Virginia Coastal Program: 2004 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2004 Task 08
Grantee:
Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation-Natural Heritage
Project Title:
Habitat Conservation/Locality Liaison
Project Description as Proposed:
DCR's Natural HeritageLocality Liaison program works with local and regional planners to help protect natural heritage resources (rare plants and animals and exemplary natural communities) by improving access to biodiversity information and consultative services from DCR-DNH and its comprehensive database, Biotics. A key service provided is review of projects to identify and recommend mitigation for potential impacts to natural heritage resources. A new Natural Heritage Resources website will be made available to localities and others showing conservation sites and other natural heritage resource location information, useful both for project review and for conservation planning; digital geospatial datasets will also be available for incorporation into local GIS. A catalog of habitat restoration opportunities, assistance and partnership to localities in identifying and implementing habitat conservation projects, and opportunities to incorporate natural heritage resource concerns into local comprehensive plans and permitting processes will also be provided.
Federal Funding:
$48,000.00
Project Contact:
Michelle Edwards, 804/692-0984; Michelle.Edwards@dcr.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
DCR's Natural Heritage Locality Liaison program works with local and regional planners to help protect natural heritage resources (rare plants and animals and exemplary natural communities) by improving access to biodiversity information and through consultative services from DCR-DNH and its comprehensive database, Biotics.
The Locality Liaison program seeks to establish natural heritage resource information as part of fundamental locality decision-making criteria through tools such as project review, comprehensive planning, project sitings, zoning amendments, and open space planning.
A key service provided is review of projects to identify and recommend mitigation for potential impacts to natural heritage resources. 1443 projects were reviewed for the coastal zone. This represents 39% of the projects DCR-NH reviewed state-wide.
The VA Natural Heritage Data Explorer web service we be available to localities, consultants and others on a subscription basis in the spring of 2006 (gis.timmons.com/dcr). It displays conservation sites and other natural heritage resource location information through use of an internet browser, and is useful for project review and conservation planning.
A Wetland Restoration Catalog is also available which lists potential sites for habitat restoration (Appendix D). The list was developed from high biodiversity (B1 & B2) conservation sites over 500ac. Aerial photos were reviewed for site suitability by DNH biologists. The sites were then delineated in ArcView. The catalog is a work in progress and will continue to be refined and expanded.
The Locality Liaison met with four local governments and one PDC to discuss the Locality Assistance program: Chesterfield, James City, Prince William and Stafford Counties and the Richmond PDC (Charles City, New Kent and Henrico Counties were in attendance).
Information on project review and other Natural Heritage Programs was presented. Opportunities to incorporate natural heritage resource concerns into local comprehensive plans and permitting processes was also provided. (See Appendix B for example presentation) The Locality Liaison also provides follow-up support to these localities as needed to assist them in implementing Natural Heritage Programs.
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
