Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's logo

Protecting, restoring, and strengthening our coastal ecosystems and economy

Virginia CZM Program Funds, Initiatives & Projects

Virginia CZM Program Funding from NOAA 1986 - 2011

What funding does the Virginia CZM Program receive?

Virginia receives 100% of its funding under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA).

Virginia is awarded funds based on the size of its coastal population and the length of its tidal shoreline.  Virginia currently receives about $3 million annually from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management (OCRM). 

Since the program began in 1986, Virginia has received just under $61 million dollars in federal CZMA funds, matched by just under $52 million in state and local funds.  Virginia's coastal population has increased by about 1.5 million people.  











Notes on Chart (at left):
*Federal funds adjusted for inflation from 1986 based on the Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**1986 Coastal Population based on estimates from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia; 2010 Coastal Population based on U.S. Census.  

 

How does the Virginia CZM Program allocate this funding to its partners?

Virginia CZM Program Funding Snapshot

Much of the program’s funding is used to help its network of agencies implement Virginia’s coastal laws and policies. This includes everything from Virginia CZM staff salaries to environmental impact review, environmental education, habitat locality liaisons, coastal permitting, submerged aquatic vegetation mapping, and coastal land acquisition.

Every year the program also gives technical assistance grants to the eight coastal Planning District Commissions and funds the Virginia Aquarium’s marine mammal and sea turtle stranding program. The program also funds implementation of Virginia’s coastal nonpoint source pollution program and the development of new enforceable policies.

 

FOCAL AREA PROJECTS


In 1999, the Virginia CZM Program decided that focusing on a resource or special geographic region for a three-year period enables the program to more effectively concentrate its financial and policy efforts. The goal is to "kick-start" a long-term, self-sustaining program or movement.

Current Focal Area

FY2008 - FY2010: Sustainable Coastal Communities: Climate Change Adaptation and Blue/Green Infrastructure Mapping and Planning -

For the next three years, focal area grants will go to state agencies and coastal PDCs to help coastal localities plan for adaptation to climate change or protect blue and green infrastructure. Blue or green infrastructure comprises those natural features on the land (e.g. forests, wildlife habitat, wetlands, etc.) or in the water (e.g. anadromous fish use areas, oyster reefs, underwater grass beds, etc.) that are critical to maintaining ecosystem and human health and survival. Please contact Shep Moon at (804) 698-4527, or Beth Polak at (804) 698-4260 for more information about this focal area.

Previous Focal Areas

FY1999 - FY2001: Virginia Oyster Heritage Program

FY2002 - FY2007: Virginia Seaside Heritage Program

 

Virginia CZM Program staff at the Department of Environmental Quality (lead coordinating agency for the networked program) administer the program's annual grant award to state agencies, PDCs and local governments for implementation of the Virginia CZM Program. 

Each spring, the Virginia CZM Program staff works with the Coastal Policy Team to prepare an annual grant application which is submitted by DEQ to NOAA for approval.  This application outlines the state projects the Virginia CZM Program will fund with its annual allocation. If approved, projects begin in October of that year and run through September 30 the following year. For more on the grant application process and grantee resources go to Grantee Information.

Financial assistance grants under the CZMA Other Grant Opportunities

The federal CZMA has numerous sections, each with specific objectives.  Funding to carry out these objectives must be appropriated from Congress each year. Not all sections of the Coastal Zone Management Act receive federal appropriations every year or they may receive reduced funding. 

Financial assistance under Sections 306, 306A, 308, 309, and 310 of the CZMA provides Virginia with the means to  maintain the Commonwealth's coastal zone management program and carry out the Virginia CZM Program's goals of effective protection and careful development of Virginia's coastal areas.

  • Implementation of the Virginia CZM
    • Funded Under CZMA Section 306 ---- Funding for the implementation of Virginia's Coastal Program. Section 306 funding must be matched 1:1 by nonfederal fund sources.
  • Acquisition and Construction Projects
    • Funded Under CZMA Section 306A ---- Funding for the acquisition of fee simple and other interests (e.g. easements) in land, low-cost construction projects (e.g. public access improvements) or habitat restoration projects. Additional documentation is required from NOAA before 306A projects can be approved. Section 306A funding must be matched 1:1 by nonfederal fund sources.
  • Creation of New Enforceable Coastal Policies
    • Funded Under CZMA Section 309 ---- Funding for coastal zone enhancement projects which propose creation  of new enforceable policies* in any of nine identified areas: wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, ocean resources, energy and government facility siting and aquaculture. Section 309 funding is match-free. 
      (* any new enforceable policies proposed through projects funded under Section 309 stil need to be officially incorporated into the Virginia CZM Program through a public review process, and final approval of the "Program Change" must be granted by NOAA.  Go to "Program Changes" for more information.) 
  • Implementation of the Virginia Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program
    • Funded Under CZMA Section 310 ---- Funding for the implementation of the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program. Section 310 funding must be matched 1:1 by nonfederal fund sources. These monies are distributed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which administers Virginia's Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Program.  Only states with an approved Coastal Zone Management Program are eligible to receive coastal nonpoint source pollution control funding. 


    For more information about this funding category and how these monies are spent in Virginia, contact:


    Todd Janeski, Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Coordinator --- todd.janeski@dcr.virginia.gov or (804) 371-8984

    OR Shep Moon, Virginia CZM Program Planner --- Shep. Moon@deq.virginia.gov or (804) 698-4527

    DCR webpage on Virginia Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution

    NOAA Coastal Nonpoint Website


What projects have been funded by the Virginia CZM Program?

