannock River Basin Commission, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Friends of the Rappahannock, and others.
2. Strategic Plan: Using the time allocated each month for the Regional Environmental Managers Technical Committee, GWRC will solicit input from localities on how to revise the Environmental Strategic Plan to update regional goals.
3. Special Project: In accordance with the GWRC Environmental Services Strategic Plan (Plan), the FY23 special project targets the following goal:
   1. Plan Goal 4. Sustainable Development (CZM Goal 8): to ensure sustainable development on coastal lands and support access for water-dependent development through effective coordination of governmental planning processes.
4. CZM Benefits Accrued: GWRC will continue to support and report on benefits accrued from prior CZM grants, including reporting on the impact to the Flood Risk Communication Program, reporting on the Environmental Services Strategic Plan implementation, and supporting the continuation of the Plant Central Rappahannock Natives campaign by hosting two semi-annual meetings, storing campaign materials, and supporting other activities as needed. 

Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience Focal Area (RFA)

This will improve GWRC’s capacity for resilience planning, including support of local, regional, and state efforts and development and implementation of new projects and policies. Collaboration with the other seven coastal zone PDCs will streamline the development of procedures/products and lead to synergic and financially efficient outcomes. As resilience means different things across regions, this scope includes common tasks across PDCs (4 base tasks) and allows for PDCs to focus on local priority concerns (PDC-specific tasks). In general, each task will be worked on in each year to initiate, fully develop, and implement the tasks. GWRC will focus on the four basic tasks moving from initiation to full development:

1. Review and update, if necessary, the regional resiliency stakeholder group roster and conduct at least two (2) stakeholder meetings. 
2. Continue to identify regional resiliency needs, such as data gaps, local capacity, etc., and establish regional resilience priorities (such as identifying areas to protect/relocate/adapt, natural resource protection, planning for migration of flora and fauna, etc.). Develop the scopes of conceptual projects to address the identified needs and priorities. 
3. Support the development of the CZM resilience project database (http://bit.ly/VACoastalDatabase) and other databases as needed by continuing to provide feedback on structure, usability, and procedures and updating/coordinating the list of regional projects and data on those projects.
4. Continue participation in Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan (VCRMP) development, including attending meetings and providing information to state entities as necessary, and participate in implementation planning.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Meredith Keppel; 540-642-1575; meredith.keppel@gwregion.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

George Washington Regional Commission Coastal Zone Management Technical Assistance Program Report FY 2022 (PDF)

Project Summary:

Product #1: Training and Coordination Activity Outcomes: George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) successfully held coordination meetings of the Regional Environmental Managers Technical Committee (REMTC) on 11/15/2022, 1/17/2023, 2/28/2023, 5/16/2023, and 9/12/2023. At the November meeting, Lauren Linville from DEQ Clean Water Financing (CWF) came to talk about their funding source, Septic Local Partners Program (SLPP). On January 17^th, REMTC met to talk about grant coordination and to brainstorm themes for the environmental strategic plan update. On February 28^th, the REMTC met to give input on projects for the next scope of GWRC’s Virginia Coastal Zone Management (Virginia CZM) grant. GWRC staff also presented the material created from January’s work session on the environmental strategic plan. On 5/16/2023, the REMTC discussed resiliency projects which could be entered into the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)’s Flood Resilience Spreadsheet for the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan (VCRMP). REMTC members also followed up on items from the Resiliency Meeting in March, including coordination on future training opportunities. On 9/12/2023, the REMTC members continued discussions about Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals (CBLP) training opportunities in Fredericksburg as well as discussions around available funding and eligible projects for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). Minutes and agendas can be found on our website. GWRC staff also held four Regional Resiliency Meetings this year which consisted of a training and then a partner roundtable on resiliency coordination. These trainings happened on 11/15/2023 with Lauren Linville on accessing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, on 3/21/2023 with Wetlands Watch on Chesapeake Bay workforce development, on 6/20/2023 with the Chesapeake Stormwater Network on MS4 regulations and resilience adaptations for BMPs, and on 9/19/2023 with the Friends of the Rappahannock on tree planting programs in the region. Meetings and presentations can be found on our website.

Product #2: Environmental Strategic Plan: GWRC Staff finalized a framework for the environmental strategic plan. The document is available on our website as a working document.

Product #3: Heat Island Special Project: GWRC Staff conducted two (2) Urban Heat Island Listening Sessions on 2/22/2023 and 03/09/2023. Materials from those meetings were combined into an outcome summary with a list of future projects which may be pursued with the help of academic partners.

Product #4: Benefits Accrued from Prior CZM Grants: GWRC staff and the Plant Central Rapp Natives (PCRN) group have tabled at multiple outreach events, including Compost-A-Thon on 5/12/2023 and Historic Garden Week on 4/18/2023. The Campaign members met on 2/28/2023 and will meet again on 10/12/2023. GWRC staff also met with campaign volunteers and King George Parks & Rec staff on 3/24/2023 and 9/21/2023 to coordinate maintenance of the Cedell Brooks, Jr. Park demonstration garden. Staff assisted Spotsylvania County with coordination on Community Rating System (CRS) workshops to increase resiliency and flood risk communication.

Product #5: Resiliency Planning: Regional Resiliency Coordination Outcomes- GWRC staff held resiliency meetings on 11/15/2023, 3/21/2023, 6/20/2023, and 9/19/2023. Meetings included partner updates and ongoing discussions around training in the region. Meeting minutes can be found here. Regional Resiliency Projects- GWRC worked with the stakeholder group to identify regional resiliency needs, such as data gaps, local capacity, etc. GWRC staff continue to coordinate to match partners to funding sources.

DCR Resilience Project Database Contributions- GWRC worked with the DCR resilience database team, Virginia CZM staff, and local partners to create and submit a final spreadsheet of eligible projects from Planning District 16.

State Resilience Planning Support- GWRC attended the Resilience Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) quarterly meetings on 12/1/22, 3/16/2023, 6/27/2023, and 8/24/2023.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

48

Grantee:

PlanRVA (Richmond Regional Planning District Commission)

Project Title:

Richmond Region Technical Assistance and Resiliency

Project Description:

This grant proposal includes annual Technical Assistance (TA) and the third year of the three-year Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience Focal Area (RFA).

Technical Assistance: PlanRVA will provide policy and planning assistance to member localities as follows:

1. Coordination & Training Meetings: PlanRVA staff will host quarterly meetings of local staff representatives who work with coastal resource management issues. These meetings will provide both training and coordination opportunities for attendees.
2. Regional Coordination & Local Technical Assistance: PlanRVA will respond to identified gaps in and requests for regional coordination or local technical assistance. Please see the Extended Project Description for examples of activities.
3. Support for the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative (LCWC):

   A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed by the Lower Chickahominy Watershed project planning team and signed by the three Tribes and three localities in the watershed as well as PlanRVA and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) in 2021. While the MOU satisfied NOAA’s requirement for a new enforceable policy for the FY21 grant period, the LCWC seeks to improve relationships and understanding among the signatories and advance additional priorities as identified by the MOU signatories as well as a broader group of stakeholders who have also been participants in the overall effort. The LCWC serves as a forum to coordinate on policy, program, and project solutions that support natural resource conservation and sustainable economic development. PlanRVA will coordinate and facilitate LCWC meetings (work groups and steering committee), maintain a LCWC SharePoint site for communication and coordination among LCWC members, provide technical assistance and project implementation support, maintain a project website on the PlanRVA website for the benefit of LCWC members and the general public, and participate in the LCWC as signatory member of the MOU.

4. Benefits Accrued from Prior CZM Grants: PlanRVA will summarize how projects funded by CZM grants in the past have produced measurable benefits.

Advancing Ecosystem and Community Resilience Focal Area (RFA)

This proposal aims to improve regional capacity for resilience planning to support local, regional, and state efforts to develop and implement new projects, programs, and policies. PlanRVA staff will work with regional partners to coordinate with efforts of state agencies and to move forward a regional resilience planning process which previously did not exist in the Richmond Region. In the first two years, PlanRVA staff focused on the fundamentals of organizing a planning committee and understanding existing data sources and gaps. PlanRVA staff worked with the Environmental Technical Advisory Committee (EnvTAC) and other relevant agency committees to solicit and prioritize a list of projects according to goals and criteria. PlanRVA staff published this list of resiliency projects and submitted it to relevant resilience project databases or lists. PlanRVA coordinated internally, identifying opportunities to consider resiliency in agency or regional planning processes and ensuring steps are taken towards those ends. Finally, PlanRVA staff cooperated with and provided support for agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia in resilience planning. In year three, PlanRVA staff will continue regional coordination and collaboration efforts through the EnvTAC. PlanRVA staff will update the prioritized regional project list. Using the identified resilience priorities and projects, PlanRVA staff will work on a regional resilience dashboard housing data and information across the agency’s program areas. Finally, PlanRVA staff will continue to provide support to the state agencies in resilience planning.

