Skip to Content  |  Web Policy  |  Contact Us
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo

Protecting, restoring, and strengthening our coastal ecosystems and economy


Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary

Project Task:

FY2000 Task 1.03

Grantee:

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage

Project Title:

Virginia Coastal Resource Management Area Conservation Lands Assessment - Phase II

Project Description as Proposed:

The Virginia Conservation Lands Assessment (VCLA) is a GIS analytical tool for identifying and prioritizing conservation lands in Virginia. Modeled after similar products prepared for Maryland and for the Chesapeake Bay Program, the VLCA identifies and prioritizes hubs - relatively unfragmented natural habitats - and corridors that connect and support these hubs. This project is the next phase in the development of the VCLA as a key tool for land conservation within Virginia’s CRMA. Working in coordination with DEQ’s Coastal GIS specialist, DCR will perform the following:
-- Acquire and process the most recent land cover data available, NLCD 2000 for Zone 60, for use as the base coverage for the VCLA
-- Design a model for identifying and prioritizing hubs based on the CBP and MD conservation lands assessment products, including data and weightings specific to the VCRMA
-- Identify core areas, those completely unfragmented habitat patches that can be assembled into hubs
-- Merge additional data layers into the preliminary hub layer to identify fragments not evident in the NLCD 2000
-- Aggregate core areas, following model parameters, to identify and prioritize the hubs of the CRMA
-- Develop and evaluate draft maps of hubs, seeking feedback from coastal partners

The hubs identified through this work will be the central organizing feature for the next steps in completion of the VCLA for the VCRMA, the identification and prioritization of corridors linking the hubs. Ongoing communication with Coastal Partners will ensure feedback and help establish the VCLA as a key tool for conservation in the region.

Federal Funding:

$10,465

Project Contact:

Joseph T. Weber, 804.371.2545

Project Status:

Grant Closed

Final Product Received:

Project Summary Provided by Grantee:

The Virginia Conservation Lands Assessment (VCLA) is a GIS analytical tool for identifying and prioritizing conservation lands in Virginia. Modeled after similar products prepared for Maryland and for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the VCLA identifies and prioritizes hubs - relatively unfragmented natural habitats - and corridors that connect and support these hubs. The VCLA is being developed and enhanced as a key tool for land conservation within Virginia's CRMA in coordination with DEQ's Coastal GIS Specialist. This report concludes the second phase, during which the GIS model for defining and delineating cores and hubs was developed, cores and hubs in the study area were mapped, and a draft model for prioritizing hubs was prepared and distributed to partners for comment.

Products include a description of the VCLA Process Model, a draft hub prioritization model, and a GIS layer provided electronically to DEQ. A map showing the delineated hubs for the Virginia Coastal Area, with an enlargement of the Middle Peninsula area showing the delineated cores within the hubs, can be seen at http://www.dcr.state.va.us/dnh/vcla.htm

Work continues on Phase III of this project, which will complete a first-iteration VCLA by September 2003 with the following products:
" Atlas with maps of coastal localities showing priority hubs and corridors in the context of existing protected lands
" Catalog of hubs and corridors identifying the specific values that determine their priority and vulnerability
" GIS model with detailed metadata explaining/justifying variables and data used and weights assigned
" GIS layers summarizing the analytical output of the VCLA for Virginia's Coastal Zone - layers identifying hubs and corridors, and additional overlays assessing ecological value and vulnerability.

Recommendations for further activities include extending the VCLA to the entire state, promoting and enhancing the VCLA to get conservation community acceptance, assisting partners to incorporate new themes and data sets that address complementary needs, and assisting localities and PDCs to incorporate the VCLA into local planning activities. DCR, with Virginia Coastal Program funding assistance, will be pursuing some of this work in the next fiscal 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 Laura McKay, Virginia Coastal Program Manager, at 804.698.4323 or email: Laura.McKay@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