Virginia Coastal Program: 2000 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2000 Task 81
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Project Title:
Coastal Nonpoint Source Program
Project Description as Proposed:
Virginia will continue
to develop projects that address program conditions. Based on the
status of information formally submitted by Virginia and formally
responded to by NOAA, the following management measures must still
be addressed. 1)Agriculture - all, 2) Forestry - all, 3)Urban -
new development (total suspended solids), existing development (priority
watershed pollutant reduction opportunities & implementation
schedule), construction chemical control, new & existing OSDS
(adequate separation distance & limiting nitrogen loadings from
new and operating OSDS), roads, highways & bridges (highway
& bridge runoff systems and all management measures for roads
outside CBP areas), 4) Marinas - stormwater runoff from hull maintenance
areas, fish waste, boat operation & technical assistance, 5)
Hydromodification - operation & maintenance of channels (physical
& chemical characteristics of water and instream & riparian
habitat), dams (protection of surface water quality, physical &
chemical characteristics of water and instream & riparian habitat,
chemical & pollution control), eroding streambanks & shorelines
(develop non-permit based strategies to solve existing NPS problems),
6) Monitoring - develop a plan to assess management measure implementation
over time. As identified in the Virginia Nonpoint Source Pollution
Management Program document (approved December 1999), there are
9 source category chapters containing 465 individual tasks. The
Coastal NPS Program Chapter contains 82 of these and many tasks
in the remaining chapters affect the coastal area. There are more
than 130 individual action items associated with the first year
implementation of the 82 tasks. Issue areas for the 2000-2001 period
in the Coastal Chapter include but are not limited to; 1)irrigation
water management, technical assistance & educational opportunities,
2) evaluation of forestry BMP implementation activities and incorporating
information into the Virginia NPS Pollution
Federal Funding:
$56,115
Project Contact:
Rick Hill, 804.786.7119, Richard.Hill@dcr.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
A significant amount of time was spent developing and managing projects, coordinating activities among nonpoint source pollution management programs, and coordinating among the state agencies. Many of the 1999 grant year projects continued into the 2000 grant cycle prior to completion and include; 1) Development of a BMP guidebook for agricultural activities that rely on the use of plastic mulch. The guidebook presents information on water quality issues and options for preventing and reducing impacts from the farm fields; 2) Conducting a statistical analysis of dams and their impact on riparian and instream habitats; 3) Instituting an ad-hoc interagency "stream team" to address issues related to hydromodification activities; and 4) Working with the Center for Watershed Protection to develop a model stormwater ordinance, evaluate the economic benefits of incorporating stormwater management techniques into development plans prior to development rather than after the fact, and drafting a database protocol for tracking implementation of BMPs. Two other 1999 projects initiated during this grant cycle include working with Stafford County to update their stormwater ordinance to incorporate changes in the state stormwater law and low impact development design criteria, and coordinating with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to develop a desktop PC tool for local governments that will allow them to better address siting issues related to marina development.
During the 2000 grant cycle, the Marina Technical Assistance Program project was completed. A substantial effort was placed on Chairing the Marina Technical & Environmental Advisory Committee, finalizing the Virginia Clean Marina Guidebook, conducting an official kick-off event in January of 2001, and conducting the first annual award ceremony for Certified Virginia Clean Marinas in November 2001. Other projects initiated during the 2000 grant cycle include; 1) continuing efforts with the "stream team' work group; 2) working with the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University to develop stream reference reach information at a scale suitable for local governments; and 3) coordinating with the Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department on developing a protocol for local governments to address land use and natural resource issues in and near shoreline areas. Project information is provided on the DCR and DEQ websites upon completion.
Efforts continued to address the EPA/NOAA conditions placed on Virginia's Coastal Nonpoint Program. As a result of many of the projects described above and ongoing clarification of state programs, full program approval was achieved in May 2001. A signing ceremony was held in Washington, D.C. in July.
Staff was on detail to the NOAA Coastal Programs Division for five months during this grant cycle. Primary responsibilities included assisting other states in meeting program conditions, conducting a comparative evaluation of the Coastal Nonpoint Program for 1998 to 2001, coordinating a conference in New Orleans, developing and presenting several Power Point slide shows, and functioning in a liaison capacity between the states and EPA/NOAA.
Staff continued to participate in the Nonpoint Source Advisory Committee, the Coastal Policy Team, developing an RFP, and reviewing the submitted projects for Section 319 and Water Quality Improvement funds. Matching funds are provided by the DCR erosion and sediment control staff who responded to 47 technical assistance requests, reviewed 92 projects (VDOT, state, federal), responded to 4 complaints, and conducted training courses with 1,100 participants.
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