Federal Funding:

$64,500

Project Contact:

Sarah Stewart; 804-323-2033, ext 119; sstewart@planrva.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Final Report: Richmond Regional Technical Assistance Federal Fiscal Year 2022 (PDF)

Project Summary:

Coordination & Training Meetings – PlanRVA hosts meetings of the Environmental Technical Advisory Committee (EnvTAC) throughout the year to offer coordination and training opportunities for locality and regional partner staff representatives who work with coastal resource management issues. At least 4 training opportunities and 4 coordination opportunities are provided each grant year.  Trainings offered during the 2022 grant year: 1/25/2023 - a training on urban heat island mapping and the InVEST urban cooling model; 3/17/23 - a training on the VCU uLESA (Urban Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) project for urban farming and community garden opportunity identification, coordination updates on numerous projects at PlanRVA, and roundtable partner program updates; 7/21/23 – a training on suitability mapping for utility-scale solar installations across the region; 8/29/23 – a training on PlanRVA’s Regional Ecosystem Framework mapping.  Coordination opportunities were offered at all meetings via an agenda item devoted to roundtable updates as well as specific agenda items on regional projects, including Scenario Planning, regional resilience project list, Virginia Coastal Resilience TAC participation, and funding opportunities.

Regional Coordination and Local Technical Assistance Report – PlanRVA staff support regional and local coastal management coordination and technical assistance.  Activities undertaken during the grant year include: administration and coordination of the Don’t Trash Central Virginia anti-litter campaign, completion of 117 environmental reviews, coordination with staff in Hanover County on development of environmental elements of the county’s comprehensive plan, coordination with local staff for waterfront site water refill station opportunities, coordination with the Capital Region Land Conservancy on conservation land and ecological core mapping, and participation in the Plant RVA Natives campaign.

Support for the Lower Chickahominy Watershed Collaborative - PlanRVA staff maintained the LCWC SharePoint site and webpages, as well as provided administrative support for Steering Committee and Workgroup meetings, intermeeting coordination with signatories and stakeholders, and related technical assistance in support of LCWC priorities.

Benefits Accrued – This report highlights past projects that have produced later benefits or served as the foundation for additional projects.  This year, PlanRVA staff highlight how previous coastal resource mapping and analysis feed into PlanRVA’s scenario planning project, Pathways to the Future.

Resilience Planning – PlanRVA staff supported regional coordination and technical work related to resilience.  PlanRVA staff participated in the Virginia Coastal Resilience Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Project Prioritization subcommittee.  EnvTAC meetings included resilience agenda items including development of the regional resilience project list (3/17/23, 7/21/23, 8/29/23) and participation in the Virginia Coastal Resilience TAC (1/25/23, 3/17/23, 7/21/23, 8/29/23). PlanRVA staff submitted an updated regional resilience projects list to DCR on 9/1/23. Highlighted here are two key resilience-related work efforts undertaken by PlanRVA staff during the grant period.  PlanRVA staff coordinated with a technical assistance team at NASA through the DEVELOP program.  NASA fellows conducted pluvial flooding analysis of the Richmond region.  These resilience grant funds made possible the time for coordination and expertise offered by PlanRVA staff at weekly consultation meetings during the project process.  PlanRVA staff also worked on an internal team to refine and finalize the Regional Ecosystem Framework (REF) GIS data layer.  The REF, previously referred to as “Eco-Logical,” is a regional data layer that overlays several environmental and resilience related data sets through a process that weighs them based on ecosystem and conservation goals.  The resulting data set can be used for various planning processes, from infrastructure or transportation routing decisions to desktop site analysis.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

49

Grantee:

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation

Project Title:

Virginia Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Stranding Network

Project Description:

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation’s Stranding Response Program (VAQS) is permitted by the NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Commonwealth of Virginia to manage the state’s sea turtle and marine mammal stranding networks. The Aquarium’s mission is to “inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research and sustainable practices.” With assistance of this grant from the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, VAQS maintains a statewide stranding network and responds to marine mammal strandings (average 99/year from 2003-2012, 427 in 2013, average 96/year from 2014-2021) and sea turtle strandings (average 255/year from 2012-2021) throughout the tidal waters and shorelines along the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. Virginia has a rich diversity of marine mammal and sea turtle species. There are 32 marine mammal species and five sea turtle species in the state stranding records. During 2013, a historic number of marine mammal strandings (427 in a single year) occurred in Virginia as a result of a bottlenose dolphin unusual mortality event (UME) caused by a cetacean morbillivirus. The strandings were part of the largest cetacean mortality event ever recorded. The UME continued throughout 2014 and into 2015, though associated dolphin mortalities were primarily focused south of the mid-Atlantic region. Virginia has experienced more normal overall levels of marine mamal strandings since 2013, however 2015 included the third highest annual total of bottlenose dolphin strandings (85) ever recorded in the state, and 2017 (11) and 2019 (9) were record years for large whale strandings. 2015-2019 also included increases in live sea turtle strandings, with the majority of the strandings associated with incidental capture by hook and line fishers. Stranding response includes carcass recovery, external/internal examination, photo/video documentation, human interaction analysis, stomach contents analysis, tissue sampling, carcass disposal, and database management. Live animal strandings, especially sea turtles and some seals, are provided with emergency medical care and rehabilitated for return to their natural environment. Animals that are succesfully rehabilitated but unable to be returned to the wild are placed with professionally managed zoological parks or aquariums. Nonreleasable animals are placed with the guidance of the agency with authority – either NMFS, USFWS or both. The VAQS staff recruits, trains and coordinates a volunteer stranding team with approximately 60 members. Additionally, stranding response cooperators within the state network include state and federal parks staff, game wardens and biologists, military base personnel, U.S. Coast Guard, VMRC, VDGIF, life guards, and law enforcement officers. Trainings are conducted throughout the year with emphasis on the natural history and stranding response requirements of sea turtles and marine mammals. The VAQS maintains the state marine mammal and sea turtle stranding databases and submits reports to NMFS and other agencies. Stranding data is compiled and stored by VAQS and reported to NMFS national databases. The VAQS views each stranding event as an opportunity for education about natural history, threats (such as marine debris ingestion, entanglements, vessel strikes, and disease) and conservation needs of Virginia's sea turtle and marine mammal species. This message is presented through exhibits and outreach programs, at schools, to teachers, to groups such as girl and boy scouts, to civic organizations, and at scientific conferences, workshops, trainings, and special events. Through these efforts, information about the status of these protected species in Virginia is presented to the public and to the agencies and individuals responsible for their management and conservation.

Federal Funding:

$35,650

Project Contact:

Alexander M. Costidis, Ph.D.; 757-385-6482; acostidi@virginiaaquarium.com 

Project Status:

1/1/23 - 12/31/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Virginia Sea Turtle & Marine Mammal Stranding Network 2023 Grant Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

The Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Program (VAQS) conducts and coordinates the Virginia stranding network activities including response, recovery, rehabilitation, necropsy, and data collection. VAQS documents all marine mammal and sea turtle strandings throughout Virginia, maintaining the state stranding database, and contributes to the national stranding database. VAQS reported 374 Virginia strandings in 2023, involving 285 sea turtles and 89 marine mammals. This is a decrease from the 2022 stranding total of 438, with 325 sea turtle and 113 marine mammal strandings.

Although total sea turtle strandings were lower this year, they remain higher than the annual average of 267 of the past ten years. Following two years of below average sea turtles strandings in 2020 and 2021 (n=216, n=212), totals in both 2022 and 2023 exhibited an increase (n=325, n=285). The COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in how many strandings were observed and reported to the stranding network during those lower years. Continued monitoring of Virginia sea turtle strandings will provide valuable information to help understand the causes of sea turtle strandings and whether changing numbers represent a significant and predictable trend or only a temporary change.

The total number of marine mammal strandings in 2023 (n=89) was slightly below average, but within normal limits. Overall temporal and geographic stranding trends were similar to observed historic trends. However, since 2016, the number of large whale strandings has drastically increased, and 10 large whales were documented in Virginia during 2023. This included a critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, which exhibited evidence of blunt trauma (consistent with a vessel interaction). Though bottlenose dolphins were the most commonly stranded species in 2023 (comprising 76% of strandings), other more rare species were also documented, including one striped dolphin and two pygmy sperm whales.

