Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
44
Grantee:
Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission
Project Title:
Coastal Technical Assistance Program
Project Description as Proposed:
MPPDC’s Coastal Resources Technical Assistance Program provides ongoing support to member localities of the MPPDC as well as community level groups: Mathews County Blueways, York River Water Trails, Middle Peninsula Land Trust, Mattaponi and Pamunkey River Association, and Friends of the Dragon Run. For the federal FY 06 grant, the work program will consist of four distinct tasks:
1) MPPDC staff will provide coastal management support to local government, local wetlands boards and local planning staff. MPPDC staff will provide GIS analysis of development proposals, land conversion, land use plans, and local land use ordinance implementation.
2) MPPDC staff will convene monthly-quarterly meetings with local government level planners, the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (MPCBPAA) and other appropriate committees to assist with coastal planning.
3) MPPDC staff will work with member localities and the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority to explore the possible nexus between VMRC’s new wetlands compensation/mitigation policy and the use of the MPCBPAA to assist local governments with developing innovative management solutions. A series of staff level forums will be held to discuss opportunities. This coordination will serve to both educate the affected localities and assist them to address regulatory changes, and will also provide feedback to the Coastal Program on regulatory options and impacts.
4) MPPDC staff will oversee NOAA Fellow work activities and associated land management activities for the MPCBPAA. Management activities include: Browne Tract Management Plan implementation, site clean up efforts for the Brown Tract, CELCP land acquisition and management plan development.
Federal Funding:
$30,000
Project Contact:
Lewie L. Lawrence - 804.758.2311: llawrence@mppdc.com
Project Status:
10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission Coastal Technical Assistance Program Report (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Coastal Management Support: The nine local governments of the Middle Peninsula Planning District have relied on the MPPDC for quick and urgent GIS maps and technical assistance. Over the grant period, MPPDC staff advised member localities of the availability of technical assistance on CZMA issues and GIS. GIS technical assistance is provided by MPPDC staff by the assembly of various spatial data and illustration of data to support or counter the local issue at hand. For the current grant, GIS technical assistance to member localities focused on the continuing issue of use conflict, water supply planning, transportation, development proposals, and land use, as well as, technical analyses. Highlights include an analysis of land use/land cover and anthropogenic footprint in Gloucester County, Virginia, a census analysis for Bay Aging, and traffic volume analysis for the Rte 33 corridor.
Local Planning Coordination: During the grant period, MPPDC staff convened 6 meetings with local government level planners and administrators on topics related to coastal zone management issues. The local planners and local government administrator meetings are held to afford highest level staff the opportunity to discuss issues amongst their own peer group. Topics of most interest were the tracking and discussion of Virginia General Assembly Bills and Resolutions Under consideration during the 2007 session, conversion of working waterfronts, transportation planning, wireless broadband planning, and Urban Development Areas (UDAs). MPPDC staff also convened 7 meetings of the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (MPCBPAA) and 5 special training sessions for regional officials and local staff on topics such as the Middle Peninsula Nutrient Compliance Plan, Flu Pandemic Preparedness, and local community development opportunities from the USDA Rural Development Program.
Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority Wetlands Mitigation: MPPDC staff continues to work with member localities and the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority to explore the possible nexus between VMRC’s new wetlands compensation/mitigation policy and the use of the MPCBPAA to assist local governments with developing innovative management solutions. MPPDC staff consulted with the VA DEM, FEMA, and the Gloucester County Administrator about using FEMA acquired flood mitigation properties (now owned by Gloucester County). Agreement was reached to have the PAA visit potential sites with a team of representatives from VMRC, VIMS, and Gloucester County Environmental programs to assess and rank each site for Wetlands Bank conversion. The next step in the process after the close of this grant (September 30, 2007) will be to transfer some of the fee simple FEMA sites to the PAA. The PAA will then initiate a project concept and feasibility study for design and engineering services.
Browne Tract and additional new CELCP Maintenance and Management: MPPDC participates in the NOAA Coastal Service Center Fellowship program. Jacqueline L. Shapo has coordinated the affairs for the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority (PAA) as a NOAA Fellow. A white paper authored by Ms. Shapo details the work of the PAA in maintenance and management of the Browne tract, as well as properties acquired through the CELC Program. This white paper can be found at: http://www.mppdc.com/project/CSC_extended_abstract_CoastalZone07.pdf
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
