Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 94
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Center for Coastal Resources Management
Project Title:
Completion of Nontidal Wetlands Policies
Project Description as Proposed:
New protocols and procedures are needed to effectively implement many aspects of the new Virginia nontidal wetlands regulatory program. One goal of the program is to achieve no net loss of acreage or function by requiring effective compensation for all permitted wetland impacts. Ensuring that all permits allowing wetland impacts address no net loss of wetland acreage and function will require a protocol for continued monitoring of compensation efforts on a watershed basis and a protocol for adjusting permit requirements such as compensatory mitigation ratios to ensure a no net loss outcome. This project is the third phase of the effort to develop these protocols. The cumulative impact assessment protocol will be revised as necessary and moved to implementation. The compensation monitoring protocol will be subject to preliminary evaluation, the monitoring data summary will be developed, and the supporting data base will be under continuing development.
Federal Funding:
$50,000
Project Contact:
Carl Hershner, 804.684.7387, carl@vims.edu
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
This project was designed to develop new protocols and procedures to help implement portions of Virginia's nontidal wetlands regulatory program. Original products were to include a cumulative impact assessment protocol and a compensation monitoring protocol. The project had to be redirected, however, as a consequence of the multiple impediments to accomplishment of the original goals. The necessary information to generate cumulative impact guidance and compensation ratios was not available, and protocols to begin collecting that information will not generate adequate data for several years.
In the course of working through these issues, and in collaboration with the DEQ program staff, several alternative products were identified that could immediately facilitate the regulatory program’s activities. In particular, a project to develop an inventory and assessment program for nontidal wetlands in Virginia was identified as a tool for producing information that could be of significant use to permit writers reviewing project applications. VIMS redirected its efforts to develop a delivery mechanism for this information.
Two products have been generated. Product 1 provides interactive, web-based access to information on the type and size of wetlands, summarized and presented on the basis of hydrologic units used in Virginia's nontidal wetlands regulatory program. This tool, called the Wetlands Data Viewer, allows users to obtain National Wetland Inventory statistics for each hydrologic unit and is available on the VIMS web site at http://ccrm.vims.edu//disclaimer_wetlandsdataviewer.html.
Product 2 is another web based information delivery system that is currently operational for the coastal plain (site of the majority of permitting activity). This product provides site specific information on wetland condition, and access to detailed aerial photography and landuse information. The site is designed to allow addition of other data sets useful to permit writers (e.g. soils) in the near future. This product is currently available only to users in the regulatory and scientific agencies.
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