VAQS continues to expertly monitor stranded animals for signs of human interaction and in 2023, 13 marine mammals exhibited evidence of human interaction, the most common of which were interactions with fishing gear and vessels. Evidence of human interaction was also documented in 132 stranded sea turtle cases, including 62 live sea turtles that stranded due to incidental capture via recreational hook and line.

Data collected by VAQS continues to be critical to the long-term monitoring efforts for sea turtle and marine mammal populations in the mid-Atlantic region. The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program remains committed to providing the valuable service of documenting strandings of protected marine mammals and sea turtles in Virginia, with the hope that the vitally important data can be utilized by state and federal agencies to ensure continued protections for marine mammals and sea turtles. A complete listing and discussion of 2023 stranding data and VAQS professional and education activities can be found in the final grant report to the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, VAQF Scientific Report 2024-01. Further information and a copy of the report can be found at www.VirginiaAquarium.com or by contacting VAQS at stranding@virginiaaquarium.com .

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

VACZM_FY22_Final_Product_Task_71Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

71

Grantee:

Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Center for Coastal Resources Management

Project Title:

Conservation Targeting for Resilience (year 3 of 3)

Project Description:

In Year 3, we propose to finalize our analysis of species guild distribution changes and shift our focus to conservation strategies. In collaboration with DCR, VCPC, and resource managers from relevant agencies, organizations, and localities, we will identify existing conservation strategies and propose new strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change which will address the projected impacts identified in years one and two. Our results will be summarized and a final report delivered to VCZMP in fulfillment of the award.

The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) will map future shorelines across tidal Virginia for 2050, 2075, and 2100 assuming the intermediate-high NOAA sea level rise (SLR) curve. Using a high-resolution digital elevation model, CCRM will integrate erosion rates, barriers to inland migration, and existing land use/land cover (LULC) to identify the likely position of the future shoreline. These shorelines will approximate the lower limit of intertidal vegetated cover, while the upper limits will be bounded by the mean sea level plus 1.5X the intertidal range. The lower and upper bounds of the intertidal will be summarized by their LULC to identify how the shorescapes are likely to be able to progress in the future.

We will establish a steering committee to provide input into the development of decision-support applications of the modeled data. The decision-support outputs are expected to include a GIS data viewer, but may include other materials, such as factsheets, or decision trees, as well. Modeled data coupled with the law and regulatory information gathered by VCPC will support the development of an interactive tool identifying the location and extent of potential opportunities and hurdles to marsh migration. The steering committee will meet a minimum of 4 times during the project year. Members will include representation from VCPC, DCR, DWR, VMRC, VACZM, and Coastal PDCs at a minimum. Steering committee members list will be submitted for review by the CZM Program Manager for this project. In addition to the modeled data and regulatory framework information, we can explore integration of other spatial information from DCR’s Conserve Virginia (https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/conservevirginia/), CCRM’s Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) and Shoreline Management Model (SMM), mapped content from AdaptVa and EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJSCREEN). These results will be available to coastal land acquisition and managers as well as localities and local planning district commissions to utilize for conservation targeting.

DCR will report element occurrences (EOs) from field work conducted in FY22, and update their assessments of essential conservation sites (ECS) in the coastal zone. The results will be reviewed by a Site Conservation Assessment Team (SCAT) to rank tax parcels in the coastal zone by their opportunity, importance, and urgency for conservation action. The output will inform the next update of the Coastal Virginia Ecological Value Assessment.

Federal Funding:

$101,250

Project Contact:

Pamela Mason; 804-684-7158; mason@vims.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Conservation Targeting - Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

The Center of Coastal Resources Management (CCRM), Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Natural Heritage Program (VNHP) have completed year 3 of a three-year project developing data and decision-support for conservation targeting with regard to climate change and resilience in Coastal Virginia.

CCRM developed projections for tidal wetlands shifts and the relative conversion of other land covers that could occur due to marsh migration. These areas were mapped in decade time steps from 2030-2100. The model used the NOAA intermediate high 2017 projection. Data layers for each decade are served on Adaptva interactive viewer under the Natural Resources tab and labeled “Potential Tidal Wetlands”. The net change from 2020 to 2100 is a loss of about 160,000 acres – almost 50%. These shifts are not consistent across the Coast, larger areal loss is expected in the outer/ eastern coastal plan (where more marshes exist and marsh migration is feasible), but the highest loss percentages are in the inner/ western coastal where higher shoreline elevation will prevent marsh migration. Management efforts to protect, restore, allow, or promote marshes in Virginia will need to be varied to address the differences in projected migration and persistence. Additionally, marsh resilience will necessitate trade-offs in landuse/ landcover distribution in the coastal landscape. Landward migration will be limited by decisions regarding development and shoreline defense. https://cmap22.vims.edu/AdaptVA/AdaptVA_viewer.html

VNHP prioritized Elemental Occurrences (is an area of land and/or water in which a species or natural community is, or was, present) on resilient sites, surveyed those sites to update EOs and augment the Biotics database, and developed a strategy to conserve the highest priority EOs on resilient sites. The updated data were then used to develop custom Essential Conservation Site (ECS) and Essential EO (EEO) datasets which identify the best examples of each NHR and the Conservation Sites needed to preserve them.  The results were analyzed and compared with parcel data and conserved lands and reviewed by the Site Conservation Assessment Team (SCAT), to develop a strategy to target conservation of the highest priority EOs on resilient sites.  The SCAT review ranked parcels using factors relevant to land acquisition (such as feasibility of successful stewardship, extent of needed restoration, landscape context, etc.) as well as other characteristics such as expert opinion and institutional knowledge of those parcels.  The plan identifies parcels harboring EOs in need of urgent conservation action.  The plan will be used internally by VNHP to target additions to existing State Natural Area Preserves or protection/dedication of new State Natural Area Preserves.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

72

Grantee:

Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission

Project Title:

Promoting Ecotourism to Support Conservation of Conserved Lands and Resilient Communities

Project Description:

This collaborative project will build on the efforts completed during fiscal years 2017-2019 (Task 72, Section 306) under the Focal Area project titled "Virginia Oyster & Water Trail Eco-Tourism Promotion." This proposal is for continuing the 2020-2022 (Task 72, Section 306) Focal Area project “Promoting Ecotourism to Support Conservation of Conserved Lands and Resilient Communities” into year three of the three-year program.

Improving ecotourism opportunities, resources, and trainings helps to protect economic resiliency and to keep conservation lands open. Due to low development and the abundance of green infrastructure, Rural Coastal Virginia minimizes risk to sea-level rise for the entire coastal region and thus the Commonwealth as a whole. An assessment of the economic benefit of conserved lands has already been shown through previous CZM investment in studies of both the Eastern Shore and the Lower Chickahominy regions.

During Year 3, the Coastal Virginia Ecotourism Alliance (CVEA) Steering Committee (Committee, which includes the VA CZM Program Manager) will continue to guide the overall project, coordinate with local Tourism Commissions and localities, and will work with the Office of Outdoor Recreation (the Office) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to provide statewide support and integration of CVEA goals and products into state planning efforts. The Committee will develop plans of sustainability for both the Virginia Water Trails asset and the Virginia Certified Ecotour Guide Course asset to ensure both initiatives are continued past the time of grant funding for this focal area.

The Water Trails website will continue to be maintained and updated as needed. The Committee will continue efforts to work with the Office and DCR, providing statewide support and integration into state plans and resources. The Virginia Ecotourism Guide Certification Course (Course) will be offered and recertification efforts for certified guides will be tracked. This Course promotes entrepreneurship and helps retain young people in these regions through an understanding of the economic potential of ecotourism.

Year 3 will include work with localities and Public Works Departments for installation of fabricated launch site signage on public property on existing structures (such as dock pilings, dock railings, previously existing sign posts, existing interpretive signage, etc.). The PDCs will secure signed letters of commitment from the public property owners that signs will be placed only on existing public structures. Year 3 will also further develop public access site assessments for infrastructure resiliency. The Virginia Oyster Trail (VOT) will use the inventory of communities with whom the Communities Program has been discussed to move forward with a single community completing the stakeholder program engagement process.

