Virginia Coastal Program: 2005 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY2005 Task 7
Grantee:
Department of Conservation & Recreation-Division of 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 subscription-based 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. The Locality Liaison will work consultatively with locality planners to incorporate natural heritage resource concerns into local comprehensive plans and permitting processes. The Locality Liaison will also assist localities and local conservation partners to identify and implement habitat conservation opportunities using tools such as the VCLNA and DCR-NH’s catalog of wetland restoration opportunities.
Federal Funding:
$48,000
Project Contact:
Michelle Edwards
,
(804) 692-9582;
Michelle.Edwards@dcr.virginia.gov
Project Status:
Grant Closed
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 by the program is review of projects to identify and recommend mitigation for potential impacts to natural heritage resources. 1536 projects were reviewed for the coastal zone. This represents 45% of the projects DCR-NH reviewed statewide.
DCR-DNH released its new GIS-based web service, the Virginia Natural Heritage Data Explorer, on September 30, 2006. This new user-friendly tool for accessing natural heritage resource data allows internet users to conduct basic GIS functions on a remote website, requiring only a Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser and minimal instruction. This informational tool will alert planners to potential areas of opportunity or concern, facilitate proactive planning for county resources, and allow preliminary screening of projects and activities for potential impacts to natural heritage resources. The website can be accessed at www.vanaturalheritageexplorer.org. It is available on a subscription basis to organizations. The subscription is free to government and non-profit organizations, but there is a charge to for-profit organizations. Training sessions for Data Explorer will be held on a monthly basis.
The second and final phase of the Wetland Restoration Catalog has been completed. The list of potential restoration sites was expanded to include B3 natural heritage conservation sites. Aerial photos were reviewed for site suitability by DNH biologists. The sites were then delineated in ArcView. 75 additional sites were identified. The catalog is a work in progress and will continue to be refined and expanded. The Locality Liaison will meet with DEQ and Army Corps of Engineers staff and other interested organizations to release the catalog.
The Locality Liaison met with the following organizations to present the Locality Assistance Program, VCLNA and/or VA Natural Heritage Data Explorer: Gloucester County, Middle Peninsula PDC, Northern Neck Land Conservancy, Capital Region Land Conservancy, Area IV NRCS and Soil & Water Conservation Districts in the southern coastal zone, and DCR-Div. of Soil & Water Regional Managers. Each presentation was tailored to the specific organization and was followed by a discussion of the organization’s needs. 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. The Locality Liaison also provided support to Stafford and James City County in implementing natural heritage programs into their planning efforts.
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
