Virginia Coastal Program: 2003 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2003 Task 95.04
Grantee:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Project Title:
Interagency Shoreline Management Consensus Guidance
Project Description as Proposed:
It has become increasingly
apparent that in order to reduce the cumulative and secondary impacts
of activities within the multiple jurisdictions and multiple management
programs affecting the littoral and riparian zones, better coordination
and integration of policies and practices is necessary. Many shoreline
management practices permitted through the existing regulatory framework
within riparian areas are having potentially significant negative
impacts on water quality and aquatic resources. There are currently
a variety of guidelines developed by local and state programs managing
shoreline development activities. These include the tidal wetlands
program, local governments implementation of the Chesapeake Bay
Preservation Act, and the Shoreline Erosion Advisory Service, among
others. There are, however, no comprehensive guidelines that meet
the objectives of all of these programs.
This project will seek to develop consensus guidance on shoreline
management that integrates the issues and concerns extant in the
various independent management programs. The guidance will seek
to identify the range of possible shoreline conditions found along
the tidal shorelines of the Commonwealth. For various combinations
of riparian and littoral condition, this project will assess the
potential habitat and water quality impacts of various shoreline
development practices, and then identify those that minimize adverse
impacts and/or maximize beneficial outcomes. This goal will be accomplished
through a series of approximately five meetings. The first three
meetings will involve staff from VIMS. This group will review shoreline
inventory information, identify various combinations of riparian
and littoral conditions found in Virginia. The VIMS staff will also
identify the range of shoreline development practices found in Virginia.
The potential habitat and water quality impacts of each practice
will be assessed for every one of the possible shoreline conditions.
VIMS will draft recommended /preferred development strategies for
each shoreline condition.
The final two meetings in this project will involve review and comment
on the VIMS draft guidance by representatives of the various agencies
currently involved in shoreline management in Virginia. At a minimum
this will include VMRC, CBLAD, DEQ, and DCR. Other federal and local
agencies may be invited to participate as appropriate. The goal
will be to maximize agency agreement with the draft guidance by
iterative revision and review with agency representatives. The final
product will be a report on the guidance after agency review and
comment.
Federal Funding:
$35,000.00
Project Contact:
Carl H. Hershner, 804.684.7387; carl@vims.edu
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
There are concerns in the general public and regulatory and environmental advisory agencies regarding the apparent inconsistent and /or contradictory guidance offered to property owners regarding shoreline management in Virginia. There has been a growing interest among the agencies that manage, or otherwise have a role in shoreline management, to develop a Virginia perspective on the issue.
This project to develop a consensus position from a Virginia Institute of Marine Science perspective, with funding from the Virginia Coastal Program, may serve as the initiation of an effort to develop consensus guidance on shoreline management that integrates the issues and concerns extant in the various independent management programs in Virginia.
The VIMS consensus was developed through a series of five meetings of the VIMS Wetland Advisory Group with participation from the Comprehensive Coastal Inventory (CCI) and National Estuarine Research Reserve Virginia (NERRVA) and Shoreline Processes staff. The group reviewed shoreline management guidance and shoreline inventory information, identified various combinations of riparian and littoral conditions and the range of shoreline practices found in Virginia.
Based on scientific understanding, permit review operational procedures, existing guidance and best professional judgment absent scientific data, the group generated several different elements that reflect group consensus regarding shoreline management.
The elements, described in detail in the report are: 1) Preferred Order for Shoreline Management Approaches, 2) Preferred Order for Shoreline Habitat Protection, and 3) Erosion-Recession Matrix for Assessing Shoreline Management Approach.
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