Federal Funding:

$74,000

Project Contact:

Jessica Steelman; 757-787-2936 x114; jsteelman@a-npdc.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Accomack-Northampton PDC - Promoting Ecotourism to Support Conservation of Conserved Lands & Resilient Communities Final Report FY 22 (PDF)

Project Summary:

The project has been a collaboration among Virginia’s coastal Planning District Commissions and partner organizations to develop the Virginia Water Trail as a coastal resilience tool and an asset for ecotourism. The project’s goal is to improve the ecological and economic potential of the region while focusing on the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. A chief asset in the project has been ascent of the Virginia Water Trails website: https://virginiawatertrails.org/.  An overview of the website’s analytics from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 shows robust growth across multiple metrics, including website traffic, user engagement, demographic information, popular content, and referral sources, demonstrating the platform’s expanding online presence and audience interaction.

The project has demonstrated a significant emphasis on key attributes vital to the success and sustainability of coastal communities, including an awareness of how to enjoy the coastal outdoors while implementing Leave No Trace principles during the exploration of cultural and historical assets. Substantial effort has also been focused on the health of wetlands, waterways, oysters, wildlife, and overall regional resilience.

Outdoor recreation has proved to be a recession-proof industry and a driving force in the American economy, generating $689 billion in economic output spending and supporting 4.3 million jobs across the country. According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, Virginia’s outdoor recreation industry contributes nearly $22 billion annually to the Commonwealth’s economy and supports the livelihood of more than 197,000 Virginians. In addition, outdoor recreation is cited by one in four Virginia visitors as one of their top trip purposes. The Eastern Shore’s natural and outdoor recreational opportunities, at $25.7 million, produced 22.7 percent of its total tourism expenditures in 2021. Outdoor recreation in the Chesapeake Bay will continue to be a growing economic strength for the region, with nature-related opportunities dominating the region. 

Within the context of the Coastal Virginia Ecotourism Alliance, the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission facilitated the FY 2022 Ecotour Guide Course for six new guides and the recertification of two existing guides. The Alliance demonstrated ongoing dedication to advancing ecotourism in the coastal Virginia region. The Alliance has made significant strides in promoting ecological and economic resiliency. The Alliance’s commitment to sustainable development, public engagement, and environmental stewardship underscores their vision for a vibrant and ecologically sound coastal community. The accomplishments and partnerships serve as a testament to the Alliance’s efforts to preserve the region’s natural resources and stimulate economic growth through ecotourism, all while ensuring the well-being of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

73

Grantee:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission

Project Title:

Next Generation Moderate Energy Shoreline Plan Development

Project Description:

Coastal regions must evolve shoreline planning and designs based on ever changing public need driven by Federal, state, and local governmental priorities, socio-economic need, and environmental protection. Regarding Federal priorities, the Middle Peninsula (specifically the York-Piankatank-Mobjack Bay system) has been identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as an area of special interest for the restoration of coastal resources that support resilient shorelines. USACE and the Commonwealth of Virginia have stated in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Comprehensive Plan that the York-Piankatank-Mobjack Bay system is a “priority sub-watershed” for coastal habitat restoration. In addition, NOAA has designated this location as a Habitat Focus Area with an emphasis on supporting climate resilient nearshore habitat demonstration projects and oyster restoration. From a state level, recent changes to the Code of Virginia to establish living shorelines as the default rather than the preferred alternative for shoreline protection (see Extended Project Description) has also shifted the policy focus toward promoting resiliency through nature-based solutions. Accordingly, Virginia shoreline planning must evolve to find a new balance between water quality, habitat enhancement, and resiliency protection.

In a continued effort to create a comprehensive foundation to the next generation of shoreline management guidance, MPPDC staff will apply the findings from year one (FY21) of this project, which focused on high energy shorelines, and contract with Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) Shoreline Studies Program to develop a plan for a moderate energy setting which can serve as a template for other shorelines with similar wave energy regimes. In part, the plan will focus on how to balance cost-effective shore protection and habitat goals. Finally, with the passing of HB 1322, VIMS Shoreline Studies Program will utilize and incorporate the new modified definition for “other structures and organic materials” within living shorelines permit process (see the Extended Project Description). Simultaneously, MPPDC staff will contract with Consociate Media to document the story of developing a plan for moderate energy settings through media (video, photos, and narrative).

The final product will also result in one shovel ready design for a publicly-owned selected site or sites  to be included into the MPPDC Fight the Flood (FTF) program (https://fightthefloodva.com/) which supports local, regional, state and private efforts with the development and implementation of new flood mitigation projects, policies, and solutions including financial, technical and entrepreneurial necessary to grow and support a mitigation industry to build nature based solutions.

Federal Funding:

$50,000

Project Contact:

Lewis Lawrence; 804-758-2311; llawrence@mppdc.com

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Next Generation Moderate Energy Shoreline Plan Development Final Report (PDF)

Project Summary:

Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) staff created a comprehensive foundation to the next generation of shoreline management guidance, MPPDC staff applied the findings from year one (FY21, Task 73) of this project, which focused on high energy shorelines, and contracted with Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) Shoreline Studies Program (SSP) to develop a plan for a moderate energy setting which can serve as a template for other shorelines with similar wave energy regimes. In part, the plan focused on how to balance cost-effective shore protection and habitat goals. For the Federal FY22, Task 73 grant, there were three tasks outlined and completed under the work program:

Next Generation Moderate Energy Shoreline Plan Whitepaper. VIMS-SSP completed moderate-low energy shoreline literature research including development of an annotated bibliography and outline. The final document provides perhaps the most thorough repository of available and relevant literature available in the Commonwealth and provides key takeaways and lessons learned to supplement the Shoreline Management Planning process. 

Next Generation Shoreline Design. A recently acquired ~100-acre waterfront property owned by the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (MPCBPAA) was utilized as the pilot site for the planning process. The property is an addition to the MPCBPAA-owned Captain Sinclairs Public Recreational Area in Gloucester County on the Severn River. VIMS-SSP staff completed a remote site assessment of the property including compiling of existing data, studies, etc. and conducted field work including aerial photography and LiDAR elevation surveys. All remote and field assessments were compiled, and a series of shoreline and habitat management alternatives were presented to MPPDC staff (who serve as staff for the MPCBPAA) for consideration. MPPDC/MPCBPAA staff selected to have VIMS design for a phased shoreline protection approach, prioritizing the moderate energy shoreline locations first before later protecting the lower energy shorelines as well as thin-spraying dredged sediment into the interior of the tidal marsh complex at the site. The final designs and draft Joint Permit Application were finalized and MPPDC staff have already begun seeking funding for the project. 

Project Documentation and Promotion. Consociate Media documented the MPCBPAA property with photos and video and developed a presentation and video summarizing the mod-low energy planning process and pilot site. The presentation will be utilized by MPPDC staff and also shared on the MPPDC Fight the Flood website. The video is available here: Next Gen Shoreline Yr 2 - final presentation video - Nov 2023.mp4 .

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

91.01

Grantee:

College of William & Mary - Virginia Coastal Policy Center

Project Title:

Analysis and Recommendations for Potential In Lieu Fees for Habitat Impacts to Increase Climate Resilience in Virginia’s Narrative Enforceable Policies

Project Description:

VCPC’s work under this grant in Year 2 will entail research on the potential development of an in lieu fee program for impacts to certain types of habitats, such as subaquatic vegetation, shallow water habitats, non-vegetated wetlands, coastal habitats for protected species (dunes and beaches, shorebird and sea turtle habitats), and surface waters with raw water intakes that impact anadromous fish.  Year 1 of this grant focused on researching appropriate case studies and collecting lessons learned from other states that have in lieu fees for a variety of natural resources impacts. Year 2 will focus on collaboration with Virginia agencies to review the case studies and draft specific provisions for a proposed VA regulatory program, with the goal of proposing appropriate changes to Virginia’s narrative enforceable policies that increase resilience to climate change impacts.

Specifically, in Year 2, VCPC will:

1. Work with staff from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and Virginia Marine Resources Commission to research successes and “lessons learned” from Virginia’s existing natural resources programs, especially the in lieu fee program for wetlands impacts.
2. Make recommendations concerning creation of an in lieu fee program for impacts to the listed habitats in Virginia, including program requirements, whether funds from such a program should be combined with the existing Virginia wetlands in lieu fee fund, and necessary changes to current laws, regulations and narrative enforceable policies that would be required to establish such a program.

Federal Funding:

$56,000

Project Contact:

Elizabeth Andrews; 757-221-1078; eaandrews@wm.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Potential Pathways for Expanded Habitat Mitigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia (PDF)

Project Summary:

The Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC)’s original FY21, Task 91.01 scope of work (which was intended to continue along similar lines of effort in FY22), including working with state agencies to incorporate resilience to climate change into Virginia CZM’s Narrative Enforceable Policies was postponed while awaiting the new Administration's direction on climate change issues. VCPC’s tasks under this multi-year effort therefore were modified. VCPC’s altered scope of work for FY21 entailed initial research on other states' programs for the potential development of an in-lieu fee (ILF) program for impacts to certain types of habitats, such as subaquatic vegetation, shallow water habitats, non-vegetated wetlands, coastal habitats for protected species (dunes and beaches, shorebird and sea turtle habitats), and surface waters with raw water intakes that impact anadromous fish. The work done by a student team in Spring 2022 (also under FY21, Task 91.01) was focused on researching appropriate case studies and collecting lessons learned from other states that have ILFs for a variety of natural resources impacts. This information was then used to develop a white paper with case studies featuring the various state programs’ successes and encountered challenges. The work on ILF research and recommendations continued under this FY22, Task 91.01 grant.

For this FY22 grant, beginning in Fall 2022, a student team worked with staff from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF), Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) to research successes and “lessons learned” from Virginia’s existing natural resources programs, especially the ILF program for wetlands impacts. VCPC’s work in Spring 2023 involved further legislative and regulatory research, resulting in a final report that includes specific recommendations for how to amend the law to allow for expansion of an ILF program in Virginia. The student team completed the following tasks: (1) reviewing the existing legislative and regulatory framework of VARTF as well as the draft student report containing stakeholder feedback and proposed recommendations from last semester; (2) connecting with DWR staff to resolve outstanding questions of authority concerning mitigation for wildlife losses; (3) in early March, holding an in-person stakeholders meeting with representatives from VMRC, DEQ, and DWR to identify common goals and next steps for ILF expansion; and (4) drafting a final report incorporating feedback from interviews and the stakeholder meeting. The report includes specific recommendations for how to amend the law to achieve goals and solutions for ILF expansion in accordance with the stakeholders’ consensus recommendations.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

91.02

Grantee:

College of William & Mary - Virginia Coastal Policy Center

Project Title:

RAFT Expansion, Assessments, & Workshops

Project Description:

Through the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC)’s and others’ work with localities to assist them in their resilience efforts, it became clear that an important gap in the toolbox of Virginia’s coastal communities that are dealing with sea level rise is an easy and accessible scorecard to define and measure a locality’s resilience. In response, The Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (The RAFT) was developed by an interdisciplinary academic collaborative (the “Project Team”), which includes VCPC at William & Mary Law School, the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation (IEN) at the University of Virginia, and Old Dominion University/Virginia Sea Grant Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program (ODU).

The goal of The RAFT is to help Virginia’s coastal communities improve resilience to flooding while remaining economically viable and socially relevant. Because this is an “adaptive management” effort, continued refinements are expected in the years ahead. The RAFT’s goal is to bridge the gap between science and action by catalyzing meaningful action by localities to increase their resilience through policies and programmatic changes.

Unlike many resilience scorecards that are self-assessments, The RAFT process begins with a resilience assessment (the “Scorecard”) of a locality’s policies and programs conducted by the Project Team, lending both independence and academic collaboration to the process. Next, to assure that the Scorecard leads to real action, the Project Team engages in a two-step process of presentations to the locality Board of Supervisors or City/Town Council followed by a regional community workshop. This collaborative process enables each community’s thought leaders to identify their community’s resilience strengths and opportunities. The workshop product is a Resilience Action Checklist (“the Checklist”) for each locality, with clear goals and an implementation timeline. A final component of The RAFT process is that the Project Team and partners (such as the Planning District Commission and state agencies) continue to work with the community as Implementation Teams (“IT”) through one year of implementation to provide various forms of assistance, whether technical assistance or help in finding funding sources to achieve specific resilience goals identified in the Checklist. The Project Team leads monthly IT meetings for each locality throughout the year to work through the Checklist items and sustain the momentum for changes in policy and programs. Since the founding of The RAFT, it has been made clear by local government representatives that the Project Team must continue to provide localities with independent academically-scored results in order to help generate change.

The portions of the project for which the Project Team seeks 309 funding are vital to the implementation and continuing success of The RAFT. With 309 funding, the Project Team will use the outcomes from its first four rounds of application of The RAFT (three pilot localities, a regional approach of seven localities in Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a regional approach of six localities in Virginia’s Northern Neck, and a similar regional approach of six localities in the Middle Peninsula) to: 1) conduct the implementation phase for a fifth round of The RAFT in a regional approach for up to three localities in the Crater planning district (Hopewell, Petersburg, potentially Colonial Heights or a PlanRVA location such as Charles City County or Henrico); (2) complete implementation for six localities in the Middle Peninsula; and 3) engage in a deep, yearlong introspective evaluation of the RAFT’s successes, learning opportunities, and potential for future changes and growth.

Federal Funding:

$80,000

Project Contact:

Elizabeth Andrews; 757-221-1078 ; eaandrews@wm.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

The RAFT: Reflection and Evaluation Report - June 2023 (PDF)

Project Summary:

The goal of The RAFT is to help Virginia’s coastal communities improve resilience to flooding while remaining economically viable and socially relevant. Because this is an “adaptive management” effort, continued refinements are expected in the years ahead. The RAFT’s goal is to bridge the gap between science and action by catalyzing meaningful action by localities to increase their resilience through policies and programmatic changes.

During this project, the Project Team used the outcomes from its first four rounds of application of The RAFT (three pilot localities, a regional approach of seven localities on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a regional approach of six localities in Virginia’s Northern Neck, and a similar regional approach of six localities in the Middle Peninsula) to: 1) conduct the implementation phase for a fifth round of The RAFT in a regional approach for two localities in the Crater Planning District (the cities of Hopewell and Petersburg: https://raft.ien.virginia.edu/2022-2023-crater); (2) complete implementation for six localities in the Middle Peninsula (https://raft.ien.virginia.edu/2021-2022-middle-peninsula-localities); and 3) engage in a deep, yearlong introspective evaluation of the RAFT’s successes, learning opportunities, and potential for future changes and growth.

The RAFT Team, led by IEN and ODU-ICAR, is successfully scheduling and leading monthly implementation team meetings for the Crater localities of Hopewell and Petersburg based on the scorecards developed by VCPC in 2022, the qualitative assessment led by IEN in summer of 2022, and the Resilience Action Checklists developed at the regional workshop in February 2023. In addition, the year of implementation for the Middle Peninsula RAFT localities was brought to a close with a successful online workshop on March 22, 2023.

In addition, the RAFT Project Team conducted in-depth discussions concerning the RAFT project in order to understand past successes, identify learning and growth opportunities, and explore new areas of potential focus such as Tribal engagement; preparing for extreme heat events; drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater challenges; inland flooding; and the option of strategic relocation for communities imperiled by rising sea levels. The Project Team has also been considering applications for tools developed in conjunction with the RAFT such as the Planning for Resilience: Evaluation and Prioritization (PREP) Tool, which Charles City County and Henrico County volunteered to test when PlanRVa publicized the opportunity to its member localities. The RAFT reflections also considered the Project Team capacity and level of commitment to the project, and whether the program may need to be adjusted to maintain the RAFT’s collaborative, hands-on implementation goals while responding to a changing atmosphere with new and different pressures. The RAFT Project Team has captured this team reflection in a report summarizing past efforts and new opportunities, the Spring 2023 closure of the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC), and the search for new Core Team partners that has culminated in the addition of Virginia Tech as a vital new partner filling gaps left by the loss of VCPC.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

91.03

Grantee:

Wetlands Watch

Project Title:

Supporting & Growing the CRS Program in Virginia’s Coastal Zone

Project Description:

Wetlands Watch will complete three products that will support and grow the Community Rating System (CRS) Program in Virginia’s Coastal Zone. Much of this project continues the work previously funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM), enhancing their influence across Virginia’s Coastal Zone, and growing interest and success in the CRS Program. In addition to advancing CZM’s investment in the CRS program, much of the work proposed in this project will complement and enhance the past and present efforts of the Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool (RAFT). Wetlands Watch began engaging with the RAFT program halfway in its tenure, offering National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and CRS knowledge and expertise through general presentations, technical assistance, and an evaluation of how the RAFT communities could earn CRS credits for activities currently underway. This intersectional outreach only occurred in a portion of the RAFT communities. This project will allow Wetlands Watch to re-visit the RAFT communities the organization has not reached and accomplish two goals: (1) provide general NFIP/CRS information and offer future technical assistance and (2) follow up with RAFT communities to survey progress and success with implementing goals and strategies identified in the RAFT process. There is an opportunity to further engage with existing and new locality staff, alert communities about new data and information, and offer technical assistance. This follow-up work, to be coordinated with the RAFT team, supports one of the most critical needs in Virginia’s Coastal Zone – it builds local knowledge and capacity.