Every six months, the Virginia CZM Program submits a grant progress report to NOAA on all active projects, based on information provided by its grantees. The Virginia CZM Program may have more than one grant year open and be reporting to NOAA on two or more grant years. Recent reports are available below under the corresponding grant year:

(Links to a detailed description of each project funded by Virginia CZM are available from the project lists below.)

Reprogrammed grant funds may be available through the year on a limited basis. Please contact Laura McKay at (804) 698-4323, Shep Moon at (804) 698-4527, or Beth Polak at (804) 698-4260 for more information about the availability or allocation of these funds.

 

Other Possible Funding Opportunities

  • Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund

  • Virginia Environmental Endowment  

  • Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watershed Grants - Coordinated by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Program.  Grants support efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay through measurable, transferable, on the ground actions.

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
    In FY 2008, the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program awarded more than $20 million to 11 States and 1 territory to fund 29 individual projects encompassing nearly 10,000 acres of coastal wetlands.  Awards typically range from $200,000 (there is no specific minimum) to a maximum of $1,000,000.

  • CICEET Funding Opportunities
    The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) has invested in the development, demonstration, and application of tools to detect, prevent, and reverse the impacts of coastal pollution and habitat degradation to coastal ecosystems and communities.  CICEET, a partnership of the University of New Hampshire and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, develops tools for clean waters and healthy coasts.  Learn more about the funding opportunities at http://ciceet.unh.edu.

  • NOAA Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the Environment Grants
    The Climate and Weather Impacts on Society and the Environment (CWISE) Grant is administered by NOAA for projects with an emphasis on sea level rise and climate in coastal regions. This funding opportunity focuses on increasing the capacity of communities to survive, mitigate the effects of, and recover from, the effects of natural (including climate variability and change) and other hazards. The CWISE effort is designed to further understanding of extreme weather and climate-related environmental stressors and to increase the resiliency of natural, economic and social systems to these stressors through interdisciplinary research, information and services delivery, education and outreach. For more information and deadlines, go to www.grants.gov or contact Lisa Farrow Vaughan at Lisa.Vaughan@NOAA.gov.

  • Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund
    The Wildlife Conservation Society has provided grants under the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund, made possible by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to support 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to implement State Wildlife Action Plans in any of the 50 states or six U.S. territories. State Wildlife Action Plans were created when Congress charged each state and territory with developing a comprehensive wildlife plan as a condition of receiving federal funding. Also known as Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies, these proactive plans will help conserve wildlife and vital natural habitats before they become too rare and costly to protect.  Visit http://wcs.org/wildlifeopportunity  for more.  For more detailed information, links to State Wildlife Action Plans and progress on implementation in your state visit the Teaming with Wildlife website:

    http://teaming.com/  In Virginia also visit http://bewildvirginia.org/.

  • Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program (WHPRP)

    The program is administered by the National Council for Science and Technology and supported by a four year grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF).  Application is open to everyone.  Application review is managed by the American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS).  General goal is improving the basis for implementation of the statutory State Wildlife Action Plans.  Reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of this conservation challenge, the program will support research in law, economics, social sciences, natural sciences, and public policy.  For more information and current funding available, contact Christina Zarrella at czarrella@ncseonline.org or (202) 207-0007.

  • NOAA Oyster Disease Research Program
    The Oyster Disease Research Program is administered by NOAA. This extensive program of ongoing research coupled with outreach and management efforts aims to better serve the restoration of healthy populations of oysters in the nation's coastal waters through research related to oyster disease. For more information and deadlines go to www.grants.gov or contact Jacques.Oliver@noaa.gov.

  • NOAA Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Outreach Program
    The goal of this NOAA administered program is to discover and develop information and tools that can lead to the prevention, monitoring and control of aquatic invasive species threatening United States coastal, oceanic and Great Lakes communities, resources, and ecosystems. For more information go to www.grants.gov or contact Invasive.Species@noaa.gov.

  • NOAA Coastal Services Center
    Sources of Grant Funding for Coastal and Natural Resource Related Projects
  • Financial and On-Site Technical Assistance for Watershed Management
    Catalogue of watershed management assistance programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture - prepared by the Coastal Services Center for the Agricultural Conservation and Innovation Center.
  • Wetland Program Development Grants
    Most deadlines are in the spring. Check with the regional EPA office to get specifics. 
  • EPA Wetland Development Grants
    The application deadline is determined by the Regional Office.   Grants to states, tribes, localities, and others for activities that advance wetland programs. 
  • DOI Awards for Coastal Wetlands
    Department of Interior grants have benefitted coastal wetlands under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program aimed at restoring, conserving, and protecting wetlands in coastal areas.  Projects have been funded in Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. 
  • Conservation Partnership Initiative Grants
    Questions about the availability and allocation of this funding should be directed to Kari Cohen at 202-720-2335; cpi@usda.gov.
  • Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Grants
    Has funded projects that reduce the risks associated with pesticide use in agricultural and non-agricultural settings.
  • EPA State Innovation Grants
    Has supported state permitting innovations related to greenhouse gases or smog, improving water quality, and/or reducing the cost of water or wastewater infrastructure.
  • USDA Conservation Innovation Grants
    These grants have promoted public-private partnerships that provide innovative technologies and approaches to environmental enhancement and protection on working agricultural lands. CIG is offered to a diverse set of applicants, including state and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribes and individuals, and for-profit companies.

 NOAA logo 

For comments or questions concerning this program's web pages, contact the Web Author.

This web site is provided by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program through a federal Coastal Zone Management Act grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce.