Virginia Coastal Program: 2002 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2002 Task 82
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Title:
Coastal Nonpoint Program Implementation Assistance
Project Description as Proposed:
Funding through
this grant will be used to continue assistance to the Coastal NPS
Program Coordinator to implement the 15-year Strategy and first
5-year Implementation plan and other coastal zone related tasks
contained in the approved Virginia Nonpoint Source Pollution Management
Program document (December 1999). An Environmental Program Analyst
will be retained through a contractual arrangement with the Center
for Environmental Studies (CES) located at Virginia Commonwealth
University. The individual will continue to work directly with DCR
staff and have access to the facilities and expertise of CES as
well. Due to contracting delays of previous years of this project,
this grant only pertains to a 7-month portion of the 2002 grant
cycle.
The Analyst will focus on the following activities during this period:
1)Hydrologic Modification: The analyst will build on the effort
from previous years by continuing to work with the interagency Stream
Management and Technical Design Workgroup on the collection of hydrologic
best management practices for drafting the Hydrologic Modification
BMP Handbook. The analyst will coninue to assist in the collection
of data for use in developing stream reference reach sites of non-tidal
streams in Tidewater, Virginia.
2) Biological assessment - DCR is currently compiling a statewide
biological database for use in its watershed assessment process.
This position will assist in identifying data gaps within the coastal
zone and making recommendations for gathering the needed information.
3) Program changes - this position will work with appropriate state
or federal agencies to identify ways and to begin to incorporate
project results into respective programs (may include informational
workshops).
4) Research - there is a need to identify nonpoint source pollution
research capability in the coastal zone. Specifically, DCR needs
to identify academic facilities that conduct NPS pollution research.
5) Outreach - this position will disseminate information on these
projects to other agencies and interested parties. All of these
activities incorporate specific tasks contained in the Nonpoint
Source Pollution Management Plan document.
Federal Funding:
$28,543
Project Contact:
Rick Hill, 804.786.7119, Richard.Hill@dcr.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Development
of a Hydrologic BMP Manual: Analyst worked with staff from DCR,
VCU-CES, and KCI to develop a draft BMP manual and coordinated with
staff from KCI regarding development of CADD drawings for inclusion
in the manual. Organized and attended workshops soliciting comments
and revisions on draft manual in Fredericksburg, Chesapeake, and
Richmond. Coordinated review period and served as point of contact
for comments. Organized comments from all reviewers and held meetings
with staff from DCR, VCU-CES, and KCI, regarding finalization of
the manual, including analysis of reviewers' comments and corrections.
Incorporated final comments and edits received from workshop attendees
and staff at DCR, VCU-CES, and KCI into the draft version of the
manual. Prepared document for printing, and coordinated printing
with staff from VCU-CES. Assembled distribution list, including
names and addresses of persons who should receive copies of the
manual. Prepared document for posting on DCR's webpage. Coordinated
with staff at DCR to post manual on DCR's webpage. 350 copies were
printed and are being distributed to federal, state & local
agencies, Planning District Commissions, Soil & Water Conservation
Districts, private firms, and nonprofit organizations.
INSTAR: Continued to assist staff of VCU-CES with the collection
of hydrologic and habitat data in coastal streams for inclusion
in INSTAR - INteractive STream Assessment Resource. Worked with
VCU-CES staff to continue analysis of data and to enter data into
central database. Assisted VCU-CES staff in the development of a
poster describing project methodologies and presenting preliminary
results of data. Attended planning meetings regarding development
of a statewide, interagency stream restoration team, and participated
in initial workshop sponsored by this group (currently the Virginia
Stream Restoration Alliance). Attended Nonpoint Source Advisory
Committee meeting involving a presentation and discussion of INSTAR,
initiated and attended meeting with staff from USGS to discuss geomorphology
concepts and DCR-sponsored research ongoing through VCU-CES.
List of Academic Institutions: Performed internet search of colleges
and universities in Virginia to find which offered programs in nonpoint
source pollution related areas, including biology, chemistry, physics,
environmental science, geology, geography, marine science, fisheries
science, etc. Summarized results of search in matrix format, and
presented lists of universities by discipline in accompanying chart.
This information will be used to respond to daily inquiries, provided
at conferences and workshops, and included in informational packets.
Yellow Pages: Due to the discovery of existing brochures describing
technical assistance programs (which were created by staff in a
different section of DCR), analyst's time originally allotted to
this task was redirected towards developing the Hydrologic BMP guide.
The previously developed brochures, entitled "Yellow Pages,"
are available on line at http://www.dcr.state.va.us/sw/wsheds.htm#contacts.
Form C end
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