Wetlands Watch will continue supporting and managing the Coastal Virginia CRS Workgroup in Product 1. This community of practice helps inform professional staff across Virginia’s coastal zone, and recently beyond, on various Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs. The CRS Workgroup’s role in the state is particularly important for under-resourced communities that cannot afford to attend meetings in. We will grow the value of the CRS Workgroup across Virginia’s Coastal Zone through the creation of three educational videos that will provide specific CRS information available for local staff and other stakeholders. Offering these educational opportunities seeks to address the barrier of resource accessibility in under-resourced communities.

Wetlands Watch will provide two additional CRS Trainings/Evaluations in Product 2. If awarded, Wetlands Watch will have conducted 15 CRS trainings in Virginia’s Coastal Zone at the close of the grant period. This opportunity to meet in person with locality staff and spend dedicated time reviewing the NFIP and CRS Program has been well received and appreciated across Virginia’s Coastal Zone, supporting the continued need for financial support. The CRS Trainings/Evaluations increase education and awareness of the CRS Program, grow participation in the CRS Program, and encourage locality staff to adopt enforceable policies in communities to enhance flood risk reduction.

Wetlands Watch will continue expanding its partnership with the RAFT team in Product 3 to bring the NFIP and CRS Program training and education to local governments. Wetlands Watch will present general CRS information and offer their floodplain management technical assistance to two (2) new PlanRVA and Crater PDC RAFT communities (Cities of Petersburg and Hopewell) at the start of the RAFT assessment process. Once the RAFT team completes the report cards, Wetlands Watch will analyze the report cards and articulate how each RAFT community could earn CRS credits for the actions currently underway. In consultation with the RAFT team, Wetlands Watch will offer NFIP and CRS assistance to the seven communities that participated in the RAFT evaluation process in 2018-2019.

Federal Funding:

$40,000

Project Contact:

Mary-Carson Stiff; 757-376-1364; mc.stiff@wetlandswatch.org

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

CRS Workshop Video Summary and Surveys (PDF)
Technical Assistance: CRS Training/Evaluations - Summary 2022-2023 (PDF)
CRS Technical Assistance: RAFT Scorecard Review - Summary 2022-2023 (PDF)

Project Summary:

Coastal VA CRS Workgroup - Increasing Education to Floodplain Professionals: The Coastal Virginia CRS Workgroup met a total of six times during the grant period. The meetings were held both in-person and online via Zoom. The hybrid meetings, that utilize audio/visual equipment financed by previous CZM grant funding, continue to afford the greatest benefit to those resource-stressed localities with limited to zero travel budgets. Wetlands Watch staff completed three CRS educational videos. Wetlands Watch staff coordinated with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and secured 7 total continuing education credits (CEC’s) for the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) credential for the three videos (3 for the introductory video and 2 for the activity specific videos). Online training videos are hosted on the CRS Workgroup website for a $25 fee and registrants utilize ClassMarker for test administration: https://www.coastalvacrs.com/crs-online-training. The final report of these training videos will be sent to CZM staff.

Technical Assistance – CRS Trainings/Evaluations: Wetlands Watch has conducted the two CRS trainings/ evaluations planned under this grant. Spotsylvania County was the recipient of a Wetlands Watch CRS Training/Evaluation in August 2023 and deliverables were submitted in February 2024. The City of Colonial Heights expressed interest in CRS training, and that training took place on March 6th, 2024. The presentation was made to the Planning Commission and City Planning staff. The Colonial Heights Planning Commission directed City staff to pursue joining the CRS program following the presentation. The final report will be emailed to CZM staff. 

Integration of the CRS Program into the RAFT: Wetlands Watch has made progress in conducting RAFT alumni community meetings to gauge the community’s progress in implementing their Resilience Action Checklist items that were developed as part of the RAFT process, as well as provide information about the Coastal Resilience Master Plan, Risk Rating 2.0, the Community Rating System (CRS) Program, the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, and other funding opportunities. Wetlands Watch staff met with Northampton County, Town of Chincoteague, Town of Wachapreague, and Town of Onancock. Wetlands Watch staff has conducted meetings with the new RAFT communities located in the PlanRVA and Crater Planning District Commissions (PDC), both the City of Hopewell and City of Petersburg. Wetlands Watch staff provided report card reviews for CRS scoring potential. Wetlands Watch staff has engaged in RAFT meetings for both communities virtually and in-person, and a final report will be sent to CZM staff.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

92.01

Grantee:

College of William & Mary - Virginia Coastal Policy Center

Project Title:

Virginia Ocean Plan Year 2

Project Description:

In collaboration with the Virginia Ocean Planning Committee (VOPC) established in Year 1 (FY21), this project proposes to continue development of a Virginia Ocean Plan that will further detail and build upon the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan completed in 2016. In the first year of this project, the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) researched other states’ ocean plans and drafted a white paper with lessons to be learned from them. The VCPC assisted with the CZM Program’s formation of the VOPC, which was initially comprised of state agency and academic representatives.  The VCPC began to engage Tribes in spring of 2022 and federal agencies in summer/fall 2022. VCPC drafted a Virginia Ocean Plan outline in consultation with the VOPC; created the framework for a communications plan for the Virginia Ocean Plan; and participated in a meeting of the VOPC to present the draft Ocean Plan outline and gather input on the proposed issues to be addressed by the plan.

In this second year of effort, VCPC will assist with soliciting input on the outline for the Ocean Plan created in Year 1 and with discussing options for adoption of policies with the VOPC.  In Year 2, VCPC will create a draft plan, assist with development of draft maps of key ocean areas, and work with CZM staff to implement the communications strategy to keep the VOPC and the public apprised of progress on development of the plan and opportunities for public comment. 

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) expects to finalize the Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Call Area by the third quarter of 2022 (July – September) and conduct the lease sale in the third quarter of 2023 (July – September). If there are delays in this schedule, the mapping emphasis will be on documenting Virginia’s wishes for the location of additional wind energy areas.  If not, the mapping emphasis in Year 2 may be on identifying fisheries, recreation and conservation areas important to Virginia.  

A Virginia Ocean Plan, once developed, could be implemented through a number of possible mechanisms including a gubernatorial executive order, MOUs among state and/or federal agencies, or formally adopted specific policies and guidelines. The plan will also strive to engage representatives from the neighboring states of North Carolina and Maryland.

The Virginia Ocean Plan will be a mechanism for addressing a variety of ocean issues that affect Virginians and neighboring states and will create a vision for the type of ocean management Virginians desire.  Goals of the plan include, but are not limited to:

• Pursuit and incorporation of tribal, federal, state, industry (e.g., Dominion) and NGO (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and SELC) and other stakeholder input
• Protection and enhancement of commercial and recreational fisheries
• Identification, protection and monitoring of ocean wildlife and habitats
• Identification of appropriate areas for additional offshore wind energy lease areas
• Provision for adequate and safe shipping lanes for a growing Port of Virginia
• Identification of appropriate areas for expanding port facilities
• Identification of appropriate areas for potential mariculture activities
• Development of measures to prevent and mitigate ocean acidification

Although the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean has created a new intergovernmental body, the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO), to address regional ocean issues, the time has arrived for development of a more specific state plan in light of Virginia’s needs mentioned above. Some years have passed since any state ocean plans have been adopted. While Virginia could benefit from the work and experience gathered through these plans, Virginia could also advance the state of ocean planning and provide a new, updated model for effective state-driven ocean plans. As the first state to have offshore wind turbines in federal waters, Virginia is well placed to undertake such work.

Federal Funding:

$60,000

Project Contact:

Elizabeth Andrews; 757-221-1078; eaandrews@wm.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Completed

Final Product:

Designating Prime Fishing Areas in Virginia: Considerations and Recommendations (PDF)
Final Project Summary serves as Partial Final Product

Project Summary:

This project proposed to develop a Virginia Ocean Plan to further detail and build upon the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan completed in 2016. The Virginia Ocean Plan is intended to be a comprehensive mechanism for addressing a variety of ocean issues that affect Virginians and neighboring states. These include but are not limited to protection and promotion of commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture, provision for adequate and safe shipping lanes for a growing Port of Virginia, identification and protection of ocean wildlife and habitats, identification of military needs, and development of measures to prevent and mitigate ocean acidification and improve ocean health, as well as identification of appropriate areas for additional offshore wind energy lease areas.  

