Virginia Coastal Program: 2005 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
FY 2005 Task 92.05
Grantee:
Dept. of Conservation & Recreation - Natural Heritage
Project Title:
Natural Landscape Assessment and Green Infrastructure - Completion and Distribution
Project Description as Proposed:
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) uses the Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment (VCLNA), a flexible tool that integrates needs and strategies of different conservation interests, to help identify the Coastal Zone’s Green Infrastructure, a network of lands that incorporates goals for biodiversity as well as conservation of lands for human uses such as working landscapes and recreational open spaces. The Natural Landscape Assessment identifies ecologically-valuable lands as a fundamental component of Green Infrastructure.
DCR will complete the revised Natural Landscape Assessment (NLA), including the analytical development of corridors and incorporation of a vulnerability assessment, for the entire coastal zone. An assessment of differences with the previous version of the NLA will be provided. This dataset will be integrated into the comprehensive Green Infrastructure based on an integration of this revised NLA with additional VCLNA datasets.
The VCLNA will incorporate the additional model development for FY05 Task 92.05 which includes the following:
• The Forest Economics Model that models and maps the value of forest or timberland in Virginia as it relates to forest economics.
• The Virginia Recreation Model that models and maps the value of lands as they contribute to recreational opportunity.
• The Virginia Hydrological Integrity Model that models and maps the relative value of land as it contributes to water quality and watershed integrity.
• The Virginia Agricultural Model that models and maps important agricultural lands in Virginia, developed in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
These models will include additional datasets identified as priorities by the Green Infrastructure Workgroup and incorporated into the Green Infrastructure product.
Presentations demonstrating VCLNA and Green Infrastructure products will be made to Coastal Partners, including PDCs and localities. These presentations will begin immediately, following up on work accomplished during the previous year’s grant. In addition, training and assistance will be provided in incorporating VCLNA data into local and regional initiatives with guidance from the Green Infrastructure Workgroup.
Additional maps and CDs will be prepared to demonstrate and promote the revised NLA and GI, and these products will be included in presentations as they become available.
Project GIS specialists will work with Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) staff to integrate the Green Infrastructure with the Blue Infrastructure and ensure appropriate access to data and analyses, especially through the Coastal Program’s Geospatial and Educational Mapping System (Coastal GEMS).
Federal Funding:
$58,564
Project Contact:
Jennifer Ciminelli, (804) 786-8377; jennifer.ciminelli@dcr.virginia.gov
Project Status:
10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
"Natural Landscape Assessment and Green Infrastructure" (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
This summary marks the completion of the Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment (VCLNA) for the Coastal Zone management area, an effort funded via multiple grants. Specific tasks under this task have been completed by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program as follows.
The Natural Landscape Assessment (NLA) for the Coastal Zone has been revised. This revision consists of updating imagery used in the previous NLA, with more recent imagery in some areas of Virginia as well as a new classification of some land use categories in the previously used RESAC 2000 base layer. Furthermore, all landscape cores have been scored for Ecological Integrity based on statistical analyses of 53 geospatial attributes and landscape corridors linking ecological cores have been developed. This updated Ecological model was also used in a vulnerability analysis of the Coastal Zone to indicate cores that are the most ecologically important and most vulnerable to negative impacts of land use change due to population growth and development impacts.
Other green infrastructure models were developed for the Coastal Zone. These models include a Forest Economics Model developed in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Forestry. This model maps the economic value of viable forest lands, with the understanding that forests provide ecological and economic assets for the Coastal Zone. A Recreation Model was developed via collaboration with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to assess the relative values of recreational lands throughout the Commonwealth. The Virginia Watershed Integrity Model is the first of its kind in the Coastal Zone, providing a statewide display of how land use patterns contribute to water quality and aquatic ecological integrity in streams at the watershed level. Virginia Natural Heritage partnered with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the DCR – Division of Soil and Water, the Department of Forestry, and Virginia Commonwealth University. The Agricultural, or Prime Farmlands, Model was developed to identify the value of agricultural lands throughout the state in terms of agricultural productivity and sustainability. This model was developed with via partnership between Virginia Natural Heritage, the Virginia Department of Agriculture, the American Farmland Trust and Virginia Tech.
Furthermore, at least 16 presentations were given during this second year project period to approximately 525 students, government officials and environmental professionals throughout the Coastal Zone. These presentations informed a variety of audiences on how they can use these tools for their conservation planning efforts, and continued to introduce the concepts of Green Infrastructure.
A Final Report with text, tabular and graphic descriptions of these tasks has been prepared for the Coastal Zone Management Program, and will be available to the public. Electronic versions of all model outputs have also been submitted to the Coastal Zone Management Program. These Green Infrastructure model outputs will be featured on publicly-accessible interactive mapping websites, such as Coastal GEMS. Furthermore, GIS model outputs are available by request, and for use, by state agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations and the public interested in Green Infrastructure and conservation planning.
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
