Virginia Coastal Program: 2006 Coastal Grant Project Description and Final Summary
Project Task:
46
Grantee:
Northern Virginia Planning District Commission
Project Title:
Coastal Technical Assistance Program
Project Description as Proposed:
1) Technical Assistance. NVRC will continue to provide technical assistance on coastal resource issues and will serve as a proactive point of information exchange among state, local, federal, and regional parties involved in coastal resource management. NVRC will conduct quarterly consultations with local staff regarding coastal issues and training needs. NVRC will hold four meetings to coordinate regional efforts of local government representatives and provide four training opportunities during the grant year. Examples include onsite wastewater systems operations and maintenance, blue/green infrastructure planning, factors affecting delivery of pollutants to downstream waterways, and Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance trainings.
2) Issue Analysis/Special Projects. NVRC will undertake at least one special project to draw attention to and create solutions for at least one coastal resource management issue important to the region. Examples include NVRC’s regional pollution-prevention and stormwater education media campaign and communications and coordination with localities in reinforcing messages with local activities and outreach.
3) Chesapeake Bay Agreement Implementation; Potomac Tributary Strategies Implementation; Potomac Watershed Roundtable; and Virginia Watershed Advisory Committee. NVRC will participate in these efforts as needed to provide tools associated with the protection and restoration of natural resources to local jurisdictions to implement measures to meet 2010 goals for the Chesapeake Bay.
4) NVironment newsletter. NVRC will publish an annual newsletter as the program’s primary outreach tool. NVironment will present timely articles focusing on coastal issues and the role of Northern Virginia localities in protecting coastal resources.
5) EIS/EA/EIR and Permit Review. NVRC will participate in the intergovernmental review process.
Federal Funding:
$30,000
Project Contact:
Laura Grape, (703) 642-4625; lgrape@novaregion.org
Project Status:
10/1/2006 - 9/30/2007; Project Completed
Final Product Received:
"Northern Virginia Coastal Technical Assistance Program Annual Report - 2006-2007" (PDF)
Project Summary Provided by Grantee:
Technical Assistance: NVRC hosted the following four workshops targeted toward individual homeowners, public and private planners and engineers, landscaping professionals, homeowner association board members, and property management companies.
- Designing, Building, and Maintaining a Small-scale Rain Garden introduced the basics of designing, building, and maintaining rain gardens to forty residents and landscaping professionals. The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District completed an analysis of rain gardens
- Mitigating for Stream and Wetland Losses in Northern Virginia provided an overview of mitigation banking processes in Virginia. Presentations were given by representatives from DEQ – VWPP; VDOT; and Prince William County. Thirteen of the 30 participants stated that the information presented in this workshop will be useful in their work and three indicated that their organizations will be setting up a wetland or stream restoration bank in the near future.
- Restoring Our Waterways – Case Studies in Northern Virginia provided an opportunity to learn about three urban stream restoration and planning projects recently completed in Northern Virginia. Based on the discussion regarding the results of water quality monitoring data on Accotink Creek in the City of Fairfax, NVRC plans to write a white paper on the definition of stream restoration projects and the need for data necessary for designing projects in the western Coastal Plain of Northern Virginia.
- An Introduction to Maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) was a free workshop for public and private BMP owners and operators. Two of the most costly maintenance requirements for stormwater facilities – sediment removal and disposal and nuisance vegetation and algae management were presented, along with an overview of maintenance agreements and inspection requirements and a case study from Reston, VA. As part of NVRC’s budding Regional Stormwater Initiative, additional forums specifically for public stormwater maintenance managers will be arranged.
Special Project: For the third year in a row, nine local governments and two independent water and sewer authorities contributed approximately $170,000 to the Northern Virginia Clean Water Partners - Regional Stormwater Education Campaign. The results of the pre- and post-surveys present promising results, especially the fact that respondents indicated that hearing the ad motivated them to change their behaviors with relation to fertilizer, pet waste, and motor oil. Local government staff use the data collected during the pre- and post-surveys in their annual MS4 permit reports and to support the direction of the campaign. This data is regularly shared with other organizations engaged in stormwater and watershed education efforts. A website, printed material, and action-specific taglines were created for the campaign this grant year. To view these products, visit: www.onlyrain.org.
NVironment Newsletter: The Fall 2007 NVironment newsletter focuses on climate change initiatives in Northern Virginia and features stories on local, regional, and statewide efforts. Approximately 1,100 planners, engineers, interested residents, and elected officials throughout the Commonwealth and the remaining mid-Atlantic region receive a hard copy of the newsletter. NVRC also posts it on their website at www.novaregion.org.
Chesapeake Bay Implementation: NVRC continues to attend quarterly meetings of the Potomac Watershed and Northern Virginia Urban Forestry Roundtables and participate as requested in tributary strategies, watershed planning efforts, and related programs to protect water quality.
EA and Permit Review: Over the fiscal year, NVRC reviewed 30 EA/EIS and permits as part of the intergovernmental review process.
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
