Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 9
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Project Title:
Habitat Conservation\Locality Liaison
Project Description as Proposed:
The Coastal-funded
Locality Liaison works with local and regional planners to improve
access to natural heritage resource information and consultative
services from DCR-DNH and its Biological and Conservation Datasystem
(BCD). The Liaison seeks to ensure that this information becomes
an integral part of locality decision-making processes through tools
such as project review, comprehensive plans, project sitings, zoning
amendments, and open space planning.
Activities that will be conducted as part of this program include:
1) maintaining and expanding relationships with planners and administrators
to facilitate their access to DCR-DNH data and services, assisting
them in incorporating natural heritage resource data into local
land-use planning and decision-making; 2) ensuring prompt, effective
response to locality requests for project review; 3) expanding partnerships
with DCR's Division of Soil and Water Conservation, the Army Corps
of Engineers, CBLAD, VMRC, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership,
and other resource managers to assist in streamlining regulatory
processes and ensure easy access to natural heritage information;
4) identifying, cataloguing, and updating potential habitat conservation
and restoration projects in coastal localities, and helping them
plan and find funding for habitat restoration projects; and 5) producing
and distributing map and digital data products, including updated
revisions of one-minute block county maps that delineate each county's
natural heritage resources. Copies of the county maps will be sent
not only to localities and PDCs, but also to state and federal resource
offices.
Federal Funding:
$47,279
Project Contact:
Steve Carter-Lovejoy, 804.786.8646
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Final Report
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The
DCR Division of Natural Heritage's Locality Liaison program works
with local and regional planners to improve access to information
and consultative services from DCR-DNH. The Locality Liaison program
works to make natural heritage resource information an integral
part of locality decision-making processes through tools such as
project review, comprehensive plans, project sitings, zoning amendments,
and open space planning. It also assists localities in the development
of habitat conservation and restoration projects through provision
of general habitat stewardship and protection guidelines, facilitation
of locality-led natural area conservation and inventory efforts,
and making connections between localities and state/federal natural
resource assistance (staff, information, and financial).
This year two updated sets of Natural Heritage Resource Maps showing
approximate locations of natural heritage resources within each
county and city were prepared and distributed to all CZMA localities
and PDCs as well as to other natural resource agencies. Information
was also provided digitally and through custom responses to requests.
The Locality Liaison reviewed over 1600 CZMA projects submitted
by local, state, and federal agencies and private individuals and
consultants to assess the potential for proposed activities to impact
natural heritage resources and to recommend ways to avoid or minimize
these impacts.
More detailed locality contacts allowed the Locality Liaison to
participate in a variety of activities, including assistance with
comprehensive plan updates for Isle of Wight County, Middlesex County,
and the City of Virginia Beach. The Locality Liaison also participated
in preparation of a Conservation Plan and other planning activities
for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission's SWAMP program
in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Through Locality Liaison facilitation, DCR-DNH has played a role
in identification and funding for protection of a rare diabase natural
community in Fairfax County. The Locality Liaison program is also
assisting Northampton County and Conective to develop and implement
management practices to enhance songbird habitat along powerline
rights of way.
The final report for this project summarizes the year's activities,
evaluates the status of locality relationships, and provides recommendations
for further action. The Locality Liaison program continues at DCR-DNH
through a FY2001 CRMP grant from DEQ.
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
