Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 50
Grantee:
Rappahannock Area Development Commission
Project Title:
Coastal Technical Assistance Program
Project Description as Proposed:
This project will
provide staff assistance to the Rappahannock River Basin Commission
(RRBC). RADCO will contract for staff support of the RRBC. As the
issues of water quantity and quality protection and planning become
increasingly critical, time is being allocated to assist our localities
in addressing these matters. The River Basin Commission’s mission
is to provide guidance for the stewardship and enhancement of water
quality and natural resources of the basin. It provides a forum
for government and citizens to discuss issues affecting the basin.
It promotes communication, coordination and education. Various activities
which are beneficial to the basin are promoted. RADCO’s will
use these funds for the coming year for:
1) Enhancing the RRBC’s web site and information transfer capabilities
by identifying additional basin-wide information for placement on
the site and implementing these upgrades. The continuing water supply
planning project will be a major focus, including information on
the regional water supply planning tools that are now being developed.
2) Staff support to the RRBC and its committees. Data collection
and presentation is a critical element of that support. The largest
and most active committee is the Water Allocation Group (WAG) which
guides the RRBC’s water supply planning project.
3) Production assistance for the Commission’s newsletter.
4) Assist with the development of communications explaining the
water quality and water supply issues of the Rappahannock basin.
Federal Funding:
$10,000
Project Contact:
Steven Manster, 804.373.2890, smanster@fampo.state.va.us
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
As
the issues of water quantity and quality protection and planning
become increasingly critical, time is being allocated to assist
our localities in addressing these matters. RADCO continued and
expanded its GIS and web site assistance to provide information
and products for our localities and the River Basin Commission.
The River Basin Commission's mission is to provide guidance for
the stewardship and enhancement of water quality and natural resources
of the basin. It provides a forum for government and citizens to
discuss issues affecting the basin. It promotes communication, coordination
and education. Various activities which are beneficial to the basin
are promoted.
RADCO used the funds for the following:
Maintenance and enhancement of the Rappahannock River Basin Commission
(RRBC) website - RADCO hosts the web site which is regularly updated
for meetings of the Commission and its workgroups.
RADCO provided staff support for Commission meetings in October
and December of 2003 and in July and September of 2004. The March
2004 was cancelled because of the Special Session of the General
Assembly. RADCO also supported the Water Allocation Group (WAG)
meetings. These meetings have focused on groundwater supply planning.
The WAG developed recommendations to the RRBC on groundwater planning
in the basin. These recommendations were presented in a preliminary
form at the July meeting and were adopted by the Commission in September.
RADCO has also supported several RRBC presentations on its basin-wide
water supply planning efforts to date. Presentations have been made
by the staff and/or the RRBC chairman to the Virginia Environmental
Assembly, Fredericksburg City Council, and separately to County
Boards of Supervisors of King George, Fauquier, Orange, Essex, Westmoreland,
Lancaster and Middlesex. The staff and the Chairman also made a
presentation to the State Water Commission.
The Public Education Committee has held an informal discussion of
the feasibility of conducting a training program on the two major
subjects of importance in the basin at this time: water supply planning
and the revisions to the Rappahannock Tributary Strategy. An unsolicited
grant proposal was submitted to DCR to conduct training programs
on the revised Rappahannock Tributary Strategy. Training and education
would be provided to local and regional staff and officials.
Staff has continued to participate as a member of the State Water
Policy - Technical Advisory Committee.
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