In the first year of this multi-year grant, the Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) assisted in development of the early framework of the ocean plan development process.  In Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, a student team researched other states’ ocean plans, presented an overview of their findings at a meeting of state natural resource agencies, and produced a white paper that has been published on the VCPC website and on the VA Ocean Plan Google drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BSbppknotH5O1-Sqw-k9A5tAaqS-qZ70 . The student team then distributed that paper to the Virginia natural resource agencies and obtained their input and feedback on a draft outline for the Ocean Plan developed by the CZM Manager.  The draft outline is available on the Google drive at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1boboz65Caj-UB46VKqF21dWcYBabsS35cHHwVwFBgfA/edit . The team and VCPC Director also assisted the CZM Program Manager with planning and hosting a meeting with the Virginia Tribes to gain their input into the draft plan outline, and one of the law students worked with CZM staff to develop a Communications Plan for the Ocean Plan. The Communications plan is available on the Google drive at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jwwFV6GUTYlkAvilvdFYAK4Kxw5lQlJnxltLBbMQqDU/edit Finally, the VCPC Assistant Director and a research assistant helped the CZM Program Manager to host another meeting of state natural resource agencies in Summer 2022, and a research assistant drafted an email to federal partners to brief them concerning the first meeting of the full Ocean Planning Committee, which was held in October 2022.

Takeaways from their interviews are attached to the report developed by VCPC students spring semester 2023. This report, “Designating Prime Fishing Areas in Virginia: Considerations and Recommendations,” is available on the Google drive at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dTbIbXMritaHdPdsElf6Y8bZ0d6bdW-T/edit  In light of the sparse feedback on the draft plan outline from the Ocean Planning Committee, the Spring 2023 VCPC tasks under the grant were modified by the CZM Program Manager. The student team focused on assisting with the following tasks:

• Commercial Fishing Outreach and Research: The team investigated New Jersey’s program concerning the designation of multi-use “prime fishing areas” and researched how Virginia’s laws would need to be amended to achieve a similar designation.
• Outreach Concerning Recreational Fishing, Other Recreational Uses, Conservation and Scientific Research Areas: The student team reached out to a number of stakeholders (including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and tourism agencies for ocean-facing recreational uses and needs) to inform the mapping of areas designated for recreational fishing, recreation, conservation and scientific research.
• Due to scheduling conflicts, the CZM Program Manager cancelled a winter/spring public meeting to gather public feedback and engage in participatory mapping. Maps of other states’ ocean use areas are included in the student team’s report mentioned above.

Due to the closing of the VA Coastal Policy Center in late spring 2023, this $60k project was terminated prematurely and funds returned ($32,997.68) in proportion to undelivered final products.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

92.02

Grantee:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Project Title:

Virginia Ocean Fisheries Stakeholder Coordinator

Project Description:

Virginia Commonwealth University will provide an Environmental Scientist/Analyst/Program Manager to serve as the Ocean Fisheries Coordinator (OFC) for the VA CZM Program.  The OFC will work under the direction of the Virginia CZM Program Manager as a member of Virginia’s Ocean Planning Committee. The  Coordinator will further the development of relationships with Virginia’s ocean fishing  ocean stakeholders through personal contact, public meetings, PGIS workshops and other techniques to refine Virginia’s role as it relates to ocean activities and information. The OFC will also assist with addressing emerging issues, researching relevant topics, providing policy input and analysis to advance the Virginia Ocean Plan.  The Coordinator will focus especially on the commercial fishing sector, as their activities relate to renewable energy.

Engagement of the commercial fishing sector will address changes in ocean use, particularly offshore wind to maximize compatibility of multiple uses and sustainability of ocean resources.  The lack of a central coordinating organization for the Virginia commercial fishing industry necessitates this ongoing engagement by the Coordinator. Changes in ocean use are likely to result in changes in Virginia seafood landings resulting from increases in cargo and shipping, deployment of renewable energy and regulations affecting available fishing areas. As Virginia develops a Virginia Ocean Plan and construction begins in 2024 on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial lease, the need for maintaining a close relationship with the commercial fishing industry will be greater than ever to ensure that communication between the fishing and wind industries is clear and effective and that development proceeds smoothly with minimal disruptions. The Coordinator will be a primary point of contact for coordinating outreach and engagement of fishing industry stakeholders, arranging and establishing meetings, and communicating with those stakeholders.

Integrating the interests of commercial fishing in the existing VA lease area and development of future areas will benefit long-term sustainability. The Coordinator communicates with state agencies, wind industry developers (Orsted, Dominion Energy, Avangrid, etc.) and the commercial and recreational for-hire fishing sectors regarding information sharing, fisheries science and management.  He engages these sectors to better understand their needs and perspectives and to make those available for decision making. The Coordinator is a member of the BOEM Intergovernmental Task Force for the Central Atlantic Call Area, which also strengthens his coordination role.

The Coordinator will assist with obtaining data from the Commercial fishing community, Ports, Renewable Energy developers, and recreational fishers regarding Virginia-based activities to inform the development of the Virginia Ocean Plan.  He will also work with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) and Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) on priorities related to commercial and recreational for-hire fisheries in a regional and local context. The Coordinator will participate in MARCO work groups as needed. Outreach and facilitation of stakeholder meetings will be summarized and analyzed such that a Virginia perspective on management objectives will be available for informing and advancing Virginia’s participation. The Coordinator will work with other Mid-Atlantic fisheries and wind related coordinating groups as needed.

Federal Funding:

$44,000

Project Contact:

Todd Janeski; 804-828-2858; tvjaneski@vcu.edu 

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

For the Project Reporting period, the Environmental Scientist/Analyst/Program Manager with the Virginia Commonwealth University, Rice Rivers Center in the Department of Life Sciences continued to serve as the Ocean Fisheries Coordinator (FC) to the VA Coastal Zone Management Program at the VA DEQ and provide complimentary services to the VMRC.

Product #1: The OF Coordinator met the obligations of working with the commercial fishing industry to advance the engagement around changes in ocean use with industry representatives residing both residing in VA and landing in VA. The Fisheries Coordinator supported both the VCZM and the VMRC to represent the interests of the commercial fishing sector through various mechanisms and was informed through direct communication via email and phone. The FC met regularly with the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to provide regular updates on fisheries issues at they relate to the deployment of offshore wind and attended the joint-Cabinet meetings on offshore wind to coordinate the cabinet Secretaries and their respective agency representatives. Ensuring close coordination with VMRC, the FC met with the VMRC Director of Policy on the development of policy position documents, briefed on status of fisheries involved in the CVOW project and met weekly with Dominion and VIMS to coordinate monitoring. The FC worked with the VMRC to develop public documents, comment letters and conduct environmental review for various issues as it relates to ocean use. The FC continues to represent Virginia as part of the nine-state effort to create a Regional Fiduciary Administrator for Compensatory Mitigation. As mentioned, the OF Coordinator continued to represent the Commonwealth as part of a 11-state, state-lead effort facilitated by the Special Initiative for Offshore Wind (SIOW) to develop a regional fiduciary administrator for compensatory mitigation.

A budget amendment was made adding funding to support the continued integration of the commercial industry into the nine-state effort and to contract with a natural resources economist with specialized experience with fisheries to conduct a detailed socioeconomic analysis of exposed revenue for the CVOW-C area, as outlined below.

Product #2: The FC coordinated with the commercial industry continue to be involved in the development, procurement and initial phases of a design oversight committee for the regional fiduciary administrator. The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) provided the direct coordination with the industry.

Product #3: The FC oversaw the VCZM supported analysis of confidential fisheries data to conduct an analysis of economic exposure of the data poor fisheries as well as those missed fisheries including shrimp and spiny dogfish with the intended outcome to inform the CVOW revenue exsposure. The VCU hired a private natural resources economic analysis and coordinated with VMRC to obtain a confidentiality agreement to conduct the analysis. Work was executed by the contractor directly with commercial fishermen and buyers.

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

92.03

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Project Title:

Incorporation of Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Conservation into Virginia’s Ocean Plan

Project Description:

Virginia is preparing a comprehensive ocean plan that will include enforceable ocean conservation and management policies, an ocean acidification plan, an updated sea turtle conservation plan and a new marine mammal conservation plan. The original Management Plan for Sea Turtles and Marine Mammals in Virginia was published in 1995. The sea turtle component was updated in 2015, but never finalized in Virginia. The current draft of the 2015 Plan will be updated with a FY2021 ocean planning award that will allow us to incorporate new information on the ecology of the federally and state listed species that occur in mid-Atlantic waters and to update prioritized action items and effectiveness measures.

