Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
1.05
Grantee:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Project Title:
Regional Socio-Economic Assessment of Shellfish Aquaculture
Project Description as Proposed:
The Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) have combined efforts to promote shellfish aquaculture across Virginia’s coastal waters and the Eastern Shore. Such an effort is mainly supported through institutional and funded efforts in regards to the ecology and biology of the key species (clams and oysters), the needed economic cost-benefit analyses and finally, VADEQ’s efforts to make regulatory structure more response to the needs of the aquaculture industry.
However, in addition to current efforts to promote shellfish aquaculture at a state level, there is a need for “site specific / regional” evaluation of the usefulness and implications (socio-economic assessment) of promoting shellfish aquaculture across three significant Planning District Commissions (PDCs): Accomack- Northampton, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
Economic cost-benefit analyses as being proposed by Virginia Tech (CZM grant FY06 Task 92.02) will provide an assessment of private versus public net benefits associated with various management options. This study however, is not region specific and often various coastal regions that are managed by their respective Planning Districts, have / have not the resources needed to support the industry, thus differing economic implications. Different regions have differing priorities in terms of land management and coastal resource use. Moreover, a successful oyster and/or clam industry calls for availability of supporting industry (gear and inventory suppliers, recreational demand and tourism) and suitable regulatory structure that promotes easy use of waterfront access areas. Above mentioned PDC’s might vary in terms of above factors that deserve a qualitative and quantitative analysis to better inform management actions for CZM and Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC). A graduate student will be available to collect data specific to these regions from the various PDC’s and electronic sources (County web sites, Census Bureau and Virginia Employment Commission) to compile a directory of the socio-economic health of the regions in relation to natural resource availability and dependency. This data collection effort will then be used to do a much needed regional economic analysis for the PDCs.
Regional economic analyses would allow for an assessment of:
• Existing socio-economic structure of the regions and related potential for increased aquaculture.
• Assessment of the existing land use ordinances and/or regulations that promote / inhibit the growth of aquaculture.
• Provide projections of potential benefits (positive or negative) to the PDC’s given the local socio-economic and regulatory conditions which would include expected increase in jobs, net revenue and tax revenues specific to the counties falling within the PDCs of interest.
Federal Funding:
$8,000.00
Project Contact:
Greg Garman - ggarman@mail2.vcu.edu - (804) 828-1574
Project Status:
1/1/2008 - 6/30/2008; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Phragmites Control Booklet for Landowners (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Summary
During Year 5 of the Seaside Heritage Program, DCR again focused on Phragmites control and education efforts. Specific objectives in Year 5 were:
1. Conduct a series of educational programs to inform Eastern Shore landowners about the reasons and methods for controlling Phragmites on their property.
2. Conduct additional Phragmites control and monitoring actions.
3. Develop a new technical guidebook that focuses on informing landowners about the reasons and methods for controlling Phragmites. Printing costs for this booklet are provided in FY 2007 Task 10.03.
4. Develop a draft Phragmites Management Plan for the Eastern Shore Seaside.
Results
1) A series of four workshops was conducted in August 2007 which was attended by 42 Eastern Shore landowners. Participants were informed about the reasons and methods for controlling Phragmites. Emphasis was placed on responsible use of approved herbicides. Recommendations were made to use contracted pest control specialists and combine resources with neighboring landowners to bring costs down. Maps and data developed from the 2004 DCR Seaside aerial census project (SHP Year 2) were made available to landowners for assessing quantities and locations of Phragmites currently occurring on their property. The on-line Virginia Phragmites Mapping Application was introduced so that participating landowners could access mapped information via the internet, assess the Phragmites invasion on their own lands, and develop effective control strategies. The Virginia Phragmites Mapping Application can be accessed at: http://128.172.160.130/phrag/.
2) High priority Seaside target areas held in the public interest were identified and Phragmites control treatments were applied in late summer 2007. DCR staff worked closely with the landowner (NASA) to implement control measures for Phragmites at Wallops Island Launch Facility in Accomack County. DCR contracted with an aerial pesticide applicator to treat a total of 150 acres of Phragmites at Wallops Island and spraying was completed in September 2007. Additionally, both ground and aerial monitoring of areas treated on Parramore Island in 2005 and 2006 was performed during May and August of 2007.
3) A new technical guidebook on Phragmites control was developed and 1200 copies will be printed using FY 2007 Task 10.03 funds. The booklet, titled “Marsh Invader! How to Identify and Combat One of Virginia’s Most Invasive Plants: Phragmites“ is downloadable from the Virginia CZM website at http://www.deq.state.va.us/coastal/documents/task10-03-07.pdf.
4) A draft Phragmites Management Plan was developed for the Eastern Shore Seaside, incorporating numerous site specific recommendations for control that were identified in Year 4.
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
