Virginia Coastal Program: 2005 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
1.02
Grantee:
Back Bay Restoration Foundation
Project Title:
Back Bay Restoration Foundation State of the Bay Conference
Project Description as Proposed:
The Back Bay Restoration Foundation will host the next Back Bay Forum on Thursday, March 16, 2006. The Forum will be held again at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Virginia Beach from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Prior to the Forum, the Project Manager will be contacting potential presenters from local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-profit and private enterprises, which are operating in or conducting studies in Back Bay.
The Project Manager will be preparing an agenda, to include the presenter, their organization, topic, and time allotted. The Project Manager will then prepare a letter of formal invitation (which will include the agenda) and a “Save the Date” postcard to be sent to the aforementioned organizations, as well as to local residents and volunteers throughout the watershed area. Copies of the agenda, letter of formal invitation, and a “Save the Date” postcard will be included in an Interim Report.
The Project Manager will be meeting with BBRF Board members and volunteers, as well members of organizations preparing to speak or have displays at the Forum. The Project Manager will be assisting organizations with the focus and format of their presentations and prepare advance copies of their papers into a “Proceedings Packet” for use by all attendees and presenters at the Forum. Copies of the “Proceedings Packet” will be included in the Final Report. The Project Manager will organize and set up the displays in the lobby of the ATC for the benefit of attendees and presenters.
The Project Manager will be preparing name tags for each registered attendee in advance. The Project Manager will coordinate and set up for a morning and afternoon break (to include beverages and snacks) plus lunch for attendees and presenters.
The topics for the Back Bay Forum 2005 focused upon what pure research had been done over the last 15 years. The previous Back Bay Forum had been held in 1990. It was critical to coordinate research efforts by local, state, and federal agencies. While there will be additional recent research presented at the Back Bay Forum 2006, the focus will begin to shift to “What Can be Done to Improve the Conditions at Back Bay”.
Facilitated discussion at the end of the formal presentations will make use of all expertise at the Forum to begin to draft an “Action Plan”. This draft Action Plan will be directed to all entities in the watershed, including homeowners, businesses, governmental operations, agricultural operations, and horse farms. Our objective is not only to raise awareness of everyone in the watershed, but to educate them about their role in restoring the environmental quality of the watershed. This effort will be strengthened by new “Back Bay Watershed”signs which the City Of Virginia Beach is developing in conjunction with BBRF. These signs may be ready for installation around the Back Bay watershed in the spring of 2006.
Upon completion of the Forum, surveys will be given out by the Project Manager to all who attended requesting their feedback and comments on the Forum, topics covered, and suggestions for a 2007 Forum. An organized list of comments received will be included in the Final Report.
Professional quality DVDs and VHS tapes will be made of the Forum presenters and facilitated discussion. Copies of the DVD will be included in the Final Report. BBRF will ask that the taped Forum 2006 be broadcast on public television in Virginia Beach as was the Forum 2005.
The BBRF website is www.bbrf.org. The Project Manager will create a link dedicated to the Back Bay Forum 2006.
Federal Funding:
$2,620
Project Contact:
Susan Admire, (757) 721-7666; bbrf@verizon.net
Project Status:
Grant Closed
Final Product Received:
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
The Back Bay Restoration Foundation hosted the Back Bay Forum on Thursday, March 16, 2006. The Forum was held at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Virginia Beach from 8:30 - 5 pm. Prior to the Forum, the Project Manager contacted potential speakers from local, state, and federal agencies, as well as, non-profit and private enterprises, which are operating in or conducting studies in Back Bay.
The Project Manager prepared an agenda, a letter of formal invitation, a “Save the Date” postcard sent to the aforementioned organizations, as well as to local residents and volunteers throughout the watershed area. The Project Manager assisted organizations with the focus and format of their presentations and prepared advance copies of their papers into a “Proceedings Packet” for use by attendees and presenters at the Forum. The Project Manager organized and set up displays from relevant organizations in the lobby of the ATC. The Project Manager prepared name tags for each registered attendee in advance; she set up a morning and afternoon break plus lunch for the attendees and presenters.
The topics for the Back Bay Forum in 2005 focused upon what pure research had been done in the lat 15 years in Back Bay. The previous Back Bay Forum had been held in 1990. It was critical to coordinate research efforts by local, state, and federal agencies. While there was additional research presented at the Back Bay Forum 2006, the focus shifted to “What Can Be Done to Improve the Conditions at Back Bay?”
Facilitated discussion at the end of the formal presentations made use of the expertise at the Forum to begin the formation of an “Action Plan.” This Action Plan for the restoration and protection of the Back Bay watershed focuses primarily on reducing the impact of storm water runoff and the effects of erosion. The sections of the Action Plan are as follows:
- Educate and Reach Out to the Appropriate Personnel.
- Implement Storm water and Erosion Control BMP’s starting in “Subwatershed 9” of the Back Bay Watershed.
- Pollution Prevention Measures Proposed for the new Borrow Pit in the Watershed.
- Workshops & Hands-on Restoration Activities.
- Pollution Prevention Partnership for the Watershed “Back Bay Backers- Bring Back the Bass”.
Upon completion of the Forum surveys were given out to all attendees and presenters requesting their feedback on topics covered and suggestions for a 2007 Forum. Most respondents wanted to see more topics on development; how to prevent it or minimize the results with low impact development. Other topics included new pollution prevention technology, and wetland purchases. Regarding the discussion portion, most respondents suggested break out sessions, by Land Use type, which would involve a smaller number of participants including a leader with each. A hands-on activity during the day would be appreciated. Many respondents wanted to know what would be done with the results. Dwane Hinson’s storm water BMP presentation was the most popular presentation.
The Action Plan will be posted on the BBRF website at www.bbrf.org.
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