The same FY2021 award allows us to begin conservation planning for marine mammals in Virginia. With the current funds coupled with 2016 efforts to develop a literature review, this year’s request for funding will focus on finalizing the conservation framework for marine mammals. With a current literature review and draft goals and objectives developed using 2021 funding, this FY2022 request will focus on refining goals and objectives and developing action items and effectiveness measures with the help of experts on regional marine mammal ecology, mortality and conservation. The bulk of the work will be to convene a stakeholder workshop and incorporate the group’s recommendations into the plan framework.

The finalized plans will be part of the broader Virginia Ocean Plan and will help (1) guide the conservation and management of sea turtles and marine mammals in mid-Atlantic waters; (2) encourage buy-in from the regulated and conservation communities through participation in the development of the plans; (3) inform the development, implementation and/or evaluation of laws and policies designed to protect marine species in a manner acceptable to the regulated community; (4) strengthen cooperation in the region in the management of shared protected marine resources; (5) establish the framework needed to ensure cooperation among partners when managing unusual mortality events, fishery interactions,  and other incidents involving sea turtles and marine mammals; and (6) ensure that conservation and management of these species is conducted through an informed planning process.

Federal Funding:

$50,000

Project Contact:

Rebecca K. Gwynn; 804-593-2043; becky.gwynn@dwr.virginia.gov

Project Status:

1/1/23 - 1/31/24; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

92.04

Grantee:

TBD

Project Title:

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Development

Project Description:

As Virginia continues to develop its Ocean Plan, specific pre and post wind construction data on the distribution and abundance of marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and seabirds is critical.  CZM’s FY 20 Task 94.03 is focusing on a Virginia specific plan for passive acoustic monitoring of whales.  That plan will be completed in fall of 2022.  This project may use that plan to guide acquisition and/or deployment of whale monitoring equipment and data collection and analysis, if needed.  Other considerations will be deployment of monitoring equipment to collect bird data.

Virginia-specific data on key ocean wildlife will be critical to the Virginia Ocean Planning Committee’s development of a vision for spatial use of the ocean offshore of Virginia. Filling data gaps for marine wildlife is essential to understanding how to create best management practices for ocean uses. Data created through this task will be shared and developed in coordination with the Regional Wildlife Science Entity and the MARCO Ocean Data Portal. Key uses of ocean wildlife data include facilitating a better understanding of changes in wildlife migration and habitat use due to ocean warming and other factors. This information will be vital as Virginia plans for increased offshore activity such as shipping and wind energy.

Work will continue to refine data layers relevant to productivity, abundance, biodiversity, rarity and vulnerability and develop a more compact suite of layers depicting Mid-Atlantic species and habitats as well as shifts in the core abundance of their populations over time. Summary layers and surrounding content will be designed to support and inform ocean and coastal management decisions under existing mandates.

Federal Funding:

$39,000

Project Contact:

TBD

Project Status:

1/1/23 - 3/31/24; Project Pending

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

93

Grantee:

Longwood University - Clean Virginia Waterways

Project Title:

Implementation of Marine Debris Reduction Strategies

Project Description:

This task supports the VA CZM Program’s leadership in reducing marine debris through:

1. Development and implementation of new laws and policies that will be created due to (or inspired by) the VMDRP and Section 309 5-year strategies on marine debris.
   • This will include sharing with policy makers the results of the public opinion survey (completed in 2022) which measures support for laws and policies that will reduce sources of marine debris. The survey is also gathering data on attitudes, trusted messengers, and information to assist in crafting successful behavior change campaigns.
2. Implementation of the 2021-2025 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) and NOAA’s Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Action Plan (Mid-A MDAP). Also, collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean’s Marine Debris Work Group.
3. Monitoring of Fisherman Island for balloon and other debris items.

The VMDRP (created in 2014 and updated in 2021) charts a course to measurably reduce marine debris in Virginia coastal waters focusing on specific actions (e.g., policies, procedures, outreach campaigns). These Actions were determined to be politically, socially, and economically feasible in Virginia.

Actions in the updated VMDRP are organized under four major debris types:

• Consumer Debris (22 Actions)
• Derelict Fishing Gear (17 Actions)
• Microplastics & Microfibers (13 Actions)
• Abandoned & Derelict Vessels (8 Actions)

The Strategies in the VMDRP are Prevention; Education and Outreach; Research, Monitoring, Data Collection; Proper Disposal/Infrastructure; Removal and Cleanup; and Policy & Management.

Projects undertaken during this grant period will include priorities that were set by stakeholders who contributed to the VMDRP:

1. Analyze existing legislation and policies and provide recommendations to support waste minimization of the most common and harmful marine debris (e.g., plastic bags, food & beverage packaging).
2. Facilitate adherence to Virginia’s new laws and policies by raising public awareness and working with vendors
   • assist communities in placing a 5-cent fee on plastic shopping bags
   • stop the intentional releasing of helium-filled balloons
   • phase out the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) food packaging
3. Continue to co-facilitate the work of the Virginia Abandoned & Derelict Vessel Work Group. Support adoption of laws and policies that prevent or remove abandoned boats.
4. Virginia Plastic Pollution Prevention Network: Promote and facilitate coordination, collaboration, and communication among groups working to reduce marine debris and plastic pollution.
5. Provide financial support for pilot programs by collaborating with local governments and NGOs to develop projects to reduce marine debris.
6. Explore alternatives to plastic netting used in clam aquaculture as well as alternative disposal options.
7. Reach out to the media regarding intentional balloon release events. Asking media to stop covering balloon releases could be one way to help change this social norm.
8. Work with mid-Atlantic partners to develop and implement a social marketing campaign to increase the use of reusable water bottles at beaches (if the NOAA Marine Debris Program funds this project).
9. Mid-term priorities will be assessed in 2023.

Overall Impacts

Coordinated reduction of marine debris will have positive impacts on coastal resources, protected species such as marine mammals and sea birds, and economically important species and will make significant contributions to Virginia’s coastal economy as well as protect coastal and ocean resources. Plastic tarps, abandoned nets and fishing gear, tires, and other debris can smother and crush sensitive ecosystems as far away from land as the deep-sea corals found in the submarine canyons 50 miles off VA’s coast. Derelict fishing gear (e.g., fishing line, nets, and rope pieces), consumer debris (e.g., plastic bags) as well as abandoned and derelict vessels can compromise boaters’ safety.

Federal Funding:

$160,000

Project Contact:

Katie Register; 434-395-2602; registerkm@longwood.edu

Project Status:

10/1/22 - 9/30/23; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.

Virginia CZM Program: 2022 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task Number: 

92.05

Grantee:

The University of Virginia - Institute for Engagement & Negotiation

Project Title:

Virginia Ocean Plan Facilitation

Project Description:

The Virginia Ocean Plan will be a comprehensive mechanism for addressing a variety of ocean issues that affect Virginians and neighboring states.  These include but are not limited to protection and promotion of commercial and recreational fisheries, provision for adequate and safe shipping lanes for a growing Port of Virginia, identification and protection of ocean wildlife and habitats, and development of measures to prevent and mitigate ocean acidification, as well as identification of appropriate areas for additional offshore wind energy lease and potential aquaculture areas.

This project will continue on progress made previously by the CZM program supported by William and Mary’s Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) funded through  FY21 and FY22 CZM Section 309 grants. To date accomplishments include (1) forming an Ocean Planning Committee (OPC) comprised of key federal and state government representatives and Tribes, (2) convening and facilitating seven OPC meetings between 2021-2022, (3) conducting research on other state Ocean Plan efforts, (4) and developing an Ocean Plan outline in collaboration with the OPC.  The William and Mary VCPC was discontinued as of June 30, 2023. The remaining FY22 grant funding ($41,997) was returned and is intended to be used to fund this continuation project.

For this project, the University of Virginia’s Institute of Engagement and Negotiation (IEN) will support CZM staff in developing a first draft of the Ocean Plan. Major tasks will include reconvening and facilitating two OPC meetings, facilitating a public meeting to solicit input on the outline, and drafting a rough draft of the Virginia Ocean Plan. 

UVA and CZM will meet at least monthly to coordinate progress.

Federal Funding:

$41,948

Project Contact:

Frank Dukes; ed7k@virginia.edu

Project Status:

9/1/23 - 9/30/24; Project Open

Final Product:

Project Summary:

Disclaimer: This project summary provides the federal dollars initially awarded to the grantee. Due to underexpenditure or reprogramming of grant funds, this figure may change. For more information on the allocation of coastal grant funds, please contact Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4258 or email: Ryan.Green@deq.virginia.gov 

A more detailed Scope of Work for this project is available. Please direct your request for a copy to Virginia.Witmer@deq.virginia.gov or April.Bahen@deq.virginia.gov.